|
|
|
Theoretical belief
Many have faith in God, having outward forms of Christianity, and some are even church workers, but they still do not know the matter of salvation
The most serious and important thing in the world is the salvation of the human soul. If we are eternal beings and our lives continue in eternal hell or heaven, it would be good for us to be clear where we are going. Are we really saved, or do we just have a theoretical faith that doesn't take us to God's communion and heaven after all? This is an important topic to discuss, because there is always a chance one might be deceiving him or herself. There might be thousands of people in congregations that live in great spiritual darkness, like gentiles in faraway nations. They may have the outward forms of Christianity, but they don't really know the basics of the Christian faith and how to be saved. They may even be congregation workers, but unsaved. That is why it is of great importance to pay attention to this matter. This text is primarily aimed at people who have grown up with Christian values but might not be familiar with salvation just yet. We should also pay attention to the words of Jesus. The allegory of the ten virgins, as well as the following words of Jesus, show how people can be surprised on the final judgement day. These people might think they are on good terms with God, but Jesus does not know these people:
- (Matt 25:1-12) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened to ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. 2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. 6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom comes; go you out to meet him. 7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 And the foolish said to the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. 9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go you rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. 10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. 11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. 12 But he answered and said, Truly I say to you, I know you not.
- (Matt 7:21-23) Not every one that said to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
- (Luke 13:23-28) Then said one to him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said to them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and has shut to the door, and you begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not from where you are: 26 Then shall you begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in your presence, and you have taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not from where you are; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
What is typical for such people, for such converts (we are using this term in the coming paragraphs) believers, who externally seem Christian, but still haven’t connected with God? We are going to investigate this next through multiple examples.
Are you in faith?
- (2 Cor 13:5) Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?
One of the hallmarks of converts and theoretical faith is that a person cannot say whether he is in the faith. This question was asked to a few well-known church members and influencers (Kotimaa 26. 7. 2007) and not all of them could give a clear answer. It shows that the affairs of salvation remained unclear for these people. But how can anyone act as a doer of spiritual work if they cannot respond positively even to this basic matter? For example, the Awakened Movement and other revival movements in Finland were born precisely because people wanted to get personal clarity on the matter. Paavo Ruotsalainen and other leaders of the revivalism would certainly not be known now if they had left the matter halfway. They wanted to know how to be saved and be in the faith, because it is written: “Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith” (2 Cor 13:5). What if such a person is asked about the foundation of his hope? Often he may say that it is uncool and inappropriate because it is a personal matter. Or he may explain that nothing can be said with certainty about the things of soul and eternity. Such people may regard certainty as pride and Pharisaism, but uncertainty in the matter of salvation they may consider humility. Olav Valen-Sendstad tells more about the attitude of such people:
Usually, these kinds of people can be very religious. They are not only religious but also often think that they’re especially “profound” and “sensitive”. They do not want to investigate their God-relationship with too "hard" and "intrusively", since they like to call it a “personal matter”. “One’s relationship with God is not to be discussed with just anyone." The harsh truth is, however, that these pretenders are sleeping on sin. They do not want to hear anything about change of mind, conversion, faith or rebirth, since they oppose, despise, and quite frankly hate it. (1)
Denying assurance of salvation is a continuation of the previous one. Ordinary people usually say outright that they have no assurance of salvation and no connection with God. Instead, a convert with a theoretical faith goes around and goes around with the issue. He wants call himself a Christian, but when he lacks inner experience, he cannot give a definite answer. Thus, the convert usually denies the certainty of salvation and considers as humility a state in which he is unsure of the matter. The well-known preacher Niilo Yli-Vainio has explained the matter:
In the course of my spiritual work, I must have asked thousands of people if they were believers. An ordinary sinner admits, “Not yet.” But the convert goes round and round and does not give a direct answer to a direct question. He wants to be a Christian but he lacks the internal experience. That is why he cannot really even lie properly. He does not want to deny – or admit – that something in his innermost being says that there is no assurance of what has been talked about. (2)
What if we look at the Bible and what it says about this matter. According to it we can be sure of salvation. Jesus e.g. told the disciples to rejoice that their names were written in the books of heaven. It was impossible for the disciples to rejoice in this matter unless they were sure of it. This despite the fact that they were very imperfect:
- (Luke 10:20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
- (1 John 5:11) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- (Phil 4:3) And I entreat you also, true yoke fellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellow laborers, whose names are in the book of life.
- (Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
- (1 Peter 2:10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
- (Rom 8:15,16) For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
- (Col 3:13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
It should be noted, however, that assurance of salvation in itself does not bring about salvation, but belief in Jesus does. Many can truly be saved, but they might not yet have complete certainty of their salvation. They might struggle with it. The difference between them and converts believers is that the converts are happy with their state and do not even want assurance. They are not the kind of seekers who want to get to the bottom of things and get clarity. For them, the current state in which they live in uncertainty is enough. Why, then, is it that many lack the certainty of salvation? The main reason is that they are looking to their own feelings and transformation, and not to Jesus Christ, who has already borne sins for them. This is well written about in the following verses:
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- (Gal 3:1) O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
The most important feature in assurance of salvation is not that people would have joyful and boisterous feelings, but that we would be resting on the Word and its promises. We trust the promises of the Word outside ourselves, and not our own transformation. This is the only way to experience the assurance of salvation.
He is critical towards revival Christianity
- (Luke 7:29,30) And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John. 30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.
- (Isaiah 63:10) But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.
If we look at the Bible, the most active opponents of Jesus and the apostles were religious people. These repeatedly rejected the message that forgiveness of sins can be received as a gift through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Instead, ordinary people were much more positive to the gospel message. In modern times, many converts are similar opponents of the gospel and revival Christianity as the religious people of Jesus' time. For them, any kind of revival Christianity is always an offence; it is "sectarianism," ""ecstasy", "false faith," or "foreign," while they themselves have "right doctrine" and "the faith of the fathers." And if people begin to wake up from the sleep of sin, they may consider it a disturb of the peace of the congregation. They are then like a man through whom an evil spirit said, "torment me not." (Mark 5:7). Likewise, these people may have liked humility, silence, and the outward forms of Christianity, but in reality they reject turning to God, changing their minds, and accepting Jesus. The following example well describes the attitude of such people. It is difficult for them to understand the conversion of people and the work of God:
The enemy often paints white as black and black as white. When a town is in the grip of spiritual death and darkness, when the shepherds sleep and the sheep sleep, then it is usually thought that things are going well. People suppose that they have the right faith and doctrine. If a revival breaks out in such a locality, many are naturally ready to condemn it as sectarianism and the influence of false faith, which must be prevented. Many who have come to faith have then suffered a bloodless martyrdom because their faith is deemed wrong. Even in one town, when the Lord saved a few, one man made it a point to visit each convert to warn them, urging them to turn away from the "false faith". I once had the opportunity to say to that man: "It is quite strange that you now worry about these people who have been saved. Why didn't you come to warn them then, when they were running all nights on the roads of sin." (3)
Another quote talks about similar religious people. Their religion might include formalities and rituals, but they want to keep everything vague and uncertain. Paul must have meant people like this, when he said that “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (2 Tim 3:5).
But not always the reason lies in this; perhaps just as often it is in the people themselves. First of all, these people tend to object to clear definitions; they do not like clarity and certainty. Religion is comfortable when it is weak, vague and uncertain and full of forms and rituals. I am not at all surprised that Roman Catholicism attracts certain people. The weaker and more vague your religion is, the more comfortable it is. Nothing is more inconvenient than clear biblical truths that require solutions. That's why these people say, "You're too precise, you're too legalistic. I don't like this at all. I do believe in Christianity, but you are too inflexible and narrow-minded in your perceptions." (4)
When a convert does not believe in revival and rejects revival Christianity, he does not take history into account either. He does not take into account - even though he may be a member of some church and congregation - that in fact all Christian congregations and churches have in their time been born through revival. This is how the Catholic Church, the Episcopal Church and all Christian congregations were born. Although today they are only a shadow of what they once were, they were born through missionary work, evangelization and revival. The reason for the birth of spiritual movements and revivals was that the gospel had first been proclaimed, as Jesus urged:
- (Mark 16:15,16) And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.
Attitudes towards the Word
- (Matt 15:6-9) And honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have you made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draws near to me with their mouth, and honors me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
When it comes to the attitude of converts to God's word, it must be stated that they can have some respect for it. They may even take it as the word of God and believe that the things in it happened historically. But when we go to practical life, it must also be stated that this kind of religiosity always presents its own interpretations to God's word. What is "written" is not enough for it, but it has its own traditional rules and opinions on every matter. This is very evident in e.g. attitude towards sexual issues. A convert does not take instructions from the written word but from the changing trends of contemporary society. He does not believe that the teachings of Jesus and the apostles on sexual ethics are binding on modern people. Some of the converts also question the Bible's initial stories and creation. They think that science and Darwin's theory of evolution have proven creation impossible. However, this is where these converts are mistaken. No one has ever been able to demonstrate the creation of the universe from nothing, the creation of life by itself, or the transformation of one species into another. These are unproven theories. They control people's minds, but they have not been able to be observed and proven, just as it is impossible to prove creation afterwards. In this matter we are all people of faith. We believe either in creation or in the birth of everything by itself. However, it is much more reasonable to assume that everything has its creator, i.e. the Creator, as the Bible shows. So the characteristic of a convert is that he lowers God's word to the level of his own human understanding. He is critical of everything that is not in accordance with his reason, or he looks for instructions for e.g. sexual behavior from the currents of the surrounding society and not from the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones has explained the attitude of such people and how they approach the writings of the Bible:
The second problem with such people is that they are unable to fully accept the teachings and the authority of the Bible. I believe that this is the ultimate reason. They do not consider the Bible an authority and do not, unconditionally and definitively, surrender to the Bible’s teachings. If we approached the Bible like small children, taking it at full face value and letting it talk to us, there would be no such problem. However, such people mix their own ideas with the spiritual truth. Naturally, they claim that they do accept the Bible as a whole but – this is their fatal mistake – they immediately start to edit the message. They accept some thoughts but still want to retain other thoughts and philosophies from their old lives. They mix natural thoughts with spiritual ones. They say that they love the Sermon on the Mount and Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians. They say that they believe in Christ as the Saviour but they also think that we should not go too far but keep in moderation. This is where editing the message starts. They refuse to accept the Bible as an authority both in sermons and in real life, both in teachings and in relation to the world. “Times have changed,” they say, “and life is not what it used to be. We are now living in the 21st century.” They edit the Bible here and there to suit their ideas. The truth is, however, that the Bible is the word of God and timeless, and since it is the word of God, we must be subject to it and trust God to use His own tools in His own way. (5)
When an ordinary convert reads the Bible, he does not consider it a revelation from God to us either. Instead, he thinks that the Bible contains people's opinions and interpretations of God's word and God. He sees only man in everything - what people think and ponder about God - but not God as He really is. A person who lived in religiousness tells how he had such a notion until his conversion:
I used to believe that Christianity was only a religion among the many religions of the world. Then I met Jesus. It is then that I understood that Christianity is not a religion but God in our world. Everything else was religion, people’s thoughts about God. It was all based on the sinful nature of humans, whereas Christianity was God’s own manifestation in our world, His thoughts about us and His acts on behalf of us. Because I was overcome by religiousness, I always read the Bible in a religious manner. It was important for me that the different writers in the Bible all preached in their own time and had their own thoughts about God. They believed and hoped, thought and pondered things in their own ways and with their own ideas about the truth. Thus, the prophets of the Old Testament had their thoughts about God, Matthew his and Paul his. They were good and pious people. They were close to God and served Him. In all this, they fed my own thoughts about God. Once converted, I saw everything in a different light: the words of prophets and apostles became the word of God. They said what God had told them to say. They had no opinions about God: what they said were the ideas about God given to them by the Spirit of God. Thus, their thoughts about God became the thoughts of God, words inspired by God, all centring on Jesus Christ. Firstly and lastly, everything was about Him. (6)
"My God". When it comes to converts and people with theoretical faith, it is important to emphasize that they are not a unified group. Among them, there are very different emphases in relation to the matter of salvation and the essence of God. Some may speak strongly about the importance of works in salvation, but others may explain that God accepts all men as they are, period. This latter group believes that God does not condemn any person to hell. A person who belongs to those who think in this way may say: "My God is so good that he does not condemn anyone to hell, but everyone goes to heaven." If only the latter group is dealt with, they have a strangely impersonal God who does not react to anything. He doesn't love, or maybe he can love, but he doesn't react to other things. He doesn't care if people do bad or good, everything is indifferent to him. Therefore, people of this group do not believe in judgment after this life, but think that God is indifferent to it as well. However, one can ask, why should God be impersonal? If people are persons with feelings and who react to things, why can't God be like that too? For example, a mother can experience different emotions with her children. For example, the following feelings may be common:
- A mother loves her children. - She might worry about her children and their health. - She can be happy about their success. - A mother hates it if someone tries to harm her children. That is, a mother has hatred towards sin – in this case, towards sin that is directed at her children.
So one can ask, how do the people of this group know that God does not react to evil, and that there is no judgment and hell beyond the border? Because when they have no personal knowledge of the conditions beyond the border, and do not believe in the teaching of Jesus and the apostles on the subject, what remains is their own pure imagination. They are completely up to their imaginations because they have no experience with these things. Such information should not be trusted. Or if their opinions are to be trusted, it's like asking a Chinese or African farmer who has never been in New York for directions about this City. Such a person cannot give correct information because he does not know these regions. On the other hand, a God who does not react to evil, but is indifferent to it, is himself evil. If he accepts all evil and does not condemn wrongdoers, he will inevitably side with evil. I.e. if God exists and even unrepentant persons enter his kingdom, as the people of this group believe, such a God cannot be considered good. It is worth bringing up the parable of the children's mother again. While many accept God's love, but not God's hatred for sin and injustice, an ordinary mother of a family can still feel the same way: a mother loves her children and she hates it if someone tries to harm her children. That is, the mother has two different traits that do not contradict each other. Why is it difficult to connect this same thing to God? He, too, has a love for people, as well as holiness, or hatred for sin. There is no contradiction in them, as the following verses show:
- (1 John 4:8-10) He that loves not knows not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
- (Rom 1:18,19) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it to them.
THE SPIRITUAL STATE OF THE CONVERT. Next, we are going to investigate the spiritual state of a convert and a person with theoretical faith. Such a person may himself think for the good of his own spiritual state, but the problem is that he uses people's standards, not God's. In this matter, you should pay attention to the following points:
Comparison with others. One of the characteristics of a convert and and a person with theoretical faith is that he compares himself to others. A good example of this is Jesus' parable of the publican and the Pharisee. The Pharisee did thank God for everything, but compared himself to others such as the sinful publican. He saw himself as much better than the publican and other sinners:
- (Luke 18-9-14) And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank you, that I am not as other men are, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote on his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalts himself shall be abased; and he that humbles himself shall be exalted.
But is there benefit to being better than others, or not being as bad, in the eyes of God? Frankly, it does not have any benefit in terms of salvation, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Rom 3:23). Some might be better than others, but in God’s eyes everyone is far from perfection and sinlessness. None of us are perfect. David Pawson tells in one of his books, how futile it is to compare.
So long as you keep comparing yourself to others, you will think that you are righteous, but that is being self-righteous. I went to the barber to cut my hair and thought that it is time I talked to my barber. Whilst cutting my hair, he just said: “I am just as good as anyone who goes to your church.” I said: “I don’t believe you can say that before you know them better; you might be right, but that does not help you. He asked: “Why not?” I replied: “Are you as good as Jesus?” Our conversation stopped there as he went silent, but then he said: “Well, maybe not quite.” It was the beginning of him seeing himself as he truly was. He was a self-righteous man, because he thought he was good in comparison to other people. Many people do this. (7)
The problem with the convert is that he does not see his own sin, but only that of others. That is why it is often easier for publicans, harlots and other public sinners to accept the gospel. They know that they have sinned against God and that they cannot possibly earn salvation by themselves or influence it by their actions. The following words of Jesus fit this well:
- (Matt 21:28-32) But what think you? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them two did the will of his father? They say to him, The first. Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and you, when you had seen it, repented not afterward, that you might believe him.
They defend their sins
- (Mark 7:6) He answered and said to them, Well has Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
- (Jer 2:27) …for they have turned their back to me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
A convert may also repent, but it is a legalistic repentance, which is usually accompanied by fear of judgment and that sin is avoided only because of bad consequences such as shame and loss of reputation or illness. However, when the fear of judgment disappears or sin does not seem to have bad consequences, such a person may live quite carefree. He is not afraid of sins but may defend them. This shows that his inner being has not changed. Instead, repentance according to the gospel is always accompanied by the fear of committing a sin. Man does not want to sin because he is breaking God's will. He is afraid to sin because of the Lord, and not just because of the consequences of sin. Even if no one is watching, he wants to avoid sin solely for the sake of God and not because of the consequences. This shows that he has a new, God-given mind. It is also a sign of the new mind that he hates the sins that he loved most before. The problem with a convert is that his innermost being has never changed. Therefore, he may defend his sins or return to them as soon as his fear of judgment has subsided or he thinks that there are no bad consequences of sin. He does not have a sorrow according to the mind of God, which brings about repentance and a desire to avoid committing sin.
- (2 Cor 7:10) For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world works death.
Rodney Howard-Browne has accurately described the state of people, who have not changed from the inside, in his book “What it means to be born again” (p.4,5). These kinds of people might have traits of Christianity, like its frames and formalities and also a relationship with the congregation – many of them have grown up in Christian surroundings and have parents that are believers – but they have not yet experienced rebirth. Similarly, they might engage in spiritual activities, even take part in prayer, but they still don’t understand what real salvation is. They do not understand rebirth and have not changed from within. Because of that, their outer life remains the same.
The Lord told me, "Many people have even not been born again. They have never experienced being born again. They have never come under the cross. They have stood in line and said, ‘Jesus, I confess that you are my Lord and my Savior’ but in their hearts they have not changed." Being born again is not something that happens externally. Being saved is not done through reasoning. It takes place in the heart when one accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. That is when he will change. He will become a new creation. This very thing is so exiting in being born again. (…) Do not come to tell me that you have been born again while you still live your life as before. I will not believe you. I do not care about the congregation you attend to. I do not care even if your father were a deacon. I do not care even if you were the leader of the elders. I do not care even if you belonged to all possible committees. When you are born again, you will change. You will become a new creation. People who think they can be born again and yet carry on with their lives as usual deceive themselves. Their relationship with God is not right and they cover it so well that even they themselves do not see it. They have never repented. In fact, there are people who think that they are a good deal to God. They think that God somehow owes them salvation.
How do you recognize real awakening then? One of the most important signs is the true sorrow of sin, that is, sorrow according to God's mind. Things that didn't bother the conscience before begin to weigh on the mind. Man sees his lost state and how he is separated from God. He understands that he cannot earn salvation by himself. As a result, a person wants to repent and seek forgiveness for his sins. Luther explained this in one of his sermons:
Real repenting begins, when your conscience vehemently blames you, and your heart truly fears God’s wrath and judgement – not only the rude and obvious sins, but also unbelief, contempt and disobedience towards God… Because of all this, you are guilty before God, and you know you deserve His wrath and you deserve to be cast away from His sight forever and burn in hell. This remorse does not apply to single actions that contradict with the Ten Commandments of God, in a sense that a person thinks they can still find some good in them, despite everything. No, remorse applies to your whole persona, your whole essence. It wants to show you that you are under God’s wrath and doomed to hell. Remorse can begin from a certain sin, like David’s conscience blamed him for murder and adultery. But real remorse will apply to your whole life and will tell you that you are under God’s wrath and a child of hell. Then your heart will be so frightened that the whole world will become too cramped for you. (8)
He doesn't know himself. One characteristic of a convert is that he does not feel that he has done anything bad or wrong to anyone. He compares himself to others, but does not see his own spiritual blindness. He does not realize that sin lives in his heart and is part of his being. He doesn't know himself. Niilo Yli-Vainio has well described the condition of such people:
From the human point of view, it sometimes seems to be totally impossible for these kinds of "great", egocentric people to be saved at all. Sometimes, it simply seems to be impossible to show these people that they have sinned, when in most cases they themselves do not think that they have done anything bad or wrong to anybody. They always think that other people have done so, not them. Countless times I have totally failed in my work in trying to show the converts and religious people that they are sinners and in need of salvation. Sometimes I have been totally irritated with people who do not understand that they are sinners before God and need Jesus as their Savior. But praise God for this wonderful verse in the Bible, “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible”, Matt. 19:26. (9)
Then why is it that a convert sees only the sins of others but not the sin in himself? The direct answer is that the light of the Holy Spirit has not revealed the impurities within him. For when the light of the Holy Spirit comes, a person begins to see more and more clearly the wrong attitudes in himself: pride, irritability, lusts, self-righteousness, self-centeredness, lack of gratitude, useless talk, etc. It is similar to when light starts to enter a dark room and dust and other dirt that has not been detected before begins to be revealed. In the language of the Bible, we can talk about the law stopping a person's mouth. The law shows how far man is from perfection and how he himself is lost and separated from God. The law is an accusation that man has transgressed against God's will and cannot earn salvation by himself. He is like a shipwrecked man who needs rescue from the outside. In Romans and Galatians it is written on the subject:
- (Rom 3:19,20: Now we know that what things soever the law said, it said to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- (Gal 3:19-22) Why then serves the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness should have been by the law. 22 But the scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
One characteristic of a convert is that the law has never been allowed to make him defenseless and guilty before God. When the previous verses show how the purpose of the law is to bring us to this state, it is lacking in such a person. He has never been before God's law with his whole being and does not know his sinfulness and his recalcitrant mind towards God. He can compare himself to others, but does not understand that he is guilty before God. The convert's problem is precisely that he does not know his true state before God. He does not know his sinfulness, his wickedness (Rom 7:24: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death), lost state and how he is separated from God. The law has not been allowed to make him guilty and sinful before God, and therefore everything has remained empty and superficial. Because only when we understand our true condition and that we can't find comfort in anything about ourselves, our actions and our transformation, only then do we understand to look outside, that is, to Christ, who has done everything for us and can alone save us just like a shipwrecked person. The order is always this, and it is because of its absence many have not understood the whole matter. Charles H. Spurgeon has explained the matter:
However, in these times we hear of people who are healed before they are wounded, and who are assured of their justification, although they have never wept over their lost condition. However, we doubt the value of such healings and justifications. For this order of things does not agree with the truth. God never clothes a man until he first undresses them. Nor does he refresh them with the gospel until he has first beaten them with the law. So when you meet people in whom you can't see any sign of the realization of sin, you can be absolutely sure that the Holy Spirit has not influenced them, because "when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:". …You cannot see that you have won a soul to Jesus until he has ceased to trust in himself and his own merits and has come to Jesus. It must be carefully observed that through faith he owns Jesus for complete salvation and not just partially. (10)
false paths to salvation. If we examine what a convert gets comfort from and where he puts his hope, there can be several things. He may have faith in God and that Jesus is the Savior, but in practice he puts his hope in such things as sorrow for sin, saints, works and a chaste life. We will discuss a few of these false ways of salvations.
Sorrow of sin. Many converts find comfort in their sorrow for sin. They think that the sorrow of sin, the feeling of unworthiness, and the feeling of badness in themselves are enough. In this teaching and understanding, the "light of sin" is enough for salvation, and nothing else is needed. A characteristic of these people's farm is that they can continue in it for years and adapt to it quite well. They can eat, drink and live a normal life, even make fun of their condition, but they have no compelling need to seek salvation and help that comes only through Jesus Christ. If you talk to them about undeserved grace, which can be immediately received, they strangely humbly reject it. They think that they can't be so insolent as to dare to do such a thing. They may also pray "Holy God, have mercy on us", but at the same time reject mercy and assurance of salvation. They are like shipwrecked people who cry out for help but at the same time reject it if it is offered to them. They do not believe that a person can have the assurance of salvation and joy, even though, for example, Jesus urged his disciples to rejoice that their names were written in the heavens:
- (Luke 10:20) Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject to you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
So what is the problem with these people? The reason is not a big enough sense of sin, but a too little sense of sin. Because only such a sense of sin is genuine and real, where a person cannot stand his current state. As a result, he goes looking for salvation and help - not from himself, but from the outside, i.e. the atonement work of Jesus Christ. Only then will he find peace. The purpose of our sense of sin is not that God would be persuaded to give us his grace, but that we would be inclined to accept it. C.O. Rosenius has explained the matter:
So if you ask how much pain you must have from sin, we answer that it is not a question of any specific amount. You just need it so much that you cannot live without Christ, that you cannot find peace until you are saved in him. You don't need more, but you don't need less either. It is a mistake to think that first one has to mourn sin for a while and then one can believe. No, just start believing in Christ and then follow him in daily repentance, and you will know sin more and more clearly. (11)
Another problem with people who find comfort in their sorrow for sin is that they look inward. Only when they turn their eyes to Jesus Christ alone can they be saved. A good example is in the 16th chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. Paul did not urge the jailer to experience sorrow for sin or to do some repentance exercises first, but to believe, that is, to put his trust in Jesus. Salvation is as simple as this:
- (Acts 16:30,31) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
Merits. As stated, there are different emphases and groups among converts. They are not a united group, but their views vary. This is also the case in relation to salvation. Some may be grace-oriented, others law-oriented. C.O. Rosenius has explained this:
If we are dealing with a law-oriented concept, such people can also talk about God's grace. They may say that even the best life is God's grace. They can also explain that we must believe in Christ to become righteous. They do not directly say that we are saved by works. Instead, these people confuse grace and works. They understand that when a person first does his best, then God, because of Christ's atoning work, then gives His grace. Grace, in other words, is the benevolent addition that is missing from the human walk. Even if a person is not perfect, it is enough that he does what he can and God will eventually forgive him for Christ's sake. This view, which confuses law and grace and faith and works, is very clear in the Mormons' 3rd article of faith:
We believe that all people can be saved through Christ's Atonement by being obedient to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
Likewise, in his explanation of the letter to the Galatians, Luther explained the view in which man first does what he can and God then gives His grace:
The correct way to receive righteousness isn’t that you do what you can; this phrase is used by sophists and scholastics. They say that if a man does what he can then God will definitely give His grace to him. This saying is one of the most important of the sophists and is quite like a creed. However, in order to clearly show that they do not understand a word about Paul's doctrine and his gospel, they soften this statement as follows: That a man does what he can must not be understood absolutely, in a mathematical way, but in harmony with human nature, in other words, it is enough for a person to carry out what blameless people find acceptable; there is no question of an absolute manner, because there can be no such thing; it is enough to verge on that absolute, in other words, it is enough when someone does enough – fasts or does something similar – that according to the judgment of blameless people it may be said to be good; then surely the result will be mercy, not based on moderation per se, but on the basis of God's unfailing goodness: He is so good and righteous that He cannot fail to give mercy as a reward for sincerity. This is where the saying came from: Ultra posse viri non vult Deus ulla requiri (God does not require more from man than he can do).
This is a genuine Christian doctrine: we are justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law. Let not the impious explanation of the sophists in this matter shock you in the least, for they say that faith is righteousness only when love and good works come in addition to it. By this pernicious explanation they have obscured and corrupted the best passages of Scripture. ...It must therefore be avoided like hellish poison and must be concluded with Paul: we become righteous by faith alone, not by faith manifested by love. The power of justification is therefore not to be attributed to that qualifying manifestation, but to the faith that clings to the Savior, Christ, and owns him in its heart. This faith justifies without and before love.
When we then start to examine the previous view, there are numerous problems with it. Here you should pay attention to the following points:
Salvation is a gift. First of all, salvation is a gift, so if it is a gift, it cannot be mixed with works. If there are even a few actions involved and the person first does what they can, it is not a gift but a merit. Moreover, when salvation is a gift, receiving it does not take years, months, weeks or even an hour, but a person can receive it in one moment, just as we receive other gifts.
- (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- (Rom 3:24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
- (Rev 21:6) And he said to me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Past tense. Law-oriented converts see salvation as a process. Here, however, they confuse sanctification and salvation. Sanctification is indeed a lifelong process, but salvation and becoming a child of God happen in one moment. It happens at the moment when a person turns to Jesus Christ in his heart and welcomes him as his Savior and Lord:
- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
In the following verses, you should especially pay attention to how salvation, rebirth and receiving grace are spoken of in the past tense for believers. It means that they were already saved, regenerated and received grace earlier. This is also the case in modern times. Everyone can experience these things the moment he turns his heart to Jesus Christ:
- (1 John 5:11) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
- (Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
- (2 Tim 1:9) Who has saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
- (Col 1:13) Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
- (1 Peter 2:10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
- (1 Peter 1:23) Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and stays for ever.
- (Jam 1:18) Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
The requirements of the law cannot be lowered. In the previous quote, Luther told how law-oriented converts might lower the requirements of the law. They might compromise the law and set the goal so low that it can be achieved. This can naturally lead to complacency, self-righteousness and false security. However, these people do not understand that the law expresses the perfect, holy and sinless nature of God. The law shows how far we are from perfection and sinlessness. The law does not give life but its purpose is to stop every mouth and show us guilty as previously stated (Romans 3:19,20 and Gal 3:19-22). The law shows how in ourselves we are lost and separated from God:
- (Jam 2:10) For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
- (Gal 3:10,11) For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
So how can God save us if none of us keep the law? There is a simple answer to this. We must put our trust in the fact that God's Son Jesus Christ came under the law and fulfilled the law for us. God applied the law to Jesus, who lived a sinless and perfect life for us and finally died for us. He was our substitute in everything. When we put our trust solely in this work of God in Jesus Christ, and not partially in our own works, we can be saved:
- (Matt 5:17) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
- (Gal 4:4,5) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
- (Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree
- (Rom 8:3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
In the following passages one should pay attention to the word ‘for’. Jesus became a substitute for us and fulfilled the requirements of God’s law for us. When we believe, i.e. put our faith in this matter and Jesus, we can receive salvation:
- (Rom 5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
- (Rom 5:8) But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- (Rom 8:32) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
- (Gal 2:20) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- (Gal 3:13) Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree
- (1 Thess 5:10) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
- (Tit 2:14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify to himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
- (1 John 3:16) Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- (1 Tim 2:6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
- (1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
- (Hebr 6:20) Where the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
- (Isa 53:5-6) But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was on him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
- (Rom 4:25) Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
Where do we need acts? When reading the New Testament, you can find, e.g., in the following passages, how we are saved without acts:
- (Rom 3:28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
- (Rom 4:5,6) But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, to whom God imputes righteousness without works,
- (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
- (Gal 2:16) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- (Tit 3:5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
So why are actions needed? It is important to emphasize that they are not a condition of salvation but a consequence of it. When the letters of the New Testament talk about works, these letters are written to believers. They should practice works, not to be saved, but because they are saved. These are actions influenced by faith. The order is always this, and if it is reversed, no person will find peace of mind and certainty of salvation. For example, Paul, who most strongly emphasized salvation through faith alone, also spoke most about good works. They are the result of faith:
- (2 Thess 1:11) Why also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power
- (Rom 1:5) By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name
He has a theoretical FAITH. A convert has a theoretical faith. He may have been involved in Christian teaching and has no doubts about the teachings and historicity of the Bible, but he has no personal relationship with God. He can consider everything that is written in the Bible to be true, including the atoning work and resurrection of Jesus, because his father and mother have also done so, but he has never been converted himself. A couple of examples well illustrate this type of intellectual and theoretical belief. Well-known preachers Charles G. Finney and Niilo Yli-Vainio speak about it:
Charles G. Finney: I’ve been faced with this faulty view of Christian belief’s nature often after I have received permission to preach. I noted, especially during my earlier years of service, that believing in “articles of faith” were heavily emphasized, and it was claimed that the belief was believing doctrines related to the Christ with firm conviction. Therefore, as a prerequisite for faith, the acceptance of the doctrines, DOCTRINES, doctrines of the Gospels was required. But I had been led to accept these doctrines intellectually and steadily before my conversion. And when I was told that I needed to believe, I replied that I believe—and no argument or assurance could convince me that I did not believe the gospel. And until the moment of my conversion, I was not, and could not be convinced, of my mistake. At the moment of my conversion or when I first time practiced faith, I saw my disastrous mistake. I noticed that faith is not a rational conviction of that the truths about Christ in the Bible are true but it is trust of heart in the person of Christ. I learned that God’s witness of Christ had to lead me to trust in Christ, to believe in Him as my Saviour, and that mere believing in the doctrines of Christ was a fateful mistake, which unavoidably left me to my sins. (...) Besides firm rational conviction being directed to His willingness and abilities, it would also be of utmost importance to go to Him, turn to Him and trust Him… (13)
Niilo Yli-Vainio: I was saved at 25 years old, but as long as I can remember, I had believed in God. I had believed everything that was said about Him. I believed that Jesus had died on the cross and that He had resurrected. I believed there is heaven and hell. On top of that, I had been a member of church for 25 years and attended holy communion and even tried to be serious about it. I respected God more than anything. And despite all this “faith” that I had, I was not saved, just like demons. What was wrong with this “faith” of mine? It was rational, intellectual faith, which was in my head but not in my heart. (14)
So what is living faith? It is not just rational believing, but in it a person turns to God and Jesus Christ and surrenders himself and his whole life into God's hands. It is coming to Jesus Christ because He has said:
- (Matt 11:28) Come to me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
- (John 5:39,40) Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
Moreover, living faith is that a person puts all his trust in the matter of salvation in Jesus Christ alone and not in anything in himself. He shifts his gaze from himself and his own actions to Jesus, who has already borne all his sins and established relations with God:
- (John 1:29) The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- (Acts 16:30,31) And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved, and your house.
So you, who have a theoretical faith, do not leave the matter halfway, but turn to Jesus Christ, surrender yourself to him, and receive salvation. According to the Bible, if you have received Jesus and turned to Him, you are a child of God and you have eternal life:
- (John 5:40) And you will not come to me, that you might have life.
- (John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- (1 Joh 5:11-13) And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that has the Son has life; and he that has not the Son of God has not life. 13 These things have I written to you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The prayer of salvation. Lord Jesus, I turn to You. I confess that I have sinned against You and I have not lived according to Your will. However, I want to turn from my sins and follow You with all my heart. I believe that my sins have been forgiven by Your atonement work and I have received eternal life through You. I thank You for the salvation You have given me. Amen.
Important questions. Here are some important questions to ask yourself at the end. They give some indication of what your own spiritual state is.
1. How do you understand rebirth? Have you been born again yourself and when did it happen? If you are not born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God, according to Jesus. In being born again, it is important to understand that it does not mean a new way of life, external Christian habits or an attempt to save oneself. Rebirth is also not a process, but something that happens in a moment like a natural birth. Rebirth happens when a person turns to Jesus Christ in his heart, surrenders himself to God, and receives and welcomes Jesus into his life.
- (John 3:2,3,7) The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 7 Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again.
2. Do you think of Christianity in the way that a person does his best and God then gives his grace for the sake of Jesus Christ? If you think this way, you have misunderstood Christianity and salvation. Salvation is received as a gift and is not obtained at the end of a long struggle for sanctification. Works and sanctification are important things, but they are positive consequences of receiving the gift of salvation.
3. Do you thirst for change in your own life, as Jesus said? Or are you satisfied with your current spirituality, as the Book of Revelation describes the state of the Laodicean church? One of the clearest signs of spiritual death is that a person does not thirst for change in his life.
- (Matt 5:2,3,6) And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
- (Rev 3:14-19) And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things said the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. 16 So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. 17 Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
4. Do you have a desire to do God's will? This is one of the clearest signs of genuine conversion. A person may not always be able to comply with it and may have a struggle for it, but if he has no interest in the matter, he has not yet been saved:
- (Rom 7:22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
- (Rom 6:17) But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
5. Do you long for the salvation of people's souls as it was Paul's strong desire? Do you pray for people to be saved? The concern for the salvation of other souls is one of the most important signs of salvation. When a person has become saved himself, he immediately worries about the fate of other souls. If we are not concerned about the fate of others, we are certainly not saved:
- (Rom 9:1-3) I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh:
- (Rom 10:1) Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
6. If you were to die today, are you one hundred percent sure that God has forgiven all your sins and that he will welcome you to heaven? If you are 100% sure about it, how do you justify it? Or if you are not sure about it, how do you justify it? The only way we can have assurance is to turn to Jesus Christ and put our trust in him and the promises of the Word that speak of his atoning work.
7. Where do you get comfort in a spiritual sense before God? Are you glad that you are not as bad as others, that you go to spiritual meetings every now and then, or that you have done some good deeds? If you get comfort from things like this and not from what God did for us through Jesus, you have the wrong reasons for comfort. No one gets certainty through actions, going to meetings or being better than others.
8. Do you ever pray? If you pray, what do you pray for? Have you prayed for the salvation of people's souls and the advancement of God's work, or what have you prayed for? A convert and a person with a theoretical faith usually prays only for his own things, but not for the salvation of souls and God's work.
- (Matt 9:37,38) Then said he to his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few; 38 Pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth laborers into his harvest.
- (2 Thess 3:1) Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:
- (Rom 10:1) Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
9. What is your attitude towards the Bible? Do you think it is man's thoughts about God or God's revelation to us? The desire to read the Bible and consider it the word of God is part of genuine conversion. We can, as it were, get an inner understanding of the matter, even if we had thought completely differently before. We can also feel sad if the authority of the Bible is undermined or God's will in society is not fulfilled:
- (Ps 119:103-105) How sweet are your words to my taste! yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 105 Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.
- (1 Thess 2:9,13) For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail: for laboring night and day, because we would not be chargeable to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us, you received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works also in you that believe.
- (1 John 2:14) I have written to you, fathers, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God stays in you, and you have overcome the wicked one.
10. Have you donated at least a tenth of your proceeds to spiritual work? Jesus, for example, urged us to do so.
- (Matt 23:23) Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought you to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
11. Have you felt your own wretchedness and how are you thoroughly evil and selfish as Paul described his own condition in Romans chapter seven? If you haven't experienced this at all, chances are you haven't been saved yet. Whenever a person comes into communion with God, he notices in himself more and more flaws and wrong attitudes.
- (Isa 6:5) 5 Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the middle of a people of unclean lips: for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
- (Hebr 4:12,13) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
- (Rom 7:14-24) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent to the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
12. According to the teaching of Jesus the greatest commandment is to love God and your neighbor with all your heart and strength (Matt 22:35-40, Mark 12:28-31). Do you think you have followed this rule during every second of your life? That is if the greatest commandment is following the former, wouldn’t it mean that the greatest sin is not having followed it? The problem for a convert and a person with theoretical faith is precisely that he does not see that he has committed any great sins and that he compares himself to others. But according to Jesus he is guilty of breaking the greatest commandment, and by that guilty of committing the greatest sin. If a man does not love God and his neighbor with all his being at every single moment, he will live in a state of great sinner all the time. Only such a person will understand to seek forgiveness of sins who has first discovered his own bad state and separation from God.
- (Matt 22:35-40) Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like to it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Finally, we bring up the vision of John Bevere, which is related to the subject. The vision shows how a person can consider himself a Christian and saved, but still be outside the gates of salvation and heaven. The reason for the condition of these people is surely that they have never repented of their sins and wanted to change inside. They have not allowed God to work in their lives or maybe at some point they have gradually separated from him. One of the reasons why people can consider themselves Christians, even though they are outside the gates of heaven and salvation, can also be a false preaching. It means that our preaching today is very much focused on God's love – “God loves you just as you are” – but not on his righteousness and holiness. People are told how God loves them (which, of course, is true because Jesus appeared in the world), but not first told how he hates sin and how sin separates us from Him. There is no telling about His perfection and holiness and that people will be held accountable for what they do if they remain unrepentant. People may understand that they are saved and the object of God's love without ever being in the light of God's law and seeing their true state. As a result, they may consider themselves saved even though they are not. So here's a look at John Bevere's vision. It tells about countless people who expect to go to heaven, but who are not changed inside. The vision coincides with the words of Jesus mentioned at the beginning of the writing (e.g. the parable of the ten virgins):
I received a breathtaking spiritual vision in prayer. It changed my life and my service work. I saw a large group of people, countless of people, a group so large I had never seen such before. These people were gathered outside the gates of Heaven, waiting to be let in and hear the Master say, ”Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:” (Matt 25:34). Instead, they heard Him say, ”Depart from me, you cursed.” I saw their horrible shock, anguish and horror. They actually believed they would go to Heaven because they confessed the faith and Jesus as their Lord. However, they had not understood the true meaning of sin. Even though they wanted to get to Heaven, they lacked a burning desire to be obedient to our Father’s will. (15)
Finally, if you are unsure of your own spiritual state, turn to God and ask Him for understanding for your state. You can tell God that you want to find Him and understand salvation. The following promises of the Word are related to the topic:
- (Matt 7:8-10) For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened. 9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
- (John 7:17) If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.
REFERENCES
1. Olav Valen-Sendstad: Sovinto Jumalan kanssa (Forsonet Med Gud), s. 31 2. Niilo Yli-Vainio: Kristitty vai käännynnäinen, s. 21 3. Lauri Hokkanen: mikä usko on oikea?, s. 4 4. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Terve usko, Raamatun apu masennukseen (Spiritual Depression. Its Causes and Cure), s. 45 5. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: Terve usko, Raamatun apu masennukseen (Spiritual Depression. Its Causes and Cure), s. 45,46 6. Aksel Valen-Sendstad: Jäähyväiset uskonnolle (FARVEL TIL RELIGIONEN), s. 125,126 7. David Pawson: Vanhurskas Jumala ja vanhurskauden evankeliumi (The God and the Gospel of Righteousness), s. 50,51 8. C.O. Rosenius, Tie rauhaan (Vägledning till frid), s. 30 9. Niilo Yli-Vainio: Kristitty vai käännynnäinen, s. 101,102 10. Charles H. Spurgeon: Sielujenvoittaja (The Soul-Winner), s. 20,21 11. C.O. Rosenius: Tie rauhaan (Vägledning till frid), s. 62 12. C.O. Rosenius: Vanhurskaana Jeesuksessa (Rättfärdig i Jesus), s. 10 13. Charles G. Finney: Voima korkeudesta (Power from on High), s. 126, 127 14. Niilo Yli-Vainio: Miten voisin pelastua, s. 34 15. John Bevere: Turvapaikka (Under Cover), s. 47,48
Religiousness or faith? What is the difference between religiosity and saving faith in Jesus and God? They are not the same thing About salvation. How do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses understand salvation, and how their teaching differs from traditional Christian and biblical teaching? Jesus and the Catholics. Mary, the merits of the saints, the works of atonement, and the sacraments have supplanted Jesus in the Catholic Church. Therefore, most lack salvation and certainty Church leaders and God; that is, how many priests and bishops have drifted beyond the Christian faith Misled priests; that is, how modern priests have created their own religion based on the basic assumptions of atheism A message to a Church employee. Modern priests want to appear tolerant and progressive, but at the same time they give their support to injustice
|
Jesus is the way, the truth and the life
Grap to eternal life!
|
Religiousness or faith? What is the difference between religiosity and saving faith in Jesus and God? They are not the same thing About salvation. How do Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses understand salvation, and how their teaching differs from traditional Christian and biblical teaching? Jesus and the Catholics. Mary, the merits of the saints, the works of atonement, and the sacraments have supplanted Jesus in the Catholic Church. Therefore, most lack salvation and certainty Church leaders and God; that is, how many priests and bishops have drifted beyond the Christian faith Misled priests; that is, how modern priests have created their own religion based on the basic assumptions of atheism A message to a Church employee. Modern priests want to appear tolerant and progressive, but at the same time they give their support to injustice
|
