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Bro. Ostis Wilson Jr.'s Commentary |
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Salvation (Justification) |
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Questions Concerning . . . |
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(Click on a heading to read
the respective article.) |
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Repentance
Question: Will you please discuss REPENTANCE; what is
it, etc.?
Answer: This is a legitimate and good question and I am
glad it has been presented because I fear there may be a
number of others who do not know what genuine REPENTANCE is.
Therefore I discuss it cheerfully and freely.
Repentance is very basic to salvation and to the gospel. In
the preaching of John the Baptist, he said in Matthew 3:2,
"...Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Jesus
preached this same exact message (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:14-15).
We see here that repentance is a basic requirement for
entering into the kingdom of God; being saved. In Mark 1:15,
Jesus said, "...Repent ye, and believe the gospel." This
scripture takes on strong emphasis in the light of another
statement of Jesus in Matthew 21:32, "...ye,...repented not
afterward, that ye might believe..." These scriptures teach us
that a lack in our repentance is an obstacle to faith or
believing the gospel for salvation. A defect and lack in
repentance may account for the shallow experience that some
have and their lack of ability to live victoriously and
triumphantly in the severe situations of life and to exercise
faith and trust God fully in life and death situations. I hold
the position that a full and complete repentance will produce
a saving faith. "When thy soul the perfect price hath paid,
God will send the holy fire." When God sees that a soul has
genuinely, completely repented, totally renounced, rejected
and forsaken all sin, and turned to Him with the whole heart,
He will give him faith to "...believe to the saving of the
soul." (Hebrews 10:39.) Faith to believe the gospel and be
save is not a of us but is a gift of God (Ephesians 2:8) and
He withholds it until the repentance is complete and then He
gives it. It would be easy, therefore, to discern the supreme
importance of complete, genuine repentance to our salvation
and to our relationship with God thereafter.
In Luke 13:1-5, Jesus referred to two groups who had miserably
and violently perished. Then He said to those present
"...Think ye that they were sinners above all men...?" He then
told them His own judgment in the question: "...Nay: but,
except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Ah, let us
grasp the urgency of the situation here. It is repent or
perish. Acts 17:30 says, He . ..now commandeth all men every
where to repent." The call of the gospel is to all men; rich,
poor, high, low, Jews, Gentiles, all nations, kindreds,
tongues and people. The only way that one can enter into the
kingdom of God is to "Repent, and believe the gospel."
Having discussed the importance of repentance, and it is
supremely important to the extent of repenting or perishing,
let us consider some of what it is. Cruden's Concordance says
of repent or repentance, that it is "used of regret and sorrow
for having done some deed." He further says, "Godly
repentance, which means such sorrow as shall cause a complete
change of action." One definition says, "A turning away in
heart and practice from that which is forbidden to that which
is required." One describes it as "An amendment of life."
Perhaps the best and simplest definition was given by a young
boy in a class. The teacher asked if anyone in the class could
tell her what repentance was. One boy held up his hand so she
called on him to explain. He said that it was being sorry for
your sins. The teacher thought that was an excellent answer
but asked if anyone else wanted to say anything and another
boy held up his hand. The teacher said surely he could not add
anything to what the other boy had said and he said, "Yes, I
can, too." So the teacher called on him and he said, "It is
being sorry enough for your sins to quit them." Ah, there you
have it folks. But let us see how the Scripture speaks in
regard to all these definitions of repentance that men have
given, because the Scriptures are the final authority.
Ezekiel 18:30 says, "...Repent, and turn yourselves from all
your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin."
Verse 31 says further, "Cast away from you all your
transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a
new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of
Israel?" Did you notice in these verses how all-encompassing
repentance is? One of the key words here is "ALL." "Turn
yourselves from ALL your transgressions" and "Cast away from
you ALL your transgressions." Folks, it is all or nothing with
God; no little pet sins, no secret corners in the heart we
don't want to let God into, no reservations, but a total,
complete renunciation and forsaking of all sin out of our
lives. Proverbs 28:13 says, "He that covereth his sins shall
not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall
have mercy." Repentance involves an open confession of sins
and then a forsaking of them. I John 1:9 says, "If we confess
our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and
to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. God has not promised
us mercy and forgiveness of sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness of life, and we have no claim on Him for this,
neither can we believe for it to bring peace to our souls
until we have openly and freely confessed our sins to God and
forsaken them and asked for His mercy and forgiveness.
Neither is confession of our sins to God sufficient if in our
sinning we have wronged or injured other people. Confession
and restitution must also be made to them. Repentance also
requires our straightening up our lives with other people as
far as is possible to do so. Ezekiel 33:14-15 says, "Again,
when I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; if he turn
from his sin, and do that which is lawful and right; If the
wicked one restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed,
walk in the statutes of life, without committing iniquity; he
shall surely live, he shall not die." In Luke 19:8, Zacchaeus
stood before Jesus and confessed Him as "Lord" and said that
if he had defrauded any man he would restore him fourfold and
Jesus told him in verse nine that salvation was come to his
house that day. In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus discussed the matter
of our dealings with a wronged or offended brother. He said if
you approach God's altar to present an offering and remember
that a brother has something against thee, leave and go in
search of the offended or wronged brother and confess your
wrong to your brother and go all out to make it right with him
and be reconciled to him. Read II Corinthians 7:10-11 for a
description of the fruits of repentance prompted by godly
sorrow, a carefulness of life, a clearing of yourselves, an
indignation against the enemy of your soul and all the wrong
he has involved you in against God and men and a vehement
desire to be right and at peace with God and your fellow men.
This, I think, gives a pretty general coverage of what
repentance is.
There is another thing which this lesson would not be complete
without. That is the matter of our forgiving the wrongs of
other people against ourselves. Many are limping around
without power to live a successful, consistent Christian life
on this account. In Matthew 6:12, Jesus taught us to pray,
"...Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors." An
important part of a seeking sinner's repentance is to forgive
from his heart every person whom he is holding anything
against. He will never find peace with God until he does. It
is a very important part of obtaining salvation and after one
has obtained salvation, it is a very important part of
maintaining that salvation to keep a forgiving heart and
attitude and never allow any malice, grudge, bitterness,
resentment or hard feelings toward any person to get into your
heart. It will disturb your peace with God and result in you
having some more repenting to do. God bless you all. |
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Doctrine of Justification
Question: Will you please discuss the doctrine of
justification?
Answer: Justification is defined in the dictionary as
(1) the act of justifying; and (2) The condition or fact of
being justified. Justifier is defined as "One who justifies."
Justify is theologically defined in the dictionary as "To free
man of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin."
Justification is the legal aspect of our salvation; the
absolving from guilt by the forgiveness of all of our sins.
Psalms 103:3 says of the Lord God "Who forgiveth all thine
iniquities;..." As the dictionary defines "Justifier" as "One
who justifies," so the Scripture says in Romans 8:33, that it
is God that justifieth. Hence, God is the Justifier who
justifies sinful men on certain grounds and conditions and for
specific reasons. Psalms 103:10-12 says, "He hath not dealt
with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our
iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so
great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the
east is from the west, so far hath he removed our
transgressions from us." The reason and grounds for God not
dealing with us after our sins nor rewarding us according to
our iniquities will be seen as we proceed. Another scripture
confirming God as the Justifier is Isaiah 43:25. "I, even I,
am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake,
and will not remember thy sins." Again in Hebrews 8:12,
speaking of His new covenant He would make with the people,
God said, "For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness,
and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more."
In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be
established. (Matthew 18:16; John 8:17.) So these texts are
sufficient to establish God as the Justifier and He is the
only Justifier. If we obtain justification for our sins at
all, we must receive it directly from Him. So now we will move
on to discuss the grounds on which He can righteously justify
us; blot out all our transgressions and remember our sins no
more.
Since all humankind was blighted by sin as a result of the
disobedience of our fore parents (Adam and Eve) in the Garden
of Eden and their sinful state separated all of them from God
(Isaiah 59:1-2), there existed no point of contact between God
and man and no means of approach to Him; consequently no
remedy for the doleful condition. But God was not satisfied
with that condition because He loved mankind and wanted
fellowship with him. So He set about to devise a means of
reconciliation. In Isaiah 59:16 we read this, "And he saw that
there was no...intercessor: therefore his arm brought
salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him."
God must bring this about in a way to protect His own
character and sustain His own righteousness, holiness and
justice. God Himself had decreed a penalty of death for sin.
(Genesis 2:17; Ezekiel 18:4; Romans 5:12 and 6:23.) Therefore
the acceptable sacrifice for sin must be one subject to death
and the shedding of blood "...Without shedding of blood there
is no remission." (Hebrews 9:22.) But man could not accomplish
this for himself because the sin sacrifice must be perfect
without spot or blemish (Leviticus 22:19-20), and no man could
qualify here because "...All have sinned and come short of the
glory of God." Romans 3:23. (See also Romans 5:12.)
So when God looked over the entire human race and saw no man
who was eligible to make an atonement for the sins of the race
and qualify to stand in the breach between God and man and act
as a mediator, go-between, intercessor between them, He never
abandoned the project and gave it up as a bad job. He made Him
a man (Jesus) Who accomplished the redemption of the human
race. (Isaiah 59:16 and Revelation 5:1-10.) "For God so loved
the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;
but that the world through him might be saved." John 3:16-17.
Ah! folks, here is our redemption and salvation and our ONLY
redemption and salvation because Jesus, the Son of God,
offered Himself to God a sacrifice for our sins "...as of a
lamb without blemish and without spot" I Peter 1:19. (See also
Hebrews 9:14.)
Romans 3:24-26 says, "Being JUSTIFIED freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath
set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to
declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at
this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the
justifier of him which believeth in Jesus." There could be no
compromise here if God were to maintain His own character of
holiness, righteousness and justice. The full penalty for sin
(death) must be paid and it must be paid by One who was
eligible and qualified to pay it, having no stain of sin upon
Him and no spot in His character if God could be justified in
forgiving sin and justifying sinful men. This was the great
problem of redemption but Jesus solved it and bridged the gap
by offering a total and acceptable sacrifice for sin and dying
in our stead and His shed blood was a sufficient redemption
for sin. Now, under this arrangement, God can still be God as
holy, righteous, and just as He was before and still justify
sinful men who will humble their hearts, confess, forsake and
repent of their sins, believe Jesus Christ as God's Son and
their Saviour and put their faith in the merits of the
all-atoning blood of Jesus Christ and that ONLY for the
forgiveness of their sins. Jesus bore our sins in His own body
on the tree (I Peter 2:24), He tasted death for every man
(Hebrews 2:9), and God placed on Him the iniquity of us all
(Isaiah 53:6). Therefore God can have mercy on them who are
out of the way and freely forgive their sins and blot out all
their transgressions and remember them no more when they come
unto Him by Jesus Christ. This is total and complete
justification by God for Jesus' sake.
Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Peace with God
is the result of justification. It is sin that breeds the
quarrel between man and God and separates us from Him. (Isaiah
59:1-2.) When sins are forgiven and blotted out, the cause of
the enmity is removed and peace is restored. This peace is
through Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant. Jesus has
qualified as the One and only Mediator between God and man and
to be our Intercessor at the throne of grace. We can come unto
God through Him in His name and in no other way. Read the
following scriptures: John 14:6; Romans 8:34; I Timothy 2:5;
Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 8:6; Hebrews 12:24; and Hebrews 7:25.
Jesus is right now appearing in the presence of God for us
mediating and making intercession for all who will come unto
God by Him.
But there is one more thing I must add before I close this
little article. Let us not settle too cheaply on this matter
of New Testament justification. We have dealt much on the
thought of God forgiving all of our sins, blotting out all our
transgressions, canceling out all our past life and justifying
us and declaring us righteous on the basis of Christ's
righteousness and our faith in Him. Wonderful!! But this is
only one part of God's process of justification. When He has
done this, He then imparts to the justified person a power and
grace to have victory over sin and to live a life free from
sin. In Acts 13:39 we read, "And by him all that believe are
justified FROM all things, FROM which ye could not be
justified by the law of Moses." The key word in this text is
the word "FROM." God forgave sins under the law of Moses when
the required sacrifice was offered. Man was forgiven but that
was all. He received no power to enable him to live without
sinning so he had to bring his sacrifice again and again. But
in justification under grace he is justified FROM those sins
when they are forgiven and receives power and grace to live
victoriously over sin. |
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Restitution
Question: What state should a person be in to make
restitution; a justified state or a sanctified state? Should
they be advised by the minister or let it be the leading of
the Lord?
Answer: I am truly glad to have this question presented
because it opens the door to give some general instruction on
this very important subject which is too much overlooked and
neglected by some. Because of this neglect some fail to become
established on a solid footing and foundation in their
Christian lives and go through all their lifetime in an
unstable, up and down state and condition, or sometimes just
quit trying and give up altogether. This is really serious and
I sincerely hope that every reader will give serious
consideration to this discussion throughout.
The Bible teaches restitution, making our wrongs right,
straightening up our lives, in both the Old and New
Testaments. This has always been a requirement of God for His
people. When God's Word said in Hebrews 12:13, "And make
straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be
turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed," He did
not mean for us to just level off and go straight from there
on when we get saved. He also covered the ground of the wrong
things we had done in our past lives before we were saved; go
back and straighten them up, too. This is evident from the
fact that reference is made to the person who has been made
lame or crippled being turned out of the way. We will not be
healed if we do not make straight paths for our feet. In other
words, that person whom we have wronged, hurt, or offended,
may stumble over that thing and fall and go down to eternal
destruction unless we take strong measures to straighten the
thing and make it right. Our professing salvation right over
it will only intensify his hurt and gouge his sore. If we have
wronged someone, or hurt or offended him, or treated him
harshly or severely, or spoken sharply or severely to him, all
the kindness and goodness we can show to him will not heal
that hurt. We will have to confess our wrong and make
restitution for it, seek his forgiveness and heal the hurt.
Then rebuild the relationship by goodness and kindness.
I had an experience once (at least) that illustrates what I am
saying here. There was a brother in our congregation that did
some rather unwise things at times and it got to be quite a
trial to myself and others. I had been praying about these
things and thinking to talk with him about them. Well, it so
happened that something occurred in the Sunday night service
that struck me funny and I laughed. It offended this brother
though I did not know it. I was working with him and the next
day when we were working he brought this up and reproved me
for laughing as I did and said it was not a proper example for
a minister to set. Well, in the course of the conversation
while we were on the subject, I just admonished him a little
and went on back to work. The Lord smote me heavily and told
me I surely should not have said that to the brother and
should have said nothing at all to him at that time because he
was reproving me and that appeared as retaliation. I just
dropped what I was doing and went right back to that brother
and said to him, "Brother, I want to acknowledge to you that I
spoke very inadvertently and what I said was very much out of
order and I was wrong, dead wrong, in saying anything at all
to you under the circumstances and I beg your forgiveness for
it." He graciously forgave me. The way that case worked out
was interesting. In a camp meeting that brother went to the
altar for some help. I went to pray with him and then the door
was open for me to talk with him about everything I had on my
heart to say to him and he received it very graciously and
humbly. The wound had already been healed.
In Ezekiel 33:15, it says, "If the wicked restore the pledge,
give again that he had robbed, walk in the statutes of life,
without committing iniquity; he shall surely live, he shall
not die." In this text we see that restitution involves giving
back anything of a material substance which one has wrongfully
taken; appropriating anything to his own use which did not
belong to him. It matters not if it belongs to some member of
one's own family or a close friend or a group of which he is a
member, etc.; if he took it wrongfully without permission, he
must confess his wrong and give it back. All such things must
be made right when one becomes a Christian, regardless of who
is involved. I had to make some things right with my own
parents. God required this of me. Also, this text involves one
going back and making restitution for those broken pledges and
reckless, irresponsible promises one may make and never
perform or fulfill. Some people make reckless promises to
people who then make their plans accordingly, counting on
those promises. Then when the time comes to perform that
promise it is not just convenient for the party to fulfill the
promise he has given. Many times they do not even bother to
contact the party who is depending on them and just leave them
"swinging." Then they wonder why that party doesn't have
confidence in them. Let me announce to you that people are not
supposed to have confidence in you if you do not fulfill your
word and are irresponsible. God's Word declares this to be
wrong and that it must be confessed and restitution made for
it. Psalm 15:4 says, "...He that sweareth to his own hurt, and
changeth not." We see here that God actually requires saints
to be dependable people and people of their word. If one has
been reckless and careless on this line, he needs to confess
his wrong and make restitution for it and straighten up his
life.
How urgent and important is this? We read in Matthew 5:23-24,
"Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave
there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift."
It is just that urgent and that important. God will actually
refuse to accept our gifts and sacrifices to Him material
substance, spiritual sacrifices (prayer, devotion, worship)
which we bring to offer unto Him, if in the process of doing
this He brings to our minds and convicts us of something we
need to clear up with a fellow man and we refuse or neglect to
do it. He requires us to clear things with our fellow man and
makes it clear in verses 25 and 26 what will be the result
with us if we don't. You will be put under bondage and will
not come out until you have paid the uttermost farthing. In
other words, when one commits a trespass against another he is
required to go all out to clear the matter with him even if he
is unreasonable and overly exacting. God wants us to remove
the stumbling block out of his way over which he might stumble
and help him get to heaven, too, if possible.
Zachaeus understood this from the law under which he was
living. In Luke 19:8, we read where he stood before the Lord
Jesus and said, "...Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give
to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by
false accusation, I restore him fourfold." The laws governing
restitution in the Old Testament are set forth in Exodus
22:1-13. Zachaeus was desiring and seeking salvation and he
willingly accepted these conditions and Jesus said unto him,
"This day is salvation come to this house,..."
I have said all of this by way of teaching on this very
important subject while the door was open to do so. Now, I
will seek to answer the questioner's question briefly. Since
restitution is taught throughout the Bible, if one has been
well instructed and understands this condition for salvation,
he will take care of these things when the Holy Ghost
conviction seizes upon him as a part of his repentance because
it is a part of repentance. Otherwise, when he comes to a
knowledge of it as a scriptural doctrine and the Lord convicts
him of it he should take care of it as soon as possible
regardless of what state he is in his Christian experience
justified, sanctified, convicted. He can do this under the
leadership of the Holy Spirit without counsel from a minister
unless there might be some complications connected with the
situation in which he would like some guidance. |
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Working For, or
Earning Our Salvation
Question: Are there "methods" of working for or earning
our salvation and healing? I know a preacher who preaches this
way strongly.
Answer: No, there are no "methods" of working for or
earning our salvation or healing. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man
should boast." Again, Titus 3:4-7 says, "But after that the
kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 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; Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his
grace, we should be heirs according to the hope of eternal
life."
These texts and many more make it clear that salvation is by
grace through faith and not of works. I remember a day when
God told me straight out that I would be worthy of His
blessings only as long as I put my faith in the merits of the
shed blood of His Son, and that only, for every favor I ever
got from Him. And that as soon as I began to think that He was
obligated to me or owed me anything or that I had earned or
merited any blessing from Him because of any good thing I had
done or any sacrifice I had made or any service I had
rendered, that very moment I became unworthy of the least of
His favors.
However, we must recognize that the promises of God for
salvation or healing or any other favors are conditional
promises; and the fulfillment of them is contingent upon our
doing certain things and meeting certain conditions set forth
in connection with the promises. To the sinner seeking
salvation the requirements are: Confess and forsake his sins
(I John 1:9, Psalm 32:5 and Proverbs 28:13), Repent (Acts
17:30, Luke 24:47, II Corinthians 7:10-11, Mark 1:14-15 and
Acts 3:19), Forgiveness of those who have wronged him (Matthew
6:12, 14-15, Mark 11:25-26 and more), Restitution making his
wrongs right (Ezekiel 33:15 and Luke 19:8) and believe in the
Lord Jesus Christ as God's Son and his Saviour (John 3:16,
John 5:24, John 8:24, John 20:31 and Mark 16:16). If a sinner
does not do all of these things and meet Bible conditions, he
can never be saved. It is the same with promises for healing
or any other favor from God. Possibly the minister you refer
to in the question may have been dealing with this angle. To
teach a doctrine of salvation by works constitutes a
corruption of the pure gospel of Christ and is contrary to the
doctrine which we have learned and those who teach such things
are in error and should not be accepted. (Romans 16:17).
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Salvation with Respect to Works
Question: We can't be saved by "works," but what part
do "works" play in the lives of God's children?
Answer: This is a good question, indeed, and to
properly differentiate in it is very important. In the
scriptures pertaining to our salvation in respect to our
works, it is necessary to "rightly divide the word of truth"
(II Timothy 2:15), and to keep everything in its proper
context in order to get a balanced perspective in regard to
works and the part they play in the Christian life. We need to
understand that a subject as big as "Salvation" cannot
possibly be set forth in any one text of Scripture. One text
may deal with one aspect of salvation and another text present
another phase and represent it in a different way to
correspond with the particular point in discussion. Therefore
it is never good to over-extend any text to cover more ground
than it does. The result may be gross confusion. For an
example of this principle, let us consider the various
representations of the CHURCH OF GOD in the Scriptures. One
scripture refers to it as a "city," another as a "body",
another as a woman (bride), another as a mother, another as a
vine or vineyard, another as a house, another as a family,
etc. Well, you may say, "This all confuses me and I can't
understand the Church; what is it? Is it a city, or is it a
bride, or is it a mother with children, or is it a vine or
vineyard, or is it a body, or is it a house? I can't tell from
all of these just what it is." Well, the fact is, it is all of
these and more too. Each of these scriptures just describe a
different phase or operation of the Church. If one will keep
this in mind when studying the Word on this subject and just
keep each scripture in its proper place and context, and not
try to over-extend it into some other scripture to which it
does not relate and that is describing some entirely different
phase and function of the Church; when he gets through with
his overall study, he will have a good, clear, concise picture
and understanding of the Church and how it functions. It is
the same with this subject of salvation and if one will keep
this in mind when he is studying the Scriptures on this
subject and be careful to keep every point properly divided
and everything in its proper context and place, he will come
out with a clear understanding of salvation and how our works
relate to it.
Now, we must realize that some scriptures deal with the actual
experience of salvation itself and many relate to the holy
Christian life which salvation produces and our "works" will
hold a different relation and play a different part in these
two phases of salvation and its effects in the life. Romans
5:1 says that we are justified by FAITH. To be justified is to
be saved. In this case the emphasis is on faith. The entire
4th chapter of Romans is on faith and especially Abraham's
faith which was imputed unto him for righteousness (verse 22).
In verses 23 and 24, it says this was not written for
Abraham's sake only but for our sakes also if we believe. Then
follows in chapter 5, verse 1, that we are justified by faith.
Since Paul here was speaking to a people who desperately
needed a faith in Christ and were having problems with it, he
focused in on FAITH and never mentioned any other ingredients
of salvation. But there are some others.
In Ephesians 2:8 the same man (Paul) wrote this "For by grace
are ye saved through faith;..." Here he introduces the thought
of GRACE in connection with salvation. But he says, "By grace
through faith." Grace is bestowed because of faith and he says
in this verse that this is not of ourselves but is a gift of
God. Then verse 9 says, "Not of works, lest any man should
boast." But we need to observe here the premise of rightly
dividing the word of truth and keeping everything in its place
and in the proper context or we will run into problems with
some other texts on the subject; even with other parts of this
man's teaching. Paul understood, as clearly as any and more
than most, that the law was fulfilled and abolished when
Christ came and set up the new order and established grace.
Therefore he taught all the time and in every place that the
works of the law (circumcision and other rituals and
observances) had no further merit as pertained to salvation
but he taught salvation through faith in Christ only without
the works of the law.
Titus 3:5-7 says, "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; Which he shed
on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being
justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life." He speaks here of the "works of
righteousness" not being any basis to found our faith in for
salvation. The law's righteousness was no longer acceptable to
God and had no salvation virtue in it and Paul was teaching
all his people this and to not put their confidence in those
"dead works" as any part of their salvation but just put their
faith in Jesus Christ and the merits of His shed blood and
that only for their salvation.
In I Corinthians 1:30, Paul says that God has made Jesus our
RIGHTEOUSNESS. And in Philippians 3:9, Paul said concerning
himself, "And be found in him, not having mine own
righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by
faith." His reference here to his own righteousness which is
of the law referred to the works, ordinances, rituals and
observances of the law. But he did not want that any more
because there was no value in it any more. In Jeremiah 23:5-6
is a prophecy of Christ and verse 6 says, "...And this is his
name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS."
In this day of salvation and grace, God recognizes no
righteousness at all but just Jesus and it is through our
faith in Him and our relationship with Him through faith that
we have any righteousness at all that God will put His seal on
and recognize. In Isaiah 64:6 it says, "...all OUR
RIGHTEOUSNESS are as filthy rags;..." Paul believed in this
and preached this universally, and the places where he spoke
out against works was in regard to this and had no reference
to the essential and required work of repentance, restitution,
confession of sins, restoring the pledge, giving again that we
have robbed, forgiving our enemies and those who have wronged
us, straightening and clearing up our lives in general, etc.,
all of which works we cannot be saved without. So let us not
rule out all works from our salvation for there are some works
we cannot be saved without. At the same time let us realize
that all these works within themselves do not save us. It is
faith in Christ and the all-atoning efficacy in His shed blood
that obtains for us the mercy of God and the forgiveness of
our sins for His Son's sake. Then we conclude that our
salvation comes through FAITH (Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8),
GRACE (Ephesians 2:8), and WORKS (James 2:24).
James 2:14 says, "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a
man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save
him?" James 2:20 calls this man a "vain man" who says, "I
believe and that is all that is necessary for me. I don't have
to do anything or give up anything; just believe." James
informs this man in this verse that "faith without works is
dead." James 2:21 declared Abraham was justified by works when
he had offered his son, Isaac, upon the altar. Verse 22 says
that faith wrought with his works and faith was made perfect
(manifested, demonstrated) by works. Verse 24 says, "Ye see
then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only."
We readily agree and understand that a person cannot be saved
by works alone, even good works with no bad ones at all. Good
works and morality will never save a person. But faith alone
without some works won't either. But faith accompanied by
works will bring a grace into the soul which translates into
salvation.
When one has obtained salvation, he begins to live a Christian
life and that life is full of good works. In I Timothy 6:18 we
are instructed to "...do good,...be rich in good works,..."
Titus 3:1 instructs saints "...to be ready to every good
work," and verse 8 says, "that they which have believed in God
might be careful to maintain good works...." In Titus 3:14 we
are instructed to maintain good works for necessary uses, that
we be not unfruitful. In this text "works" is related with
"fruits" which brings the focus on another text, in James
3:17, which says that the wisdom from above is full of good
fruits (works). And so on and on and on and on; the New
Testament abounds in this kind of teaching. But let us never
make the fatal mistake of identifying our works with ourselves
and claiming them as of us (our works). But let us realize
that our lives and the fruits or works of them are of God and
not of us as we read in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which
worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
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| He Shall Suffer Loss but be Saved
Question: I would like for you to comment on I
Corinthians 3:14-15, where it says, "If any man's work abide
which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If
any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he
himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire."
Answer: At the very outset I am frank to say that even
though I have crossed the path of this scripture and studied
on it a number of times, I have not come up with any answer
that has been very satisfactory to me. Perhaps I have come
closer to it now, while studying on it, than at any time.
However, I will cheerfully submit to you what is the best
light and understanding I have on it at the present time.
First, I will pick up the context of the entire passage,
beginning with verse 10. "According to the grace of God which
is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the
foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man
take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can
no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if
any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be
revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of
what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be
saved; yet so as by fire." (I Corinthians 3:10-15.)
In verse 10, Paul presents himself as a wise master builder by
the grace of God given unto him for His purpose. As a wise
master builder he laid a good foundation. Surely the first
thing in a good, stable building is a good, firm, and stable
foundation. "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord: is
laid for your faith in His excellent Word." Paul actually did
this setting forth of Jesus Christ (verse 11) as the
foundation upon which to build our Christian faith, our
doctrine, pattern and standards. This means to obtain and
maintain a solid experience of salvation and to construct our
spiritual lives. Paul presented Jesus Christ as the only
source of salvation and said that faith in Him alone, without
the works of the law, is the only means of obtaining it. He
said, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,...and not by the works
of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified." (Galatians 2:16.) Paul did not have any quarrel
with the law as such, however he said in Romans 7:12,
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and
just, and good."
Paul was not opposed to circumcision, as such, either. We read
in Acts 16:1-3 that he wanted to take Timothy with him in the
work and he had him circumcised because his father was a Greek
and there were many Jews in that area. Incorporating this into
their salvation as a part of it, however, he stoutly opposed
and denounced. Acts 15:1 tells of certain men who came down to
Antioch from Judea and taught the Gentile converts that if
they were not circumcised after the manner of Moses, they
could not be saved. Paul and Barnabas stoutly resisted them
which led to the apostolic council on this subject at
Jerusalem. This man did not reject Christ as the foundation,
but built on Him the ordinance of circumcision as part of
salvation. This was the thing that Paul had conflict with
everywhere and in all his work with the Gentiles and he
denounced it as a perversion of the gospel in Galatians 1:7;
II Corinthians 11:4; II Corinthians 2:17; Galatians 2:4; II
Corinthians 11:26; and II Corinthians 11:13.
This perversion of the gospel and the corrupting of the Word
of God consisted in their adding some human works
(circumcision and the works of the law) to their faith in
Christ as a part of their salvation. This was building on the
foundation (Christ) "wood, hay, and stubble" combustible
material that would not stand the test of the fire of God's
Word, and certainly not the fire of the Judgment.
Unfortunately, that idea never died with those people, but has
been the perpetual and continued curse and plague of
professors of Christianity all down through the gospel age of
time until now, and it is just as abominable and combustible
now as it was then. All dependence and trust upon any good
thing we do, or on any sacrifice we make to obtain forgiveness
from God or any favor from Him, is abominable to Him. The only
thing God recognizes is our faith in the merits of the shed
blood of His Son Jesus, and the sacrifice He made. He said in
Isaiah 64:6, "...All our righteousnesses are as filthy
rags;..." Paul understood this and said in Philippians 3:9,
"And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which
is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
the righteousness which is of God by faith." "The
righteousness which is of the law" is a righteousness of work
and doing. (Romans 10:5.) Ephesians 2:8-9 declares that we are
saved by grace through faith and not of works, lest any man
should boast. This is the foundation Paul laid in all his
ministry and for us to build upon it according to this
principle, is to build gold, silver, and precious stones, all
of which will stand the test of the fire of God's Word and
Judgment. The plague and curse that destroyed the Pharisee in
the parable (Luke 18:9-14) was his own self-righteousness
which he trusted in and depended upon.
To build a life and experience with this kind of material even
upon the foundation of Christ, is to build wood, hay, and
stubble, which will not stand the fire test. For us to teach
any doctrine or standard which does not coincide with the
plain teachings of the pure gospel of Christ is the same.
Unscriptural teaching (whether it's major doctrine or a minor
point), even though it be done on this foundation and in the
name of Jesus Christ, falls in the same category. There are
more than just a few doing this.
Let us consider, in conclusion, the awful and dreadful
pronouncement of verse 15. "If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as
by fire." It is certainly a crushing thing to think of the
whole of a person's work for his life-time being lost because
he did not build solidly on the foundation which was because
of some error and personal or private interpretation of
Scripture he persisted in. God faithfully warns us that we
will not be crowned unless we strive lawfully according to set
rules of procedure. (II Timothy 2:5.)
The most sobering thought of all is the very narrow margin by
which such people may be saved and not perish forever. It is
said that he will be saved "yet so as by fire." One
translation says, "shall escape as through a wall of flames."
Feature a picture like this: a burning building in which a man
is known to be. A crowd of people are milling around outside
watching and waiting anxiously can he be rescued? Suddenly
they catch a glimpse through the wall of fire and smoke of a
fireman there with the man on his shoulder. The crown gasps
and everyone holds their breath. Can they possibly get
through? The fireman, well trained for such extreme
emergencies, bends his body low and, with the man on his
shoulder, dashes into the wall of flames and smoke, and
plunges through to reach the outside gasping, staggering, and
probably on fire but safe on the outside. This is somewhat the
picture presented to us here of one in this situation being
saved. If a person has willfully and knowingly persisted in
some error or held onto some pet something of his own in his
life, he cannot be saved when his works burn. He must be
totally ignorant of the truth and God's will on this point and
totally innocent before God and he must have his attitude
right, if he is to expect any mercy from God in this time.
Note: The text says, "If ANY man's," not "ALL men's." God is
working on an individual basis and God makes a difference. He
teaches us in Jude 22: "And of some have compassion, making a
difference." If He teaches us to make a difference, He surely
must make the difference Himself. |
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