I've been reading a book recently (shocker!). I had initially intended it as a Christmas gift, but I made the mistake of opening it up before wrapping it. So it never made it beneath the Christmas tree. It is a fascinating book. I'm not going to tell you the title, because then you might want to read it and I'll be forced to read faster and I JUST CAN'T TAKE THE PRESSURE.
If you are about to argue that one can want to read a book without knowing the title, save your breath. You might make me weep.
Anyhow, it is a fascinating book because it's talking about living the faith we defend. The last two chapters I read were dealing with challenges from Islam and Eastern religions such as Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. The thing that caught my interest was this: in most religions, salvation (or "reaching the goal" of whatever you believe) is works-based. Doing this, saying that, etc. The closer you are to doing things right, the better the outcome of your life.
As I was reading it, I was thinking about Christianity, and the difference between Christianity and other religions.
The difference is Christ. The difference is Christ.
The foundation of Christianity is that God provided a way where we could not. Christianity is grace-based, not works-based. Yes, there are "factions" and "denominations" under the great header of Christianity that are works-based, but they deviate from the truth in that instance.
Christ paid the price of our sin, and transferred His righteousness over to His people. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Salvation is found in Christ alone; not through our works.
So then, the question: why do we emphasize obedience? Why do we strive to live according to the commands of God? Because living under grace does not give us a license to sin.
If we are truly saved, and under the banner of grace, then we are a new creation. We are born again to a new life: one that ought to seek more and more to be like Christ. Why? Why do we obey the commands of Christ? Well, He answers that Himself:
If you love me, you will keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
Love for Christ means a desire to please and glorify Him. We don't live righteously to earn anything - everything has been earned for us by Christ - we live righteously to please God. Obeying the commands of God does not add anything to our justification - our obedience is at best mediocre and tainted, since we are still battling with sinfulness; but Christ's obedience was perfect and without taint, and He has given that to us freely.
Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4); so what does that mean for us? It means if we keep on sinning and claim "salvation by grace", we neither know what grace nor salvation is.
No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:6)
1 John 3 in its entirety gives the answer to the question: because we have been born of God, we ought not to go on sinning. If we are His children (and if we are in Christ, then we are adopted as sons of God), we will do as He does. God does not sin.
You see, for the Christian, obeying God's commands does not come from some idea of merit or justification, and we ought to stress this. We are justified. Our merit is in Christ.
But living righteously comes from carrying on the family name into which we have been adopted. It comes from glorifying our Lord and Saviour, and pleasing the Father. It comes from living your life in light of the gospel. It comes from living for the one who died and was raised for our sake.
For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
(2 Corinthians 5:14-15 ESV)
Are you living in the light of the gospel?
To be saved is not to 'turn away from sin', but to change our view of Christ Jesus.
ReplyDeleteI want to read that book. So hurry up. *poke poke* XD