Answering questions from a friend

A friend of mine asked me some questions in response to my previous blog post. Since the questions are good, I thought I'd make another blog post out of it. Not that they're usually bad... ;)

If salvation cannot be lost then why did he say: “depart from Me, I never knew you!”

This is found in Matthew 7, where Jesus is finishing up His sermon on the mount.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)

The implications of this can be quite scary. First of all, there are those who perform great and mighty works who have not truly put their faith in Christ Jesus. This is scary for more than one reason - not only are these people deceiving themselves, but it is possible, in light of Matthew 7:15-20, that these are influential people who could be leading others astray along with them.

The one concern I do not have is that this shows a possibility of losing salvation. The main reason for that is found in Jesus' words.

"I never knew you..."

The very idea of Jesus never having known them proves that they were never saved, for elsewhere Jesus has said:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28 ESV, emphasis mine)

Jesus knows His people. Believers have a family relationship with God. Through Christ we can cry, "Abba, Father!" This is talking about an intimate, close knowledge, far beyond speaking of God's omniscience. This is more personal. It is talking about first-hand relationship and perception.

For Jesus to say "I never knew you" implies that these people were never of His flock.

Also what is sin and what isn't?

Sin is not being or doing what God requires, or doing what God forbids. It is sin when God says "do this", and we say "I will not!" It is sin when God says "do not do this", and we say "I will, rather!" When we go against His character and command, when we go against what we ought to be, when we do not love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves, it is sin.

Sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Romans 14:23). Failing to do what we know to be right is sin (James 4:17).

Is everything enjoyable sinful?

Certainly not, although we can most definitely enjoy things that are sinful. However, God made us with the ability (and need) to enjoy. God created beauty, and we are meant to enjoy it; He created relationships, and we are meant to enjoy them. The beauty of such things is corrupted and broken down from its original intent, but that does not mean that we may not enjoy what is enjoyable.

Specifically in relationships, people can certainly enjoy them sinfully, and yet there are relationships that are God-glorifying and most certainly enjoyable, and I would not say the enjoyment is sinful.

Are all altruistic behaviors grace?

I would say so, although altruism does not necessarily prove salvation (or the lack of it). All through the Bible there is mention of God being the giver of all things. It is most clearly seen in Acts 17:25:

...nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. (Acts 17:25 ESV)

More to the point, though, I would say altruistic behaviours in people find their source in the character of God, for He is the Source of all good things, and selfless acts are understood universally to be good. God has created us in His own image, and so we do bear the marks of His character, stained though they may be.

Far beyond my own failing, pitiful altruism, I would emphasize that I most certainly find grace in what I consider to be the most supreme altruistic act, which was Christ Jesus giving Himself up on the cross as a propitiation for my sins, when He had committed no sins Himself. He bore the wrath and punishment reserved for me, and paid the price in full. Not only has He paid the price, but He has given me assurance in His promises that He will keep me forever, and no one is able to snatch me out of His hand. The heaviness of my sin (and, reading again what I wrote above about what sin is, it is quite the weight) is removed from my shoulders, and I am given joyful rest in Christ.