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.

Concerning salvation

Straying is something Christians do. We fail, we fall, we rebel, we stray. We are not sinless.

Some would say that straying can lead to loss of salvation.

Yet, in the profound mystery of grace, we are viewed as sinless in Christ Jesus. His blood has washed away our sins. His death has brought us life. By His stripes we were healed. God does not see us as sinful anymore. He views us through Christ. So to lose our salvation, not only would we have to withdraw from God, but God would have to withdraw from us. He would have to withdraw all of His promises, and view our rebellion apart from Christ Jesus. Yet it must be asked: if Christ died once and for all for all those who put their faith in Him, then wouldn't any unbelief/rebellion/rejecti​on (sins) committed by a straying Christian be covered by His blood? So wouldn't any Christian, having once been Christian, even if they wanted to leave the faith, still go to heaven by Christ's merit? Whether a man lives his life in relative goodness, or lives a life of debauchery, Christ must still pay the redemption price. It is only by the sacrifice of Christ Jesus that we are viewed as righteous, and the blood of Jesus washes away all the believer's sins.

It would seem to me that Christians who stray would be treated like Peter jumping out of the boat. Christ saved Peter, and asked "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Despite Peter's doubting, Jesus saved him. Peter believed in Jesus. He did not have perfect faith in order to stay afloat, but Jesus does not rely on the perfection of our faith in order to act on our behalf. He is, after all, the Perfecter Himself. He completes and gives what we cannot produce.

The concept of secure salvation ties in to all of life. It gives me confidence to go forward in life and faith and ministry, knowing that Christ Jesus keeps me. My efforts have a foundation of grace. I don't have to worry that what I do is not enough - of course it is not enough. Jesus doesn't expect "enough" from us. He has given us everything. He has promised us everything. So taking the gospel, receiving the gospel, preaching the gospel, keeping the gospel, are all things that we do in very failing measures. We often go against God's Word. We often sin. We often fail to do what is required of us.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, gave up His Son. Because of Christ's propitiation, we are safe and secure. By the guarantee of the Holy Spirit, I can cry tears of joy, not worry, knowing that He keeps me, failure that I am. It gives me hope, and it most certainly gives me rest, but it also gives me enthusiasm to go forward for Christ's sake, because He owns and keeps my life, because my inheritance is kept in heaven by God, imperishable, undefiled and unfading.

Random Mish-Mash

Sitting - at my desk in the office, enjoying my lunch, although my tea is almost too hot to drink at the moment. I will let it cool for a while.

Hoping - that I will not delay or hinder the work of this ministry. Hoping that I will have the talent to accomplish what needs doing. Hoping my head doesn't explode.

Reading - nothing, at the moment. I finished a book and have yet to pick the next one from my obnoxious list.

Wondering - why you always have to cough when things are quiet.

Contemplating - Hebrews. I just read through it again. It is a great, comforting book. Jesus is greater than all others! Persevere. Trust. Be comforted.

Wearing - my glasses on the top of my head, since my eye was all bothered for reasons unknown to me.

Thinking - about friends and family who are wonderful blessings to me. It's awesome to have peeps.

Deciding - whether it might not be better for me to cut my foot off instead of endure the annoying, dull pain of whatever it is I did to my foot. I think I bruised something. My foot is all swollen, and it hurts to bend my toes. Hm.

Concluding - having two feet is better, pain or not.

Besides, how would I wear a pair of toe socks?

The Weight of It All

The weight of it all bears downward upon me,

Incessantly pressing my hopes and my dreams,

Carting me onward, forcing me under

To places where dark, void anxiety teems.

I look up, exhausted, wipe sweat from my brow

Another step forward, beware lest I fall-

With sudden and clarified realization

I see that I am not the bearer at all.

The weight of it all rests upon my Lord Jesus,

He takes all my burdens, the old and the new,

And all as I see this and my heart is opened,

I realize afresh that He carries me, too.

Now I look forward in anticipation,

Knowing He carries, holding me near,

The weight of it all drops right off of my shoulders

And I am at rest, with not one thing to fear.