Blog : Confusing Commands for Salvation

6573 posts
9/26/2008 5:24 am

Confusing Commands for Salvation

Mike Oppenheimer
(I dont agree with every single aspect but I think this is a good writing)

CONFUSING COMMANDS WITH SALVATION

The Bible gives numerous commands- it tells us to pray always, does this mean if we fail to do this we lose our salvation. We are told to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul and strength, no one is able to do this all the time. Does this mean we lose our salvation? Of course not.

If we look at the examples such as Peter who denied the Lord three times and disobeyed many times afterwards. If salvation depended solely upon his obedience he never would have made it and neither would we. What of Lot? He must have lost his salvation with his compromising and what he did to his daughters. 2 Pt.2:6-9 tells us Lot died a saved man. What about Samson? If anyone should lose their salvation for compromising and sin it would be him. Yet, Heb.11:32 tells us he died a saved man. What of Moses who disobeyed God once and was not allowed into the Promised Land, did he lose his salvation? No, he was physically punished, not spiritually punished. He appears with Elijah on the Mt. of Transfiguration discussing with Jesus His coming sacrifice, something he would not be able to do if he lost his salvation. So we must not assume that every time someone is judged in the body they are also judged spiritually.

What of David and his sins of adultery and murder? Surely the Bible teaches that no adulterer or murderer will enter the kingdom of heaven, but it is talking about one who continues to practice these things as a lifestyle without repentance. These acts did not lead to a loss of salvation because David repented (Ps.51:8-12) and he was cleared of all his sins. However he did reap problems as the sword never left his household. The book of Hebrews has all these individuals and others mentioned. The Bible never hides the faults nor shines the halos over its people. It tells both sides; the good, and the bad and the ugly. They are included in the Hebrews hall of faith and they received a good testimony inheriting the promise of eternal life with us. When we come to the New Testament. All the warnings are in reference to losing ones physical life and losing our rewards.

We have the example of Annanias and Sapphira. Just as in the Old Testament they were judged in the body losing their physical life. The Bible is silent on whether or not they forfeited their spiritual life. We assume they were saved being part of the church. Lying to the Holy Spirit should not be confused as with the blasphemy of the Spirit.

There are also numerous commands that we are to keep not for salvation but for discipleship. There are also commands that apply to both, in Mk.8:34 Jesus states, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself take up his cross and follow me.” This is a requirement for both salvation and discipleship as Paul admonishes in Rom. 6:1-11 “Reckon yourself dead to sin but alive to God.” Also in Mt.10:32-33 “To confess me before men and I will confess you before my father in heaven.” Is applied to our lifestyle if we are ashamed of him then he is not really alive working in our lives. This is not to be confused with a salvation confession in Rom.10:8-11.

Sometimes people rely on their feelings. We may feel something at the time of our new birth, we may not. As time goes on many do not feel saved, they have sinned feel ashamed and so they believe they need to ask Jesus again and again to save them. And they continue to come forward because they believe they have no assurance of salvation. This is because they do not understand what faith is and how it is placed in trusting Christ’s work on the cross. Salvation is by God’s grace in Christ's work and received through faith.

God saves a person based on their faith in response to the gospel message, we are justified by God (Rom. 3:24, 2

, we are declared non guilty, clothed in Christ's righteousness and now accepted as His . We are able to stand without guilt before His law that condemns all.

Paul makes it clear that once God justifies the person, he cannot be condemned or lose his salvation (Rom. 8:1, 32, 33). However our salvation is not completed until we are glorified in God's presence. And this occurs at the end of the believer's life on earth or by the rapture/resurrection, whichever comes first (1 John 3:2; John 17:24; Rev. 21:3, 4). This is why we are admonished to persevere, there must be faithfulness in our life; which is an outworking of living faith. If someone does not make it to the end in faith were they saved? This why Heb. 4:1-3 says “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word, which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest,” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

With all the assurance Scripture we do not neglect the part we are to do either. We are admonished to persevere, there must be faithfulness in our life, which is an outworking of living faith. If someone does not make it to the end in faith were they saved? This why Paul compares this life to a race. 1 Cor. 9:24-27: “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.

Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” We must reach the end still in the faith not dropping out along the way.

Paul twice mentions a warning about running in vain Gal. 2:2: “And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.” Phil. 2:16: “holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.”

2 Tim. 4:6-7: “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

The writers of Hebrews adds Heb. 12:1-2: “and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith and then explains Jesus fulfilling his mission by going to the cross.

To be in the faith means one will be faithful as the fruit of their trust. When one falls in sin they get right back up ask for cleansing. While we can wrestle over what the demarcation line is for losing salvation, we do know Scripture makes it clear the only unforgivable sin is the Blasphemy of the Spirit. 2 Pet. 2:20 says, “For if, after they have escaped the pollution's of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning.” If one is questioning where they stand, they need only to repent and be renewed. 2 Tim. 2:21 “Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” Then, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the of God; that you may know that you have eternal life,” will be your assurance.