Reflections: Digging deep

The Bible teaches that salvation by works is heresy. But, in Luke 6:46-49, Jesus teaches that salvation without works is hypocrisy. Here is a good summary:

There is no salvation without faith.

The Pharisees of the first century and many professing Christians of the 21st century miss the major message of the Bible. Salvation is not about what man does for God, but about what God does for man. Salvation cannot be earned, but it is freely given to all those who receive it by grace. Jesus Christ came to affirm and fulfill this gospel truth.

In the Old Testament, this promise is given: "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (ref. Joel 2:32). The promise is echoed in the New Testament at least twice (ref. Acts 2:21, Romans 10:13). Taking the two testaments together, it is clear "the Lord" of the Old Testament is the Christ of the New Testament; and, Jesus saves, through faith.

Calling Jesus "Lord" requires great faith. "Adoni" in the Old Testament and "kurios" in the New Testament are words which speak of deity and authority. To profess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to acknowledge that He was, is and always will be the God of very God, the Supreme Being, the Creator and Sustainer of heaven and earth. To practice faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to submit to His authority over every area of your life, a life guided by His word and committed to His will.

There is no faith without obedience.

Perhaps the problem of faith in modernity is the definition of faith. We tend to limit it to our mental compartment alone. This has created a pseudo-gospel category championed by the contemporary church called the "profession of faith." We give people the basic facts of the gospel, ask them to believe in the facts, then tell them if they believe the facts of the gospel they are saved and should never doubt it. That's half right and all wrong, which explains why the modern church is a mile wide and an inch deep.

Believing is faith. But, so is behaving. The biblical concept of faith, taught by Jesus, could best be translated "trusting obedience." It is present when you practice what you preach. It is believing in who Jesus is, and doing what Jesus says, spiritually and morally and physically. Obedience is never perfect in this life, but it is constant for the one with true faith in Jesus Christ.

This is why Jesus illustrates His point with the parable of two men building two houses. One walks with the Lord, all the way to Heaven. The other perhaps walked an aisle, walked through a baptistry, and may even walk into a church on Sundays or special occasions, but the warp and woof of their walk is with this present world, and with it they will perish.

There is no obedience without digging deep.

Professions of faith are often shallow. True, saving faith digs deep, finds the true foundation, and builds life upon the rock of ages, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Dig deep with your mind. Digging deep plumbs the depths of God's word, the Bible. Grace that yields faith creates a cavernous hunger, a glorious curiosity, a deep desire to know the truths about God that can be dug up from His word. Dig deep with your heart. Do not be afraid to weep over your sin, turn in shame to the Savior who is never ashamed of you, and live in a state of deep repentance towards God. Grace from above brings faith and repentance to set the captive free. True disciples are disciplined. Faithful obedience is not a mere act, it is an ongoing lifestyle. Saving faith calls Jesus "Lord, Lord," and does what He says.

You are what you think. You are what you feel. More than anything, you are what you do. Do you think Jesus is Lord? Do you feel He loves you and wants to forgive you of sin? Do you call Jesus "Lord, Lord?" Do you do what He says? Dig deep into these questions. The answers will determine your eternal destiny.

Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. He is a graduate of Valdosta State University, Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He has served churches in Arkansas and Georgia, and preached the gospel across the USA and other countries. He can be emailed at [email protected].

Religion on 07/15/2017

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