WHO'S
SAVED?
A lot of folks will tell you that they are saved, or believe they are saved. But when asked to explain what founds their salvation, you might get many different answers. From the sincerity of the speakers, one would guess that there is more than one way to be saved. But, is there more than one way to get, be or remain saved?
The best I can do is answer with a question. Is there more than one God? 2nd. Has the Creator been seen to make things that work several different ways. Can a tree be a fish, too? I conclude, based on my study and simple observation that God, the only One Creator God, made each of His creations to work only one way. Therefore, there can’t be two or three ways to get, be saved. That makes thing pretty easy, doesn’t it? At least in our search we won’t be looking for the best three or four ways that might work. But how to test this conclusion?
No single group of Christians has a corner on the True way to salvation. If there’s only one way then it’s possible for many different groups to know the True way. The common denominator of most all sects of Christianity is probably the Bible. I think most would agree that this would be the best and first place to look to find out what saves and how to accomplish it.
But some will start at a lower level and try to judge by Comparison. These folks do this and those folks do that. And this other group does this other thing. I guess you realize that judgment is an exercise in Ego. Many Chriustians are quick to use the “Judge Not” Weapon. And in the next sentence “judge” that Those people are going to hell. This will be an easy decision for our Observer.
Harder will be those Loving folks with warm handshakes and broad smiles. Those extraordinarily community minded folks. They aren’t usually seen judging what others are doing, at least not very overtly. But with enough examination, a searcher will find certain ways of behaving are held up as a model for the saved person. One group hammers us into submission to their Rules of staying saved and the other Loves us into their Legalism.
But the Common Source for those people tells us that we are “in Christ” (that means saved) when “Christ is in us.” In other words, when Christ’s Spirit is inside us. This implant of the Spirit is very well documented in the New Testament as real. So, any time we have the Spirit inside our bodies, we are looked at by God as saved.
Now all we have to do is determine what will put that Spirit in us. Scripture goes on the say, “Christ is formed in your heart by “faith.” “We are saved by Grace, through faith.”
Legalism. I use the term in a very broad sense. It's the putting of ANY must as an addition to faithing. “Yes, of course, you’re saved by faith. But now you really have to quit going to movies. That’s sure to lose you your salvation.”
God didn't only open the door to scholars and clergy. His door opens to the totally uneducated, a person who perhaps has never had a Bible in his hand, even one who has never heard the name Jesus. That door only has one word on it. Faithing.
For review, faithing is any action that we do, based on something God has said. We carry out the action with the confidence that in spite of the apparent negative circumstance or obstacles God will be true to His word. We will reach our goal. The initial “conversion action, when a believer first trusts God, is a faith act or faithing.
Now, what a person does after that initial saving act of trust, is between him and God, of course, BUT, it also must be said that no true believer/faither will be found lacking in acts that acknowledge God. So, if a three year old Faither reads up on the feasts he might institute a small Rosh HaShanah, which comes up every fall.
But not so with most of Fundamentalist Christianity. They talk a lot of faith, but insist that you conform to their behavioral standards. Legalism. "You're saved, but, now you have to stop smoking." Many times this is hidden beneath friendly, warm smiles, and offers of help. But it's all Ego driven.
My point is, that no judgment should ever cross our lips regarding the value of keeping certain rituals.
The problem is that the mainstream churches seem to be teaching living by faith. They have all the right words in their mouths. But we find that the end result of their admonitions on Christian life is void of trusting action on God’s word. It’s church attendance surrounded by Good Works.
I disagree that the mainstream churches are preaching faith, Biblical faith, Faithing.
I catch a lot of Christian radio when I’m working. I've seen various other TV preachers, and I grew up in the Baptist Church. I only know one place to hear that we're saved by acting in trust on a promise of God, persevering to the end of the action with the confidence that God will keep His word. Faithing.
The "faith" that main stream Christianity preaches is believing-hope. They completely believe John 3:16. They feel they are OK because they believe in God. The Greek word for believe has the exact same root as the word for faith. They both derive from a primary verb. Believe is also some action.
John was saying that anyone who puts his belief into action based on Jesus would have everlasting life.
I'd bet that most all those Faith Talkers almost never trusted God for anything. I'm getting warmed up here, so I'll say that not five, OK 15, in a hundred tithe even the first tithe. The first ten percent. And not one in 500 gives all the tithes and mandated offerings, which will bring the total given back to God up to 25%. OK, I'm winding down. :-)
We must never talk disparagingly to anyone regarding some behavior that they are or aren't doing. We have no idea what's in God's mind for that person. But that's what I got from Herbert W. Armstrong. I love his work, but not his editorializing. He’ll lay out two or three chapters in a book on what the True Church should look like. only to point to himself. He taught that keeping the various Feasts was a necessary part of Christian life.
His message was, a Good Christian will do the Law, or be found wanting. It might not mean your salvation, but if you don't keep the Law you're gonna get it from God. What people hears is, "You're not welcome here unless you do This Stuff."
Lastly, how would one tell if a certain person was really saved? When will people realize that there is no 100% way to tell if ANYONE is saved. I believe that a true Christian will have doubts about his salvation 'till he wakes up in God's arms. (or the other place).
We have to keep our salvation and the salvation of others in God’s hands. Demand that we be allowed to work out our own salvation with God and that others be allowed to do the same..
Of all his criminal friends, his late night lovers, his still living victims or his family, who would have guessed that the thief next to Jesus would make it in?
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