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Point of Reference
by Fred Price
I was recently challenged by an individual who felt my article on the need for repentance and a life lived well in appreciation of God’s mercy was too works-oriented. (And I must admit that my challenger was reacting to a two-part lesson without the benefit of the first part that set the stage for what followed; part I having been lost somewhere in cyberspace during transmission to this website. It has since been reposted, appearing June 6th.) Throughout, I noted the common themes of repentance and salvation running throughout both Testaments, virtually every promise of salvation and restoration being predicated on a call to repentance followed by expressions of God’s expectations of us as believers in him. Not in an attempt to gain or bolster salvation but certainly in response to it! For if we truly understand the magnitude of the gift we’ve received, the only appropriate response can be total submission to his will and way. Still free to choose how we express that appreciation, we none-the-less owe him all we are, become and achieve; following the supreme example of Christ himself in humble obedience. (Philippians 2:5-8)
A real concern in all this is that rather than misunderstanding the idea of Christ’s call to repentance accompanied by his offer of grace and mercy, followed up with an expectation of a changed life; many today have begun to embrace the false teaching that as a result of God’s great love for us, his merciful offer of salvation is automatically applied to everyone – regardless of their belief system. In this all-inclusive understanding of grace, anyone seeking a Great Something out there in the Great Somewhere, qualifies for salvation. A notion found nowhere in scripture.
Paul powerfully demonstrates the law’s real purpose as defining sin (Romans 7:7), to which we are no longer bound if and when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. (Romans 7:25) Grace, mercy and salvation having been made available to every single person on earth, but not applied to every single person; for in failing to recognize their need and refusing to respond to God’s offer of redemption, some negate it’s benefit in their lives. (John 3:18) Every unbeliever then remains subject to the curse of the law while every believer is released from its penalty (Romans 10:4); called now to live by the royal law of love. (Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8; Galatians 6:2) God never being obligated to forgive any sin until it is repented of nor forgiving willful sin (or a cavalier, inattentive attitude that allows for sin – Heb. 6:4-6,2 Peter 2:20) that we neglect to express genuine sorrow for. (2 Corinthians 7:10, Hebrews 10:26)
Paul describes believers as new creations or creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), which harks back to Jesus’ requirement that we be born again. (John 3:7) The condition of being born again referring, at least in part, to the idea of new beginnings, new purposes and new life – living differently than before. Jesus unequivocally calling for repentance and new life any number of times in various ways. (Matthew 5:14, Luke 13:1-5, John 5:14,8:1-11) Paul, the great expositor of Christian theology summing up his mission to Jews and Gentiles alike by saying, “I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” Acts 26:20 Coincidentally, before he said a word about the righteous living by faith, in Romans 1:17, he referred to an, “…obedience that comes from faith in Romans 1:5. And right in the middle of his discourse on the superiority of grace over the requirements of the law, he paralleled the ideas of slavery to sin – leading to death, with slavery to the principles of obedience – leading to life. (Romans 6:15-18) Because for Paul – and Christ – character mattered and faithfulness counts (Mat. 25:21,1 Corinthians 4:2); we must live up to our calling. “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil designs you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do,…” 1 Peter 1:14,15 (See also Romans 12:1,2)
Paul used Abraham as an example of those who are justified by faith. (Romans 4) Yet after his initial act of belief and acceptance of God as his Lord, James points out how Abraham was considered righteous by what he did as well. By this, “You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”; concluding with, “…a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” James 2:20-24. And yet James is not contradicting Paul, who instructed the Galatian believers that, “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 James further admonishing us with, “Do not merely listen to the word… Do what is says.” James 1:22; even as Paul repeatedly reminds us that, “…it is by grace you have been saved, through faith… not by works…” Further explaining that we are indeed God’s workmanship, created by Christ Jesus then to partner with him in doing good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 (See also Ephesians 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16,17 and Hebrews 6:10)
“This is love for God: to obey his commands.” 1 John 5:3 (See also 2 John 6) “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:13 “…do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous,…” 1 John 3:7 For, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything (will be) uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13 (See also Matthew 12:36) Not setting our standards by those of others or judging them according to our own, we will none-the-less be held accountable for what we do with what we’ve been blessed with. (Romans 14:12 and 1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
“What good is it… if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?... Someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do… (For) As the body without the Spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-26 Some scripture can be difficult to fully understand, at times even appearing contradictory; especially if we don’t take into consideration all the corollary verses that deepen its meaning and reveal its purpose in its entirety. And while I’m not claiming to be an authority, I do believe scripture strives to bring people to an appreciation of their need of repentance in anticipation of salvation – with an accompanying call to service in light of all God has done for us. That’s not working to gain salvation but being faithful in response to it!
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Fred Price - married (50 years), father of two grown children, grandfather of six.
Fred retired earlier this year after 42 years as a factory worker. He has always had a heart for young people and the challenges they face today. Over the years Fred has taught Discipleship Groups for High School and college students.
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