Continued from previous post:
Salvation vs. Deeds
The question now arises: Why are salvation and deeds two separate
things? This is a topic that has been
debated for thousands of years, and we will not settle the matter here in this
book. But we will try to put it as
simply as possible so we have a basic understanding. Salvation is a gift that we receive
freely: we can do NOTHING to earn
it. …the free gift of God is eternal
life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom.
6:23) So how do we receive this free
gift? It says in John 1:12, But as
many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even
to those who believe in His name. Jesus
said …This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has
sent. (John 6:29) When Jesus was crucified, one of the
criminals being crucified next to him asked Jesus to remember him when he came
in his kingdom. Jesus replied that the
criminal would be with him in paradise.
(See Luke 23:42, 43) This man was
a criminal, and he was such a bad man that the death sentence had been passed
against him. So how could Jesus simply
say yes, you will be in heaven with me?
Because this criminal believed that Jesus was the Son of God and said he
wanted to be with him. That is all that is required to be
saved: believe that Jesus is sent of God
to save you and ask him to be in your life.
Suddenly your name is written in the Book of Life and heaven is
yours. …he who hears My word, and
believes Him who sent me, has eternal life, and…has passed out of death into
life. (John 5:24)
So where do
deeds come into the picture? When you
fall in love with someone you desire to please that person, and our love for
Jesus will be no different. The longer
Jesus is in your life, the more you will know him and the more you will love
him and the more you will want to please him.
So what is it that pleases Jesus?
When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, …”You
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind.” This is the great
and foremost commandment. The second is
like it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matt. 22:37-39) Loving God and treating people as we would
want to be treated are the deeds for which we are judged. (See Matt. 25:31-46)
By ourselves we cannot please
Jesus, but he promises to help us personally, to give us the Holy Spirit to
help, and to cover us when we fall short.
I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He
may be with you forever… (John
14:16) …he who abides in Me and I in
him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5) …for
it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good
pleasure. (Phil. 2:13) …if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. (1
John 2:1) For we do not have a high
priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted
in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Heb. 4:15, 16)
Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the
first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be
priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years. Rev.20:6
