Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: emery@tc.fluke.COM (John Emery) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: Can the Righteous be Saved? Message-ID: Date: 25 Apr 91 01:22:49 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA Lines: 122 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article davidbu@loowit.wr.tek.com (David E. Buxton) writes: > ""I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one > sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no > repentance." -- Luke 15:7 (NKJ) > > ""As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and > repent." -- Rev 3:19 (NKJ) > >It is human nature to want to feel secured for eternity. We want to be able >to relax and coast into heaven. But does this bring us to a condition simi- >lar to those who rejected Jesus, those conceited in their legalism and/or >their high credentials from the lineage of Abraham and seats of power in the >Sanhedrin? Jesus can save the sinner who comes to Him in repentance. But >how can He save the self-righteous? It seems to me the point that David is making is that a saved person should also be a repentant person. I really agree with this and the Bible is clear on it as David has shown. One thing that I would like to share is that having eternal security does not mean that one is conceited and self-righteous. I guess the question is: Is it God's will for us to have eternal security? I would dare to say yes: "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13) "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." (John 20:31) And what peace His Word brings. Many a believer struggle with the insecurity of their salvation. Yet God has called us to peace. >to save us in our sins. So let us be repentant always. And remember that >repentance includes a turning away from our sin, nor mere apology. Amen. And let us not repent out of fear, but out of love for God. Our eternal security through faith in Jesus allows us that priveledge. >Jesus clearly stated - I came to save sinners and not the righteous - that >is He came to save those who recognize that they are sinners and not those >who proclaim that they are now secured. The good news is that He came to make the sinners righteous. Having eternal security yet recognizing and being thankful for the undeserved gift of life is good! How pleasant it is to recognize that one does not measure up to God's requirement yet rejoice in praise to Him because: "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:23-24) Jesus Himself said, "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." (Luke 10:20) When a believer and follower of Jesus is unsure of his/her eternal destiny, it only creates anxiety and fear rendering the believer useless and bound to continually try to earn God's acceptance. Yet the glorious truth of our salvation in Jesus says: "Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men." (Romans 5:18) >It is not the law that saves us. Law keeping can doom people to feeling >smugly self righteous. But rather the law is intended to bring us to a >knowledge of our sin and so to repentance. Yes, it is a continual reminder of our fallen state and compels us to Jesus where there is free grace through faith in Him. >Now consider what Jesus said about the self righteous Pharisee (Luke >18:11,12) and the repentant Publican (Luke 18:13,14). Would it be fair to >rewrite that story into the following parable? > > And the Christian went about proclaiming at every opportunity, with a > loud voice - "I'm saved, I'm saved, Praise the Lord" - while the > Jehovah's Witness knelt before Jehovah God, hardly daring to look up, > saying "God be merciful to me a sinner". I think you have to look at the motive. If you read this parable, the Pharisee was proclaiming that he was better than the publican because of his works. A Christian who proclaims "I'm saved, I'm saved", may be doing so out of joy testifying of the miracle that God has done. It may be an expression of gratitude, rejoicing that his name is written in heaven. And in your rewrite, this Christian is not judging anyone. I would say that both are justified in God's eyes! >The evangelists of today have devised all sorts of ways by which to sooth >their followers into believing that all is secured eternally for salvation. >Full churches are seen as more important than repentance. The need to come >to the cross in humble repentance is seen as resting in the past. A sense >of secured righteousness is their proclamation. I would dare say that eternal security and repentance are not mutually exclusive. If repentance was based soley on insecurity, people would be repenting out of fear. Yet the Bible says that: "God's kindness leads you towards repentance" (Romans 2:4). A son does not repent for his wronging because his parents threaten to disown him. Our God is a nuturing Father who disciplines His children, yet loves them and shows them kindness. In view of God's mercy, let us repent of our wrongdoing in respect of His awesome holiness. >Let us turn to the cross in repentance every day and acknowledge our need as >sinners. We need our Savior today. > >Dave (David E. Buxton) Oh how we need Jesus! A hearty amen to the above statement. And let us also know that He accepts our repentance and clothes us in the robe of His righteousness. And let the Spirit compel us onto obedience and good works of love and mercy toward others! Glory to God in the highest, John Emery emery@tc.fluke.COM