The Truth and Salvation (Part II)

As mentioned in the previous post, the Scripture reveals that salvation is not a "faith only" proposition. In fact, the only time the words "faith only" are used in the Scripture, it is to reveal that man is NOT saved by "faith only." Consider James 2:14-24 (emphasis mine):

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

James tells us very plainly that salvation does not come through faith alone. God requires an expression of that faith . . . he requires a working faith to grant salvation. Does this mean that works earn us our salvation? Absolutely not. We could never do enough to earn forgiveness of our sins. Salvation is a gift, but there are conditions to receiving that gift. This is the way God has dealt with His people from the beginning. There is perhaps no better illustration of this than to read Hebrews Chapter 11 in its entirety. In this "roll call of faith," we see that each individual mentioned acted "by faith" and in so doing, they received the blessings of God. The Scripture does not say that any of them "earned" the blessings they received, but as they acted in faith God granted them those blessings. Salvation of our souls is no different. So, what works, then, does God require to grant us the gift of salvation?

Repentance
Repentance very simply defined means having a change of mind. A change of mind about what? About sin. Repentance includes coming to the realization that my sin is what separates me from God and then coming to the conclusion that I must turn away from sin in order to restore that relationship with Him. Repentance is not simply being sorry for what we've done (or sorry that we've gotten caught). Consider how Paul describes repentance in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11: "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication!" True repentance starts with a heart-rending sorrow because I have sinned against my Creator and produces an overwhelming desire to make things right!

Is repentance truly necessary for salvation? Jesus Himself said it is. In Matthew 9, when the Pharisees condemned Jesus for eating with sinners, He told them "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance” (verses 12-13). A major part of Jesus' mission on earth was to call sinners to repentance. Why? Because repentance is necessary for salvation. In Luke 13, Jesus and His disciples were discussing calamities that had befallen certain individuals. Jesus used this opportunity to teach them (and us) that these did not die because they were "worse" sinners than others. He said, "I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish" (verses 3 and 5). Condemnation will fall on all those who refuse to repent. Peter reinforces this idea in 2 peter 3:9. In discussing the reason why Jesus delays His Second Coming, Peter tells us, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

On the day of Pentecost, after Peter had finished preaching to the Jews, they cried out to him "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" (Acts 2:37). They had been convicted of their sin and wanted to know how to make things right with God. The first instruction Peter gave to them was to repent (verse 38). In Acts Chapter 3, Peter once again stresses the necessity of repentance. Once again speaking to the Jews he says, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord . . ." (verse 19). We learn here that ones sins cannot be "blotted out" (erased) without repentance.

Confession
Once one has heard the Word of Truth, believed it, been convicted of his/her sin, and determined to turn away from a life of sin, God requires that a public confession of faith be made. What is one to confess? Acts 8 shows us a good example of what this confession is. After Philip had taught the Ethiopian eunuch the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the eunuch wanted to be baptized. Philip said to him, "If you believe with all your heart, you may [be baptized]” (verse 37). The eunuch then made the following confession: "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God” (verse 38). We see, then, that this confession is one of belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Is this confession truly necessary for salvation? The apostle Paul tells us it is (emphasis mine): "But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:8-10). We see a perfect example here of what James talks about in James 2: that confession is an outgrowth or manifestation of one's faith (belief). John also tells us in 1 John 4:15, "Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God." The converse is certainly true: God does not abide in him who does not confess that Jesus is the Son of God.

Again, many in our religious world will stop at confession as a means to salvation. But is that all God requires before He will grant this most glorious gift? Not according to the Truth. There remains a "landmark event" before one can truly be called a child of God.

The Truth and Salvation (Part I)

Once I understand that God's Word is Truth and that Truth has the ability to save my soul from sin, what is the next logical step? I want to find out HOW to be saved through the Truth. The only way to do this is to read everything the Truth has to say about salvation. I cannot just pick and choose from the Scriptures what I "think" I need to do to be saved. I must remember that one of the aspects of "rightly dividing the Word of Truth" is taking it for what it says on a particular subject . . . and taking it for ALL that it says on that subject.

In Romans 10, Paul is lamenting the fact that the majority of Jews were lost because they had "a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" (verse 2) and they "sought to establish thier own righteousness, [having] not submitted to the righteousness of God" (verse 3). What did Paul mean? He meant that they were ignorant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. How could this ignorance be overcome? Consider verse 14 (emphasis mine): "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" Paul says that the first step toward salvation is to HEAR the gospel of Christ. Again, how can a person believe in something that of which they have no knowledge? Paul reinforces this idea in verse 17: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

This "hearing" can come in a couple of different forms. Certainly a person can read the Bible and learn what it says about salvation. However, as Paul points out above, many times people need a little extra help to guide them. A perfect example of this is found in Acts 8. Here we see an Ethiopian eunuch who searched the Scriptures to see how to be pleasing to God, but he could not fully understand what he was reading. God sent Philip to this man and the Scripture says: "Philip opened his mouth, and beginning at this Scripture, preached Jesus to him" (verse 35). After hearing the message of Christ, the eunuch did those things that led to his salvation and he "went on his way rejoicing" (verse 39).

But is just hearing the Word enough to save one's soul? Consider what Paul says concerning the Jews in Romans 10. Paul says in verses 16, 18, and 19 that they HAD heard the gospel. So where was the problem? Back to verse 17: their hearing of the gospel had not led to FAITH or BELIEF in that gospel. Jesus tells us in Mark 16:16 that belief is an essential component of salvation. Furthermore, Hebrews 11:6 also tells us that a lack of faith in God's saving power will prevent our being pleasing to God: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Unfortunately, many in the religious world today will stop at faith as a means to salvation. But is faith alone in Jesus Christ all that God requires for man's salvation? I must remember to examine ALL that God says in His Word about salvation. An honest examination of the Scriptures reveals that faith alone is not enough for God to grant salvation.

My Responsibility Toward Truth

What is my responsibility toward this most precious of possessions? Probably no verse in the entire Bible sums it up better than 2 Timothy 2:15:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Where the NKJV says "be diligent," the KJV version says "study." Either version gives the idea that I am to apply myself in a regular and consistent manner to the study of the truth. Paul refers to those who do so as "workers," implying that it takes effort. To what purpose am I to be a diligent worker? So that I may "rightly divide" God's Word.

What does it mean to "rightly divide the word of truth"? At its most basic level, it is knowing which parts of it apply to me and which parts don't. A perfect example of this is the Old Testament (OT) law. The OT law was a covenant law between God and a specific people: the Jews. It was also temporary until Christ came (please see the previous post entitled "The Value of Truth" for a discussion of this). No part of the OT law (including the 10 Commandments)has any bearing on my relationship with God . . . it doesn't apply to me (I'm not a Jew) and it was "nailed to the cross" when the New Testament was put in force by the blood of Christ (Colossians 2:13-14). Does that mean, then, that the Old Testament has no value? Absolutely not, and I plan on discussing that in a later post.

"Rightly dividing the word" also implies that I understand the nature of the prophecies contained in it. More simply, I need to understand which prophecies have been fulfilled and which are yet to be fulfilled. Paul addresses this is in 2 Timothy 2:16-18. There were some in Paul's day who were saying falsely that the final resurrection had already occurred. This was a symptom of the misunderstanding of (or failure to rightly divide) the inspired Word. What was the result? The teachings of these men was "overthrowing the faith of some". So I can see that failure to understand prophecy in Scripture can not only place my soul in danger, but the souls of others, as well.

Finally, "rightly dividing the word" means that I take the Word for what it says rather than making it say what I want it to say. It has been said that a person can make the Bible say anything he/she wants it to. This is certainly true when one takes Scripture out of context and applies his/her own "interpretation" to it. However, the Scripture addresses this phenomenon and its consequences. In 2 Peter 3, Peter tells us about those who will mock Christians for believing that Jesus will come again. He goes on to explain that Christ's delay in coming is out of His desire for all to come to repentance, but that when He does come there will be judgment and destruction of the earth. He reminds his readers that Paul had written to them about the same things, but note what he says about some who read Paul's words (emphasis mine):

. . . and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures (2 Peter 3:15-16).

Peter says there are people who are untaught and unstable who will twist the Scriptures to make them say what they want them to say. Yet what is their end result? Their destruction. Certainly being able to "rightly divide the word of truth" is a grave responsibility.

In conclusion, what will be the end result if I am diligent in learning how to rightly divide the Word? The Scriptures say that I will be "approved of God." The idea here is that I will be acceptable to God in my handling of His Word. His Word will then be able to guide me to salvation and to being a faithful and obedient child in His family.

The Value of Truth

Once we understand that God’s Word is truth, the next question that comes up in my mind is “What value does truth hold?”

Truth Provides Freedom
“Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’” (John 8:31-32).

What type of freedom? Freedom from what?

First, God’s Word provides freedom from sin. Notice the exchange between the Jews and Jesus in John 8: 33-35: “They answered Him, ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.”

We understand that all have sinned; therefore, all are slaves of sin. However, the Word of God has the power to free mankind from the bondage of sin. Paul devotes the entirety of Romans Chapter 6 to the idea of freedom from this bondage. Note especially what he says in verses 17-18: “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.” “Doctrine” means simply “teaching.” What teaching had they received? Teaching from the Truth . . . the Word of God.

Also, God’s Word provides freedom from the Old Testament Law. Remember that Jesus was speaking to Jews in John 8. There would come a time when they would no longer be bound by the tenets of the law given to Moses. Paul told the Galatian church that the Old Law was a schoolmaster, something to prepare the world for the coming of Christ. However, he says that after Christ came “we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:25). In fact, Paul also told the Galatians that any of them that were seeking to be justified by the keeping of the Old Law were “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:4).

Once the Old Law had fulfilled its purpose, it was no longer necessary. What happened to it? Paul tells us that it was nailed to the cross (emphasis mine): “And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Colossians 2:13-14). In Hebrews Chapter 9, the Old Law is likened to a last will and testament that comes into effect when one dies. Jesus brought a New Testament that went into effect when He died. This made the Old Testament null and void, as revealed by the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 10:8-10 (emphasis mine): “Previously saying, ‘Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them’ (which are offered according to the law), then He said, ‘Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.’ He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Truth Provides Completion

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Paul tells us here that God’s Word gives us everything we need to do the work that God wants us to do as His people.

Doctrine: As stated above, the word “doctrine” literally means “teaching.” We don’t need to go to any other source but the Word of God to find teaching for ourselves and teaching for others.

Reproof: Other versions of the Bible use the word “rebuke” here. The word translated “reproof” or “rebuke” come from a Greek word meaning “instruction which aims at increasing virtue” and “chastisement or chastening.” So, the Word of God is to be used to show others where they are wrong in relation to the teaching of the Word. Literally, we are to take the Word of God and “prove again” (re-prove) that which is sound doctrine. This instruction, however, is to be done with the aim of increasing virtue rather than to tear down.

Correction: This goes hand in hand with reproof. Again, if we look at the original Greek word, what we have is “restoration to an upright or right state” and “improvement of life or character.” The idea here is that when we see ourselves (or someone else) going astray from the Truth, we can use the Word of God to bring those things back in line. As with reproof, the goal is achieving what is best for the one who has strayed (i.e. agape love).

Instruction in righteousness: Righteousness, most simply put, is doing what is right in the sight of God. We can go to the Word of God to find out what it is we must do to be accounted as righteous in His sight.

When I use the Word of God and only the Word of God as my guide for living, I can be complete and do those things that are pleasing to God.

Truth Provides Limits
For those of us that are parents, we understand the value of placing limits on our children. Doing so prevents them from “running wild” and doing whatever they please. Furthermore, children have a desire to please their parents and to know their limits so that they CAN please them. God has done no less with His children. It is to our benefit that He has placed limits on what is pleasing to Him.

How do we know these limits exist? Scripture is very plain on this point. Consider what John tells us in 2 John 9: “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” The word “transgress” literally means to “go beyond.” Therefore, if I “go beyond” anything that is not revealed in the Truth, I do not have a relationship with God.

In Colossians 3:17, Paul says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” What does it mean to do something in the name of Jesus? It certainly doesn’t mean that I can do anything I want to as long as I say I’m doing it in His name. Doing something in someone’s name means you are doing it with their authority. What does a law officer mean when he says to someone “Stop in the name of the law!”? He is saying that he has the authority of the law to require the person to stop. The same principle applies to what we do in service to God. If I do not have the authority of Christ to do a certain thing, then I have overstepped my bounds.

So, how do I know if I have the authority of Christ to do a certain thing? Consider verse 16 in Colossians 3 (emphasis mine): “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Those things that Christ has authorized are revealed in His Word. If it’s not there, I don’t have the authority of Christ to do it.

Truth Provides Salvation
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek” (Romans 1:16).

The Word of God has the power to convict man’s soul of sin and to save him from that sin. In Acts 11, we see that the angel of the Lord visited a Gentile named Cornelius. The angel told Cornelius to send for Peter and when Peter arrived “[he] will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved” (verse 14). Acts 10 records the words Peter spoke to Cornelius and we see that what he spoke was the Gospel of Christ.

James makes a contrast between those who belong to the world and those who belong to God in James 1. In verse 18, he says that God “brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.” The idea here is that of a rebirth and what accomplishes that rebirth is “the word of truth.” Furthermore, he says in verses 19-21 that the deeds of the flesh do not accomplish the righteousness of God; he tells us rather to “receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

It quickly becomes evident that the Truth is the most valuable thing that we can possess. Is it any wonder that Solomon said in Proverbs 23:23, “Buy the truth and sell it not”? The Word of God is the most precious thing that we own.

When we come to a realization of how valuable and precious Truth is, it can help us to more fully appreciate our responsibility toward Truth.