THE SCRIPTURE WAY OF SALVATION

Nothing is more complex and mind-numbing than studying the religions of the world. It's not only true of the many "false religions" out there---try studying the religion of famous "Christians" in history! But take a look at how simple it is to understand the true religion of Jesus--that is, if you take it in its original form as described in the Bible. That's exactly how our wise Creator intended to reveal the truth to us! In a way that even the dumbest of us can understand. What it means to become a Christian is so simple to comprehend. It's just as easy to understand how you become a Christian.

So what does it mean to become a Christian? Simply put, salvation from one's sins. And how do you become a Christian? Once again, simply put, by faith.

It's clear that these two words--faith and salvation--are what the entire Bible is all about. Since they are the "meat" of Scripture, shouldn't we make doubly sure that we correctly understand the true meaning of these terms? If we don't understand these two terms properly, we might completely misunderstand the whole point of the Bible and the crux of our Christian faith.

So let's ask ourselves three things. What is salvation? What is the faith that we need to be saved? And how does this faith save us?

First, let's look at what salvation is. It's probably not what you think. It's not the typical answer of "going to heaven" or "being happy forever after we die." How do we know that it's not necessarily the afterlife? Because the Bible says, "You are saved," not "You will be saved after you die." It's a present thing. Once you become a Christian, you receive salvation immediately. In other words, if someone is now a Christian, you could say, "He/she has been saved." It's not just the afterlife (although salvation continues there). It starts when grace first enters your life.

Salvation, in its entirety, includes all the times God has drawn us to him--the times He has wooed us at various points in our life. When God gives light to our understanding, or anytime he brings his light into a dark place, or when he gives us revelations of how we are to live (such as "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God")--or anytime he brings conviction to our soul--these are all marks of God's saving work in our hearts.

But right now, we're mainly concerned with salvation as the Apostle Paul speaks of in Scripture. And the two parts of salvation that he talks about are two big words: justification and sanctification.

Simply put, justification is another word for "pardon." It's the forgiveness of all our sins, and God's acceptance of us. This came at a high price--the blood of the 100% righteous Son of God--Jesus. Notice I used the word "righteous." That's because the price not only included his death, but also the righteous, perfect life he lived and suffered through before the cross ever came. All of it was necessary for our salvation.

When we are justified, or pardoned, we experience immediate effects--peace and joy. We finally experience a sense of peace with God, a "peace that passes all understanding" and also a "rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God" "with joy unspeakable and full of glory."

So it's natural for someone who has just become a Christian to feel as if all sin has disappeared. That God has rooted it all out from their heart. They might say, "Since I feel no more sin, I must not have any more inside of me! I don't feel it stirring there, so it must not exist! It has no motion, therefore it no longer has any being!"

But all too quickly they realize that their feelings were deceiving them. They soon discover that with salvation their sin wasn't destroyed, but instead suspended. All too quickly, temptations return and sin comes back to life. It may have been stunned for a bit, but it never died. And now the "saved" person feels two beasts at war within themselves--the "flesh" fighting against the "spirit." Human nature opposing the grace of God. Sure, they can't deny that they feel the power to believe in Christ and to love God. But even though the Holy Spirit bears witness to them that they are now children of God, yet they still have human pride and still want to do things their own way instead of God's way. And they still get angry or have unbelief. They find these things stirring in their hearts--although never conquering them anymore. Yes, these stirrings fight aginst Christians, trying to make them fall in their faith. But God is there to help.

What does this say about our salvation? Although we are justified (pardoned) instantaneously upon being born again, the process of "sanctification" (perfection) is gradual, not instantaneous. You see, when we are saved, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to destroy the deeds of our evil nature. And as we become more and more dead to sin, we become more and more alive to God. We progress on, from grace to grace, avoiding all forms of evil and becoming more and more passionate about doing good works, as often as we can. We must focus more and more on doing good to all people, walking blamelessly in God's ways, worshiping Him in spirit and in truth, taking up our cross, and denying ourselves of every pleasure that doesn't lead us to God.

In the meantime, we wait for our "full" salvation, which occurs when we reach the point of no longer committing further sins. The Apostle Paul expresses it this way: we must "go forward toward perfection." But what is perfection? The word has various meanings or implications. Here, it means perfect love. It is love without sin; love filling your heart, taking up the entire capacity of your soul. It is love that is "rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks."

While we have dealt with what salvation is, how do we define faith? Faith, in general, is described in Hebrews as an inward conviction or evidence of things we can't see. In other words, although you can't perceive it through the five senses, you have a supernatural evidence of God and of the things of God. It's a spiritual light shining into your soul--a supernatural eyesight, so to speak. The Apostle Paul said it this way: "God, who commanded light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glroy of God in the face of Jesus Christ." In another place, Paul speaks of "the eyes of" our "understanding being opened." By this two-fold operation of the Holy Spirit (having the eyes of our sould both opened and enlightened) we see things that can't be seen with our natural eyes or heard with our natural ears. We see the spiritual world, which is all around us but not discernable by our natural senses. We see the eternal world, as our spiritual eyes pierce through the veil that hangs between time and eternity. Before, there were only clouds and darkness, but now we see glimpses of the glory that will someday be revealed at some future point in time.

While that is faith in the general sense, let's get more specific. Faith isn't only the conviction that "in Christ, God was making peace with the world," but it's also the conviction that Christ loved me, and gave Himself for me. It is by this faith that we receive Christ as our Prophet, Priest, and King. By this faith, Jesus give us wisdom, right-standing with God, perfection, and a fresh start.

Scripture says that if you believe with true faith, you have a witness inside yourself of these things. "The Spirit witnesses to our spirits that we are children of God." In another place, "Because we are his sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba Father.'" This gives us an assurance that we are indeed God's children, and as a result we have a childlike confidence in God. But take note! First, we must have assurance given to us from God, and then we can have the confidence. In other words, we can't have childlike confidence in God until we know that we are children of God. So trust/confidence in God isn't the beginning of faith, as some claim. It is the second "branch," or part, of faith.

This is the faith by which we are saved. Remember: to be saved is to be justified (pardoned) and ultimately sanctified (perfected). But how is it possible for this faitih to justify and sanctify us? This is probably the main question people have, and it's an extremely important question! So let's not gloss over the answer.

First, how are we justified (pardoned) by faith? Well, not only is faith the way we are pardoned--it is the one and only way to be pardoned. I'll say it a number of ways: No one is pardoned except those who believe. Without faith, no one is justified. It's also the only necessary condition--there is nothing else needed for you to be pardoned. Everyone who believes is justified, regardless of whatever else you may or may not have. Perhaps can understand it this way: no one is justified (pardoned) until he believes, and everyone who believes is justified.

But doesn't God command us to repent as well? And doesn't he command us to "bring forth the fruit of repentance"--or, to stop sinning and instead learn to do good works? And isn't repentance necessary for salvation? Isn't it true that if we fail to repent, we can't expect to be pardoned from our sins? And if this is the case, how can you say that faith is the only condition for pardoning?

Yes, God does command and expect us to repent. And if we neglect to do so, we indeed can't reasonably expect to be pardoned. So, in some sense, it is true that repentance is necessary for pardoning. But not in the same sense as faith, or to the same degree. Here's what I mean by "not to the same degree." Simply, the fruit of repentance is only necessary if you have the time and opportunity to produce it. For example, take the thief on the cross--he was pardoned, even though he had no time to produce the fruit of repentance. But he couldn't be pardoned without faith--that would be impossible. Look at your life in the same way--repent all you want, and "live godly" all you want, but if you don't have faith, you still aren't justified or pardoned. But once you believe, with or without having produced any fruit of repentance at this point, you are justified. In other words, God requires repentance and its fruit from you only after God's requirement of faith has justified you.

You might ask me, "Ok, so you believe that we are pardoned by faith, but do you also believe that we are sanctified (perfected) by faith? We thought you teach that we are sanctified by our works!" That's what people have accused me of saying for the past 25 years, but I have said just the opposite over and over again. I have repeatedly said that not only are we justified by faith, but we are also sanctified by faith. In fact, we are sanctified by faith in the exact same way that we are justified by faith. Faith is the condition--the only condition--for sanctification, just like justification. Everyone who believes is sanctified, regardless of whatever else you may or may not have. In other words, no one is sanctified (perfected) until he believes, and everyone who believes is sanctified.

You might then say, "But aren't you supposed to repent before God will pardon your sins? And aren't we supposed to be repentant after we have been pardoned by producing the good works and fruit of repentance? And isn't it true that if someone neglects to do so, he can't expect to ever be sanctified in the full sense...i.e. perfected in love? In fact, isn't it true that you can't grow at all in grace without this life of repentance? Isn't it true that you can't continue in the faith or continue to have favor with God if you don't live a repentant life? Don't you continually preach this truth wherever you go? And if so, how can you say that faith is the only condition for sanctification?"

My answer is this: Yes, I do preach all this, and continue to affirm it as God's truth. I believe there is a repentance that follows pardoning, as well as a repentance that comes right before pardoning. It is required that all who God pardons must be passionate for good works. It is so necessary, that if someone neglects to do so, he can't reasonably expect to ever be sanctified; he can't grow in grace or in favor with God.

So what does this all mean then? It means that repentance (understood properly) and the practice of all good works are necessary in some sense for sanctification.

I say repentance "understood properly" because this shouldn't be confused with the repentance that comes before pardoning. The repentance that follows justification is WAY different from the repentance that occurs before justification. The repentance after justification doesn't at all include condemnation or the wrath of God. This form of repentance doesn't fear that we have lost favor with God, or that we will suffer the wrath of God for our sins. Instead, it is a conviction from the Holy Spirit of the sin that is still in the heart of someone who has already been regenerated by God. This sin no longer reigns in his heart--it simply still remains there. This repentance is a conviction that our hearts that are bent to backsliding--the tendency of our flesh to fight against our spirit. And soon, unless we continually watch and pray, our heart falls to pride, anger, love of this world, love of comfort, recognition, and pleasure more than love for God. Our hearts continue to try and pull us away from God.

We recognize that in this condition, we couldn't stand before the righteous judgment of God if he were to look at any particular area of our hearts and lives. Even in our "best works" we find hints of self-pride or unbelief, which makes us feel even more ashamed about these things than our worst sins. All of this causes us to conclude that there is nothing good within us, and that we would be so guilty if we stood before God right now, were it not for Jesus' blood shed for us.

This conviction of sin, with the added guilt of knowing how we'd fair standing before a righteous God without Jesus' blood, causes us to have an additional conviction of helplessness. We realize we have a complete inabilitiy to think one good thought, or form one good desire, or speak one word right, or perform one good action--except through His grace which first draws us to Him and accompanies us at all times.

You might now say, "Ok, so we're not yet sanctified. What are the good works that you believe are necessary for sanctification?" First, all works of spiritual holiness. Things such as public prayer, family prayer, praying in secret, receiving communion, searching the Scriptures by hearing, reading and meditating, fasting as much as our bodies allow. Second, all works of mercy and kindness to either people's bodies or their souls. Things such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, housing strangers, visiting those who are in prison or sick, teaching the ignorant, preaching to the sinner, waking up the lukewarm, guiding those wavering in their faith, encouraging the doubter, guarding those who are tempted, or any contribution to saving someone's soul from death. Both of these types of good works are the fruit of repentance necessary for full sanctification. This is the way (good works) God has outlined for us to receive complete salvation in time.

So now we can see the utter falseness when someone claims that sin longer exists in a believer. They say that all sin is destroyed, all the way down to the root, once a person is justified. That totally eliminates the need for repentance, doesn't it? And without repentance, the way to sanctification (good works) is blocked. There's no place for repentance for the person who thinks he has no sin left in his life! He feels no need to be perfected in love--he sees himself as already perfect!

We can also see that my view of continuing sanctification is superior than the view of instantaneous sanctification--even if my belief is wrong. Because if I'm wrong about this, is anything lost? No, because I will have used the time I have here on this earth to improve and use all the talents God has given me to my fullest ability--even if that never means I actually reach perfection. And when Jesus comes back, he will have received more from me than if I had believed I was already perfect.

But I've digressed from the original issue--which was whether repentance and its fruits are necessary to full salvation. And yes they are, but they aren't necessary in the same sense or degree as faith is necessary. Once again, repentance and its fruit is only necessary if we are given the opportunity after we have believed in Christ. If we aren't given that opportunity, we are sanctified without repentance. But you can't be sanctified without faith period. For example, suppose a man is repentant as much as one can be in any sense of the word. If he doesn't also have faith, the repentance is worthless, and he's not saved until he believes. But once he believes, whether he has repentance or not, he is sanctified. The repentance is only necessary for the continuance of his faith and the increase of it. So, faith is the only condition of salvation that is both immediately and continually necessary.

But what is this faith by which we are sanctified (saved from sin and perfected in love)?

First, it is the inward conviction given to us from God that He has promised complete sanctification in Scripture. You have to start here. If you can't grasp that, you won't move forward. Can it get more plain than this: "Then will I circumcise your heart, and the heart of your family line, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind." Can God make it any clearer that He will perfect our love for him? That there will be no more sin in us? For if love takes up the whole heart, what room is there for sin in there?

Second, this faith by which we are sanctified means that we believe that if God promised it, he can indeed perform it. Of course, we admit that with man, this is impossible--to "bring a clean thing out of an unclean person." But this is no problem if we also believe that "with God all things are possible." And we all know that nothing less than the power of the Almighty can accomplish this! But if God speaks it, it will be done. God said, "Let there be light," and guess what...there was light!

Third, this faith is a conviction that God is able and willing to do it now. And why not? Isn't one moment with God the same thing to Him as a thousand years? He never needs more time to accomplish whatever His will is. He is always able to do at any moment whatever it is that he wants to do. And he surely isn't waiting until we are more "worthy" of full sanctification. So we can say boldly, "Now is the day of salvation! Today, if you will hear his voice, don't harden your heart! Behold, everything is ready--come into the marriage!"

Lastly, you also need to add to your conviction that not only is God both able and willing to sanctify you right now, you also need to believe that God actually does it in this very moment! Once you are able to believe this, you are sanctified. God says to your soul, "According to your faith, let it happen!" Then the soul is pure from every spot of sin--clean from all unrighteousness. The believer then experiences the deep meaning of these awesome words, "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin."

You may now ask, "But does God work this great work in my soul gradually or instantaneously?" Maybe for some it happens gradually (i.e. they cannot say "on such-and-such day, I became fully sanctified), but it is much more desirable for us and to God that it happen instantaneously. That "by the breath of His mouth" in a moment, God destroys all sin in our heart--in the twinkling of an eye. And that's generally how he does it. So seek for it every moment! And seek it by the way I've outlined earlier--carrying out the good works that God has ordained for us to carry out. It's the reason God has saved us! There's no harm in trying, right? For even if you are disappointed in never receiving the full sanctification, you lose nothing. Instead, you have progressed closer to it. But trust me, you won't be disappointed. It will come, it won't stay out of your reach. Seek for it every day, every hour, every moment! Why not this hour or this moment? You may absolutely seek for it to happen now, if you believe by faith.

And this is how you know whether you are seeking for it by faith or by works. If you are seeking by works, you want something to be done first, before you believe you can be sanctified. You think, "I must first be or do this--then I can be sanctified." But if you seek by faith, you may expect it to happen right now--just as you are. You've got to understand, there's no way to separate these three points: expect it by faith, expect it as you are, and expect it right now! Listen very carefully--to deny one is to deny all three. And if you allow for one, you must allow for all three. Do you really believe that you are sanctified by faith and not works? Then believe you can be sanctified just as you are, a poor sinner that still has nothing--except Christ's blood! Do you believe that you can expect it just as you are? Then expect it NOW! There's no good reason to hold off. Christ is ready, and He is all you want. He is waiting for you. He is at the door. Let your soul cry out--

"Come in, come in, you heavenly Guest!

Never again yourself remove

But stay with me and let the feast

be everlasting love!"