The Danger of salvation by Jesus plus
So, I know I have some major catching up to do, but before I get to that I just wanted to share something that so struck my heart. I was reading one of Max Lucado's devotionals,(always incredible)and though I one hundred percent believe there is a balance between faith and works. I completely understand what Max is trying to say here and as a Christian always striving to grow and learn more, serve more, love more, I TOTALLY get this. And I think many Christians can relate. So, I thought I'd share...(It is definitely worth the read)
"To qualify for welfare, you must admit you are poor. To qualify for bankruptcy, you have to admit you are broke. To be admitted to a hospital, you have to admit you are hellbound.
We're willing to do the first three, but the fourth? That's a tough one. That's enough to trip up a fellow. Not easy for a decent guy to admit he's a sinner. Hard for a pretty girl to confess spiritual destitution.
Oh, it isn't at first. When we first meet Christ. When life is a mess and the future is bleak. When we don't have anything to lose because we've lost it all. It's not hard to admit it at first.
But then, by God's grace, things get better. Bills get paid. The dog comes home. The pantry gets full. The face we see in the morning mirror has a small on it. And with time, the person in the mirror grows a bit proud. A bit puffy. A bit, shall we say cocky?
We forget where we were. We forget what God gave. We gradually begin to think that God is lucky to have us on his side. We begin to see salvation not as a toss of the life preserver to the sinking but as a journey in a rowboat: God's grace handling one oar and our good deeds handling the other. It's not that Jesus isn't necessary, it's just that Jesus isn't enough.
Slowly, deftly, we begin believing in the doctrine of salvation by Jesus plus. Jesus plus good deeds. Jesus plus good doctrine. Jesus plus the right Bible translation. Jesus plus the right charitable activities..." Sometimes to Christians the right ritual is just as important as the right Savior.
"Paul would have none of this. Paul proclaimed that if we are saved it is because God rescued us and not because we learned to swim. God is the verb and we are the noun. God does the saving and we do the receiving.
All we do is accept it. We might as well admit it." -Max Lucado
Father, forgive me. Forgive me for depending on myself. My works. My ability. Let me never forget where you have brought me from. As I serve you, keep these thoughts on the forefront of my mind. For I realize, it is just as fatal to not accept Your grace as it is to take it for granted. You are the verb and I am the noun.
"To qualify for welfare, you must admit you are poor. To qualify for bankruptcy, you have to admit you are broke. To be admitted to a hospital, you have to admit you are hellbound.
We're willing to do the first three, but the fourth? That's a tough one. That's enough to trip up a fellow. Not easy for a decent guy to admit he's a sinner. Hard for a pretty girl to confess spiritual destitution.
Oh, it isn't at first. When we first meet Christ. When life is a mess and the future is bleak. When we don't have anything to lose because we've lost it all. It's not hard to admit it at first.
But then, by God's grace, things get better. Bills get paid. The dog comes home. The pantry gets full. The face we see in the morning mirror has a small on it. And with time, the person in the mirror grows a bit proud. A bit puffy. A bit, shall we say cocky?
We forget where we were. We forget what God gave. We gradually begin to think that God is lucky to have us on his side. We begin to see salvation not as a toss of the life preserver to the sinking but as a journey in a rowboat: God's grace handling one oar and our good deeds handling the other. It's not that Jesus isn't necessary, it's just that Jesus isn't enough.
Slowly, deftly, we begin believing in the doctrine of salvation by Jesus plus. Jesus plus good deeds. Jesus plus good doctrine. Jesus plus the right Bible translation. Jesus plus the right charitable activities..." Sometimes to Christians the right ritual is just as important as the right Savior.
"Paul would have none of this. Paul proclaimed that if we are saved it is because God rescued us and not because we learned to swim. God is the verb and we are the noun. God does the saving and we do the receiving.
All we do is accept it. We might as well admit it." -Max Lucado
Father, forgive me. Forgive me for depending on myself. My works. My ability. Let me never forget where you have brought me from. As I serve you, keep these thoughts on the forefront of my mind. For I realize, it is just as fatal to not accept Your grace as it is to take it for granted. You are the verb and I am the noun.
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