Is it possible to receive, that is, to believe the word of God, and yet deceive ourselves when it comes to our own salvation? Can we be heirs to a guaranteed inheritance and fail to take possession of it? James taught so, telling his readers that we must not only hear the word, but we must also put it into action in our lives. This is a sentiment that Christ Himself expressed more than once in His teachings, saying, “My mother and My brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it” (Luke 8:21). Moreover, in John 8:31, “If you abide in My word, you are truly My disciples”
It is like a woman who goes and purchases an automobile on credit. She takes possession of the car and shows it to her friends, saying “this is my new car”, when in reality it belongs to the bank who holds the lien and retains the title. The car belongs to her to do what she likes upon agreement that she will fulfill all the requirements of purchase; then, and only then, will the bank transfer the title into her name and she takes true possession of the car.
With salvation, we do not have a purchase contract, our debt having already been paid by Jesus Christ, and we have a guarantor who attests to the certainty of that which is promised. However, we do nonetheless have a contract, that is, a covenant with the Lord, which is His last will and testament, which we must live by or fulfill. Therefore, if we turn away from God or refuse to honor His commands, then what He willed to us shall certainly be withheld for failing to obey the stipulations of that covenant.
So far, we have seen that we must hear the word, we must believe it and we must act, by being baptized. When we respond to the gospel in faith we receive the Holy Spirit as a guarantee (II Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14). Thus, being baptized into Christ, we become members of Christ’s body, in accordance with I Corinthians 12:13 where Paul wrote, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” The gift that God offers is certainly free, but we must validate our claim to it by the exercise of our own free will in meeting the terms of God’s will. So, it was in the garden, so it was with the Israelites coming out of Egypt, so it was with Abraham, and so it is with us. Perfect obedience is beyond us, but a deliberate, conscientious adherence to His commands, devoid of self-will, is necessary.
It is like a woman who goes and purchases an automobile on credit. She takes possession of the car and shows it to her friends, saying “this is my new car”, when in reality it belongs to the bank who holds the lien and retains the title. The car belongs to her to do what she likes upon agreement that she will fulfill all the requirements of purchase; then, and only then, will the bank transfer the title into her name and she takes true possession of the car.
With salvation, we do not have a purchase contract, our debt having already been paid by Jesus Christ, and we have a guarantor who attests to the certainty of that which is promised. However, we do nonetheless have a contract, that is, a covenant with the Lord, which is His last will and testament, which we must live by or fulfill. Therefore, if we turn away from God or refuse to honor His commands, then what He willed to us shall certainly be withheld for failing to obey the stipulations of that covenant.
So far, we have seen that we must hear the word, we must believe it and we must act, by being baptized. When we respond to the gospel in faith we receive the Holy Spirit as a guarantee (II Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:13-14). Thus, being baptized into Christ, we become members of Christ’s body, in accordance with I Corinthians 12:13 where Paul wrote, “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free— and all were made to drink of one Spirit.” The gift that God offers is certainly free, but we must validate our claim to it by the exercise of our own free will in meeting the terms of God’s will. So, it was in the garden, so it was with the Israelites coming out of Egypt, so it was with Abraham, and so it is with us. Perfect obedience is beyond us, but a deliberate, conscientious adherence to His commands, devoid of self-will, is necessary.