While other Christians continue to work for their Heavenly reward, the
Baptists seem to have found a one-way ticket to Paradise.
Are
they guilty of spiritual pride or do they know something that other well
intentioned people have missed? |
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"These things
have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name
of the Son of God."
~ I John 5:13 |
A thirty-something housewife
is speaking during a time of testimony in a church service. She tells
of her husband being laid off yet one more time. It means another
move to a smaller place for awhile until they get can get back on their
feet after he gets another job. She recalls their several moves throughout
their marriage and then states with absolute conviction, "...but someday
we won't ever have to move again because I keep reminding myself that Heaven
is my real home and once I get there, no more moves forever." She
is smiling, too.
She is also a Baptist.
These are the same people
who face serious illness with an unearthly kind of confidence. They
talk about death as simply being a vehicle to get them to God's Heaven.
They even get together after the funeral of a fellow believer and, instead
of mourning his/her passing, they celebrate his/her life and having gone
on to be with the Lord.
From the outside, one would
think that this is nothing more than self-righteousness gone spiritually
mad. How could anyone so presume upon God that they expect to be
allowed entrance into Paradise when they arrive at Heaven's gate?
Nothing could be further
from the truth. Of all people upon this Earth, Baptists do not hesitate
to make it clear that they are sinners who deserve nothing less than to
be cast down to Hell. They are keenly aware of their own sinful nature
and are quick to state that they have given God every reason to justifiably
condemn their souls forever. You will find no arrogance in them nor
will you sense any kind of spiritual pride. They are sinners and
they know it. |
| "But now
being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your
fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages
of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." ~ Romans 6:22&23 |
Then how is it that these
Bible believing Christians find themselves filled with peace regarding
eternity while admitting that they deserve God's wrath?
It is their undaunted faith
in the literal Word of God regarding the assurance of their salvation that
convinces them. After all, did not Jesus say that eternal life is
a gift?
Is God an "Indian giver"
that he would grant it to someone who places faith in Christ's atoning
work on Calvary only to take it back when sin is committed? Would
he then give it back when that faith is renewed only to snatch it again
when sin is repeated? How long would God continue to go along with
such a rediculous process? How many times must Christ be crucified?
Furthermore, would it be
all sin that causes one to lose the gift or is there some mysterious dividing
line between sins that allow you to keep the gift and sins that result
in your losing it? Is not sin just that? Sin!
Baptists know that eternal
life cannot be earned, merited, or come as a result of many good works.
It is a gift from God and the only way to receive it is at the foot of
the cross. It is only when one realizes that salvation is not a process;
that eternal life is a gift and not a reward to be earned, that salvation
comes. It only comes when one finally gives in and admits their sinfulness
to an all-perfect God and asks for forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Once
that prayer has been finally prayed, the gift is given, never to be taken
back again.
Does that give born-again
believers the right to commit serious sins and still believe that they
are saved? That discussion is included in the page on this site regarding
the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. If interested, click
here. |
| "And I give
unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither
shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them
me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's
hand." ~ John 10:28&29 |
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| Slippage Questions: The
Doctrine of Eternal Security
"Therefore we ought to
give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any
time we should let them slip." ~ Hebrews 2:1 |
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| If having assurance of one's eternal life
is bogus, then why does the Bible so clearly state that it is a gift from
God (Romans 6:23)? |
| Does the church you attend teach the assurance
of salvation in Jesus Christ or is that something that must be obtained? |
| If so, how do you plan to obtain it (Ephesians
2:8)? |
| Can your answer be proven in Scripture? |
| Do you think that God is so misunderstanding
of the word "gift" that He takes it back again and again whenever you displease
Him? |
| Is it possible that the church or denomination
to which you belong does not understand what the Bible says about how one
can have the assurance of salvation? |
| Are you aware that when the New Testament
was written, it was Roman law that a natural child could be rejected but
an adopted child could never be cast out (Romans 8:15)? |
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