I already did in my previous posts........
Read MT 5:13-16, MT 7:21-27 and LK 6:46-49 and then JAS
2:14-20
Then you may understand why and what Jesus said in MT
25:31-46.
LOL, this is going to be a really long post. but i most probably
won't post here again until after my exams.
Regarding MT 5:13-16 - A little article that you may find
interesting:
Luke 14:34-35 AMP
Salt is good [an excellent thing], but if salt has lost its
strength and has become saltless (insipid, flat), how shall its
saltness be restored?
(35) It is fit neither for the land
nor for the manure heap; men throw it away. He who has ears to
hear, let him listen and consider and comprehend by
hearing!
The Living Bible gives a modern slant to
Jesus’ warning:
“What good is salt that has lost its
saltiness? Flavorless salt is fit for nothing - not even for
fertilizer. It is worthless and must be thrown out. Listen well if
you would understand my meaning.”
It may sound unusual to read of salt losing
its saltiness, yet salt has different grades of quality and purity.
Even today, only the highest grade of salt reaches the dining
table. Most poorer grades of salt are used in industrial
processes.
In ancient times, salt was rarely pure.
During Biblical times, most salt in Israel came from the Dead Sea
and was often mixed with impurities, making the salt less salty.
There were also conditions in which salt could be leached out or
made less effective, through exposure to water, air, excessive
sunlight or even other chemicals. The Victor Bible Background
Commentary informs us:
“In Israel
salt was mined from a great ledge of rock salt lying near
the Dead Sea and evaporated from that
Sea’s waters. The rock salt deteriorated in high
temperatures, and moisture could leach the salt from the rock. Thus
this important product could lose its saltiness - and become
absolutely worthless.“
In a similar vein, “flakes of salt
form on the rock shores of the Dead Sea
at night. In the morning the sun rises. Under its heat
the salt loses is saltiness. It blends with the shore and loses its
distinctiveness.”
To illustrate this leaching process, Marvin
Vincent quotes the following story:
“A merchant of
Sidon, having farmed of the government
the revenue from the importation of salt, brought over a
great quantity from the marshes of Cyprus - enough, in fact,
to supply the whole province for many years. This he had
transferred to the mountains, to cheat the government out of some
small percentage of duty. Sixty-five houses were rented and filled
with salt. Such houses have merely earthen floors, and the salt
next the ground was in a few years entirely spoiled. [L]arge
quantities of it [were] literally thrown into the road to be
trodden under foot of men and beasts. It was ‘good for
nothing.”
Salt can lose its saltiness if it is
adulterated with inferior substances. In the same way, your
distinctiveness as a follower of Jesus can be watered down if you
mix a biblical lifestyle with the world’s
lifestyle.
We are indeed called to be salt and light of this
world, but this doesn't have anything to do with salvation. It is
the result of salvation, it is the result of experiecing the love
of God and thus we are able to do good works - driven by love and
purpose. it doesn't say that if we're not the salt and light of
this world, we lose our salvation. But it is right, that we become
useless, if we lose that light or salitiness. Having seen people
who got seduced by the material world, they forget that they're
only in this world temperorily, and they got sucked into it.
Regarding Matthew 7:21-27
Correct, not everyone who calls him Lord, will enter
heaven. But do you know what the will of the Father is? the only
time this phrase is explicitly explained is this:
John 6:40
For my Father's
will is
that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have
eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last
day."
Not everyone who calls Jesus, "Lord", or attends
church, attends cell group or sing christian songs, attends
planetshakers concerts and yes, even doing christian work
like evangelism etc, will be allowed into heaven. The only
way into heaven is through Jesus, through looking to the Son and
believing in Him. That's the only condition, that's the only
salvation plan. The only name given unto men which we must be
saved.
Regarding JAS 2:14-20:
Like I said before, works are not part of salvation.
But works reflect the faith in the believer. A Christian who loves
god, will do good works, but a person who does good work, may not
love God, or may not even be a christian.
Once I attended FCBC, and I heard the speaker (it
should be that pastor lawrance) gave a short testimony. once he
joined this christian organization, and he fooled the people into
thinking he's a christian (he got say why, but I forgot). He does
evangelism, prays, attends bible studies etc. And he actually rose
among their ranks, and became the head. What a surprise for
everyone when one day, during an evangelism rally, he walked up to
receive the Lord.
And I have a personal friend, when I was in Hope of God
(and that's why that church is horrendous, they are so desperate
for leaders that they'll let anyone to be leader) with him, he
actually became a cell leader without actually believing in Christ.
I mean, he confessed to me later that, he believe the existance,
but he don't.. believe believe, you know? Sure you
can cast out demons in Jesus' name, but you may not be a believer.
You may do good works, but what drives the good works? Unless it is
the love for God, which is born by the faith in Christ's FINISHED
work, that drives the good works, then it is right. You won't lose
your salvation if you choose not to rise as a cell leader etc.
That's christ's finished work. But when you have really received
and gain confidence in that finished work, good works will
automatically come out of you, which is the faith,
accompanied by action. What are the signs? I think these
could be part of it.
When people are talking "christianese", you get
excited, you have testimonies to share, you want to give glory to
God. When people get on your nerves, and you lose your temper, you
consciously remember that Christ asked us to love everyone, and you
ask for forgiveness for it, and you try to remember not to do it
again, but knowing that you will slowly change for the better in
Christ. When there is an opportunity to preach Christ to a
searching person, you take it, and when someone receives Christ,
you feel so joyful inside.
In the end. I still say this. A christian who
loves God, will go to church, but a christian who goes to church,
may not love God.
