OL, 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:
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 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:
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.
I don't see how you have defended what you say from a bible
point of view. Your opinion and mine does not matter. God's Word
do! and that is all that matter. It is clearly stated in the bible.
Unless you can explain otherwise, salvation is by faith alone and
faith is dead without deeds.
JAS 2:14-20 (maybe you read read till verse 26) explained
exactly above. It would be better if you can read the whole Letter
by James and also find out possible reasons why he wrote what he
did.
"A christian who loves God, will go to church, but a
christian who goes to church, may not love God."
What exactly is a christian who does not love God? How do you
define one? Why do they go to church if they have no faith? If they
go, they must have faith. What kind of faith does such christians
have when they do not love God? Will christian who do not love God
be saved by God?
How do you define one who love God and one who don't?
As you have mentioned, some churches are dubious and their
teachings is also dubious....That is why chibet is advised to "shop
around" and understand what each church is teaching (and if that
make common sense and logical to you) and the "agenda" (of any) of
such churches and their leaders.
While if one wants to live with false hope, it's one choice. I
prefer to listen and follow Jesus and I am sure that will never go
wrong.
God Bless.
