ABOUT LAWS AND LIBERTIES (TENSIONS 3)

But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty... – Jas 1:25

When it comes to “Tensions”, it probably doesn’t get more heated than the GRACE vs LAW controversy.  One ‘side’ says, “Salvation is by grace and grace alone” while the other contends you cannot claim to be saved if there’s still sin in your life.

There’re 3 ways to react to this:

1) Refuse to be bothered because you’re neither a Pastor nor a Theologian.

2) Draw the line on the sand, fortify your defences and get set to do battle because your understanding of the concept is right and the other persons’ are completely wrong.

3) Admit that this is a classic example of a TENSION and as such, embrace it with all humility and spiritual wisdom.

Embracing The Tension

It’s easy to appreciate the tension here when you consider the implications of each side. ‘Grace’ teaches that the blood of Jesus, which cleanses the sins of the Believer, is the sole prerequisite for Heaven. While this is scripturally true, it does seem to unwittingly imply that the Believer can sin as much as they want to without jeopardizing their salvation (see Rom 6:1).

The other ‘side’ counters this apparent loophole by stating that unless your life is cleaned up from sin, you’re not really saved. Again, while this is scripturally valid, it’s tacitly creating a behavioural condition for salvation – which is, of course, unscriptural.

The point of our focus today is this: while both proponents – genuine and God-loving Believers that they are – are shouting out their positions over the airwaves, internet and books, unscrupulous persons are using their very words to cause much harm to themselves and others.

Lustful persons who want to perpetuate their sinful lifestyles while still remaining in the Church setting would readily quote that “the blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL sins”.

On the other hand, leaders who want to foist their selfish ambitions and control on their members will use the counterargument to keep their followers in bondage – endlessly working to ‘prove’ their salvation, and constantly living under guilt and condemnation.

Both sides need to humbly come together and admit that supplying fodder to deviant doctrines is ultimately not in their collective interests.

The basis of the Believer’s stand before God is, and will always be, the imputed righteousness of Christ, (2Cor 5:21; 1 Pt 3:18; Heb 9:15). Once saved, however, God desires to glorify Himself through our good works (Mat 5:16; Eph 2:10). Good works follow salvation; they do not precede it, though.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN