Hi ,
(Continued from last week) ~ The Jehovah's Witness girl asked me, "What do I need to do to be saved?" Essentially, I responded with the same answer given by the Apostle Paul - "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...". She already knew that, and claimed to believe it. But, she really didn't, because she had told me that she hoped that the works she was
doing will get her a place in heaven.
All of the various religions of the world require people to DO certain things to be saved. The "doing" comes first, and then the result. Salvation, then, is mainly based on human effort and works. It's like earning your salary - do what your job requires, and then you earn the money.
I once knew a Roman Catholic man who believed that he was saved simply because there was a family Bible in the living room on top of a cabinet. So, having the book, and keeping it in this elevated form supposedly was sufficent. Jews have often been this way, too, believing that, since they have the Torah, that's all that's required. My mother once had a Jewish doctor who told her that he is
not a sinner simply because he was a Jew. And, as such, doing whatever Jews do, he's saved.
Christianity teaches the opposite of all these works. Whatever "boxes to be checked", or "works to be done" have all been accomplished by Jesus at the cross. The empty tomb (and a risen, living Jesus) proved that they were indeed accomplished and accepted by the Father. Simple faith in that FINISHED work, and acceptance of it as a free gift is all God asks of us!
But, many people have struggled with this idea. After all, we humans feel the need to pay for something we receive, or try to earn it since, after all, there is no such thing as a free lunch. We humans often don't trust something that's free, believing that there's a catch, or some sinister motive behind the one offering it. We humans feel that we need to be at least a part of the solution to problems. We
feel we have something to offer to the process.
Really? What would need to be added?..... (continued next week)
