Chapter 9: Finding Hope (Part 2)
This chapter will explain how to come into a relationship with Jesus. Each of the three Christian traditions basically agree as to what the Bible actually says about salvation. The difficulty, however, is that too often each tradition has added its own interpretation of the Bible's teaching.
Throughout this book, we have attempted to represent the Christian faith as it is understood by the oldest Christian traditions. Therefore, the best way to accomplish our purpose without bias is to rely primarily on quotations from the Bible itself. Where necessary, we will give a short introduction to the topic, but will depend on the Bible's statements to supply the needed information.
How can I come into a relationship with Jesus?
Many verses we have quoted to this point in the book have identified the individual who is redeemed or saved[1] as one who has a perfect relationship with Jesus. This includes verses such as, "Even as he [God] chose us in him [Jesus] before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him" (Ephesians 1:4), and "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). However, there has still been no explanation as to how we come into this relationship with Jesus. As much as possible, we will again let the Bible give its own explanation.
[1]The term redemption (or redeemed) has already been used numerous times. It means to be purchased or bought back. Within all traditional Christianity, the term is understood to refer to the death and resurrection (coming back to life three days later) of Jesus that paid the penalty for the sin of the human race. It is also understood that any individual who chooses to do so might have this relationship with Jesus. The term that is universally understood in traditional Christianity to identify this relationship with Jesus is the word salvation or to be saved.
Jesus is the only way to God
"There is salvation in none other [than Jesus Christ], for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!" (Acts 4:12). For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all (1 Timothy 2:5-6). Jesus said…, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me" (John 14:6). [Jesus said] "I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture. The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly" (John 10:9-10). Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. Whoever lives and believes in me will never die" (John 11:25-26).
Again…Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty" (John 6:35). [Jesus said] "I am the living bread which came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever" (John 6:51). For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16). One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:36). "I said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he[2], you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
[2]In this statement, Jesus requires a belief that he is eternal God. The Hebrew name of God (Yahweh, or as sometimes pronounced, Jehovah) is the first person conjugation of the verb to be. That is, if translated into English, God's name would be I AM. See Chapter 4, footnote 3."Most certainly I [Jesus] tell you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has eternal life, and doesn't come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24). The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God (1 John 5:11-13). By this we know that we remain in him [God] and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God (1 John 4:13-15).
Grace, not good works, provides our relationship with Jesus (salvation)
Grace is understood by any one of the Christian traditions to be "God's unmerited favor," meaning that the one receiving this grace has been given something from God which was undeserved. Salvation can never be earned—God gives it to us simply because we believe that Jesus' righteousness is all that we need to be "holy and without blemish before him." Repentance is recognized by these same Christian traditions as "turning and going in the opposite direction." Sin is understood to be that disobedience to God in which an individual chooses to do as he or she pleases rather than to obey God. Thus, repenting from sin is universally understood by each of the Christian traditions to mean turning away from disobedience to God and turning toward that which he desires.
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace, but as something owed. But to him who doesn't work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness (Romans 4:2-5). For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before that we would walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16). Because by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:20-24).
For him [Christ] who knew no sin he [God] made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). For while we were yet weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God's wrath through him. For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life (Romans 5:6-10).
Therefore, the generally-understood steps leading to salvation[3] among most who adhere to the 2,000 year-old Christian tradition are:
[3]There has been an age-old response in every branch of Christian tradition to add some work of penance, baptism, religious activity, or sanctimonious living as a requirement for salvation. Nonetheless, salvation by God's grace alone without any work to earn it has equally been recognized by each of these three traditions in their official doctrinal affirmations. Wanting to add human effort in order to acquire salvation was, in fact, a problem even for the first century church. In Galatians 3:1-5, the Apostle Paul said, "Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified? I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain? He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?"
- Recognition of personal sin. For all have sinned, and fall short of the
glory of God (Romans 3:23). For the wages of sin is
death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ
Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
- Repentance from sin. [Jesus said] unless you repent, you will all
perish (Luke 13:5). Repent therefore, and turn again,
that your sins may be blotted out (Acts 3:19).
- Trust in Jesus' holiness as all that is needed to
be "holy and blameless before God." But now apart from the law, a righteousness of
God has been revealed,…even the righteousness of
God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those
who believe (Romans 3:21-22). The testimony is this, that
God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have
God's Son doesn't have the life. These things I have
written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God,
that you may know that you have eternal life, and that
you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God
(1 John 5:11-13). If you will confess with your mouth
that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God
raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the
heart, one believes unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans
10:9-10).
How is faith expressed in order for God to grant salvation?
For almost 2,000 years, the human mind has had great difficulty in defining salvation as nothing more than a simple trust in Jesus. For that reason, even those who rely the most heavily on a straightforward act of faith will frequently consider prayer to be a necessary part of salvation. It is often true that prayerful acknowledgement of sin, repentance of it, and trust in Jesus' righteousness as sufficient may help an individual personalize that commitment. We would encourage anyone who is making this step to express it to God in prayer. But it is not prayer itself—nor any other religious exercise—which initiates a relationship with Jesus. It is the acknowledgement of personal sin and the need to change direction, coupled with faith in Jesus' righteousness as being all that is needed, which initiates salvation.
The cost of a relationship with Jesus
Jesus frequently warned those who followed him that their faith would be costly. That certainly proved to be true in the early history of Christianity. All but one of Jesus' disciples died as martyrs. At times, the first century church was severely persecuted across the entire Roman empire.
For almost 2,000 years, believers in Jesus have been persecuted for their faith.
In some way, whether it results in severe persecution, or merely entails the routine of daily faithfulness, a life lived for Jesus will be costly.
But it will be a satisfying life with purpose and hope as you serve Jesus.
But now, being made free from sin, and having become servants of God, you have your fruit of sanctification [holiness], and the result of eternal life (Romans 6:22).
John 12:20 Now there were certain Greeks among those that went up to worship at the feast. 12:21 These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." 12:22 Philip came and told Andrew, and in turn, Andrew came with Philip, and they told Jesus. 12:23 Jesus answered them, "The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 12:24 Most certainly I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. 12:25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life. 12:26 If anyone serves me, let him follow me. Where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him" (John 12:20-26).
Luke 14:25 Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, 14:26 "If anyone comes to me, and doesn't disregard his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can't be my disciple. 14:27 Whoever doesn't bear his own cross, and come after me, can't be my disciple. 14:28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn't first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 14:29 Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, 14:30 saying, 'This man began to build, and wasn't able to finish.'…14:33 So therefore whoever of you who doesn't renounce all that he has, he can't be my disciple" (Luke 14:25-30, 33).
[The apostles were doing many miracles in Jesus' name and were drawing large crowds.] Acts 5:17 But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, 5:18 and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody. 5:19 But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, 5:20 "Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life."
5:21 When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 5:22 But the officers who came didn't find them in the prison. They returned and reported, 5:23 "We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!"
5:24 Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. 5:25 One came and told them, "Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people." 5:26 Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.
5:27 When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, 5:28 saying, "Didn't we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man's blood on us."
5:29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. 5:31 God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. 5:32 We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."
5:33 But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them. 5:34 But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. 5:35 He said to them, "You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. 5:36 For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. 5:37 After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. 5:38 Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. 5:39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!"
5:40 They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 5:41 They therefore departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for Jesus' name.
5:42 Every day, in the temple and at home, they never stopped teaching and preaching Jesus, the Christ (Acts 5:17-42).
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