Chapter 6: Finding Hope
This chapter will explain how to become holy and without fault before God. The best way to explain this is to use quotations from the Bible itself. When necessary, we will give a short introduction, but we will depend on the Bible to supply the actual information.
Another reason we are quoting from the Bible is because we want to avoid introducing the beliefs of any one particular church group into this chapter.
The Bible uses many words that have specific meanings. For example, salvation (or to be saved) means to be freed from the consequences of sin. Redemption (or redeemed) means to be purchased or bought back from sin. For now, we will also use the words holiness and righteousness as synonyms. All three branches of traditional Christianity teach that redemption is dependent on Jesus' death and resurrection (coming back to life). It was Jesus' death and resurrection that paid the penalty for the sin of the human race so that any individual who chooses to do so might have salvation in Jesus. Sin is disobedience to God.
Finally, Jesus' name and titles need a brief explanation. His name was Jesus. He was also called by his title Christ which identified him as the promised Savior the Hebrew nation was expectantly waiting for. Son of God is a title for Jesus meaning that he came from God and Son of Man is another title Jesus used for himself which means that he was truly a human being. Savior is the title which recognizes that he is the one who redeems all who choose his righteousness.
How can I be redeemed?
Many verses that have already been used in this book have identified the individual who is redeemed or saved as one who is a believer in Jesus. Verses such as, "Even as [God] chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish [fault] before him" (Ephesians 1:4), and "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1), have been quoted without any explanation as to how we come into this relationship with Jesus.
The following Bible verses will explain how one comes to know Jesus in this way.
Jesus is the only way to God
There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name [Jesus] 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 to him, "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 [of the sheep fold]. 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. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25-26).
Again, therefore, 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) …that whoever believes in [Jesus] should not perish, but have eternal life. 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 3:15-16). One who believes in the Son [Jesus] 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 [Jesus] said therefore to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am he, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).
"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 [Jesus]. 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 [Jesus] 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 4:13-14).
Grace, not good works, provides our relationship with Jesus
Grace is understood by all Christian traditions to be "God's unmerited favor." This means that someone has been given something from God which they did not deserve. Salvation can never be earned. We can never work for salvation nor get it by being good — God gives it to individuals simply because they believe that Jesus' righteousness is all that they need to be "holy and without blemish [fault] before him." Repentance is also recognized by all three Christian traditions as "turning and going in the opposite direction." Sin is understood to be disobedience to God when an individual chooses to do as he or she pleases rather than obeying God. Thus, repenting from sin is universally understood by each of the three Christian traditions to mean turning away from disobedience to God and relying on Jesus' righteousness for salvation.
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).
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 (Romans 3:20-23).
For him who knew no sin [Christ] he [God] made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him [Christ] 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, among most who adhere to traditional Christianity, the generally-understood steps leading to salvation are:
- 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] "I tell you…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).
- Trusting Jesus' holiness to be all that is needed for one to be "holy and without fault before God." A righteousness of God has been revealed, [which is] 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 [Jesus]. 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 give salvation?
Everyone finds it hard to understand that simple trust (faith) — without doing good deeds — is all that is needed in order for Jesus to give us all of the righteousness that he requires. Therefore, a special prayer formula is not a necessary part of salvation. It is often true, however, that praying (talking with God) when acknowledging and repenting of sin and trusting in Jesus' righteousness, may help an individual to express these thoughts. We would encourage anyone who is taking this step to express it verbally to God. But it is not prayer itself — nor any other religious act — which makes that relationship with Jesus real. 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 results in a salvation relationship with him.
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).
Obedience to Jesus after becoming his child follows salvation. This obedience will involve carefully listening to Jesus' direction while reading the Bible and praying, but it does not include following a list of rules. The Bible says:
1 John 2:3 This is how we know that we know [Jesus]: if we keep his commandments. 2:4 One who says, "I know him," and doesn't keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth isn't in him. 2:5 But whoever keeps his word, God's love has most certainly been perfected in him (1 John 2:3-5).
The cost of a relationship with Jesus
Jesus frequently warned his followers that their faith would cost them a great deal. That was true in the early history of Christianity. With the exception of the Apostle John, tradition says that all of Jesus' disciples besides Judas Iscariot died as martyrs.
For almost 2,000 years, believers in Jesus have been persecuted for their faith.
A life lived for Jesus will be costly, whether through severe persecution or merely as a result of the routine of daily faithfulness.
But it will be a satisfying life with purpose and new 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).
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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