Thankful for Jesus
“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6).
Christianity is the only world religion that teaches salvation by grace. The other world religions teach that “salvation” is based on merit. This means as long as one is 51% good, he may claim salvation. He can be 49% evil and be “saved.” This implicates God in evil since God would be obliged to “save” people who are 49% evil. In such a system, God must condone evil. What kind of a god would condone evil?
In Christianity, God doesn’t condone evil. He demands that everyone be holy as He is holy (1 Peter 1:16). This means, however, that one must be perfect to be saved. If one sins just one time, he is lost. He isn’t lost because God is evil, but because he is evil. How can a person be saved? There is only one way; God must pay the price for his sins. He did this through Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice on the cross.
Since Jesus paid the price, Jesus may give salvation to whoever He desires, and Jesus desires that salvation be given to those who trust and obey Him in love (John 14:15). Hebrews 5:9 says, “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Salvation is by grace through faith because we trust that Jesus will save us when we obey Him (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our obedience doesn’t merit salvation as if God owes it to us; obedience is simply the response of one who trusts Jesus for salvation. Do we obey perfectly? No, but Jesus forgives those who are trying to be faithful to Him, and He knows who is and who isn’t (2 Timothy 2:19). I am so thankful for Jesus.
God bless you, and I love you.
Kevin Cauley