musterion
Well-known member
When someone like me speaks of the certainty of the Good News, invariably someone tries to cast doubt by saying something like this:
"Paul warned of works being judged and burned by fire. That doesn't sound like a man who believed he was completely forgiven and forever justified in Christ."
This objection reveals the thinking of one taken captive by a false gospel.
First, Paul was not speaking of salvation or justification there, but of rewards gained or lost for service to the Lord at the Bema [judgment seat] of Christ. The Lord WILL examinine a believer's works, as by fire, leaving either the precious and lasting, or worthless ashes...yet Paul assures us in this very passage that the tested believer himself WILL BE SAVED (the objector always leaves that key part out).
Second, the Bema must not be confused with Christ's having been "raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25) and its result of the believer having the very righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:22, 2 Cor 5:21). That is the primary issue.
All of us are unjust and unrighteous because of our sin. That's what the Bible says. None of us can lift a finger to work our way out of that. If we could, Christ died in vain.
Instead, the Good News is that in forgiveness and justification (called salvation, generally) are received freely, as a gift. No work is required..."not of works," Paul said more than once.
Once received, salvation is complete and permanent. One either has ALL of it, or one has NOTHING.
Unlike the Bema, our works are not a factor in forgiveness or justification...they cannot be because, again, Christ would have died in vain.
So because salvation CANNOT be earned or merited by works, only received through faith in the Gospel of grace, salvation cannot be lost, forfeited or sinned away either. It's ours forever, once received, because that's what God promises, and He cannot lie.
Here's the problem.
Over 95% of Christendom, historically and today, exists to maintain itself as a salvation industry by convincing people that they must work, either to earn or to maintain God's free gift of forgiveness and justification. Christendom convinces people they cannot possibly please God or get to Heaven without its help. That's how Satan keeps Christendom in business.
Satan has many agents posting around the clock on TOL. Whatever different approaches they may take, every single one of them says that human effort is required, at some point, to become saved or to stay saved.
That is a lie. It is fake good news.
Know this: Paul warns that everyone who preaches such fake good news is already accursed and, lest they repent, will be damned for selling or rationing out in installments what God gave to the world as a complete and perfect gift. And we know who all of you are.
"Paul warned of works being judged and burned by fire. That doesn't sound like a man who believed he was completely forgiven and forever justified in Christ."
This objection reveals the thinking of one taken captive by a false gospel.
First, Paul was not speaking of salvation or justification there, but of rewards gained or lost for service to the Lord at the Bema [judgment seat] of Christ. The Lord WILL examinine a believer's works, as by fire, leaving either the precious and lasting, or worthless ashes...yet Paul assures us in this very passage that the tested believer himself WILL BE SAVED (the objector always leaves that key part out).
Second, the Bema must not be confused with Christ's having been "raised for our justification" (Romans 4:25) and its result of the believer having the very righteousness of Christ (Romans 3:22, 2 Cor 5:21). That is the primary issue.
All of us are unjust and unrighteous because of our sin. That's what the Bible says. None of us can lift a finger to work our way out of that. If we could, Christ died in vain.
Instead, the Good News is that in forgiveness and justification (called salvation, generally) are received freely, as a gift. No work is required..."not of works," Paul said more than once.
Once received, salvation is complete and permanent. One either has ALL of it, or one has NOTHING.
Unlike the Bema, our works are not a factor in forgiveness or justification...they cannot be because, again, Christ would have died in vain.
So because salvation CANNOT be earned or merited by works, only received through faith in the Gospel of grace, salvation cannot be lost, forfeited or sinned away either. It's ours forever, once received, because that's what God promises, and He cannot lie.
Here's the problem.
Over 95% of Christendom, historically and today, exists to maintain itself as a salvation industry by convincing people that they must work, either to earn or to maintain God's free gift of forgiveness and justification. Christendom convinces people they cannot possibly please God or get to Heaven without its help. That's how Satan keeps Christendom in business.
Satan has many agents posting around the clock on TOL. Whatever different approaches they may take, every single one of them says that human effort is required, at some point, to become saved or to stay saved.
That is a lie. It is fake good news.
Know this: Paul warns that everyone who preaches such fake good news is already accursed and, lest they repent, will be damned for selling or rationing out in installments what God gave to the world as a complete and perfect gift. And we know who all of you are.
