The problem statement is very simple, given the above assertions. How does someone apprehend the righteousness necessary to achieve eternal fellowship with God? From this particular perspective, there are really only two ways: God or man. In other words, either God saves a person from their estate of sinfulness, or man is somehow able to do so on his own.
We know from Holy Scripture that man is born in sin, estranged from God, created spiritually dead (theologically, this simply means that he is born separated from God as a result of his inherent sinfulness). The Bible states that man is born with “enmity” between God and himself.
But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.
— Ephesians 2:13-16
This “enmity” the Bible speaks of is something that began at the Fall in the Garden of Eden. God warned man from the very beginning, ”from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die” (Genesis 2:17). The original language reveals that God dictated that both spiritual and physical death would be the results of sinning against Him. So goes Adam’s condemnation for every human being ever born.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
— 1 Corinthians 15:21-22
So, we rightly conclude from Holy Scripture that we are born spiritually dead, at odds with the Holy God of the Universe. If we’re ever to hope for eternal life, we must be “saved” from our initial estate of sinfulness. This takes us back to the topics posed by the original question, which are: what does it take to partake in eternal life and how does a person end up in Heaven for all of eternity? If a chasm of enmity exists between God and each of us at birth, how might we cross it? How might we be reconciled to God (in theology, reconciliation simply means to restore friendly relations)?
Once again, we are on the precipice of two options. Either God saves us, reconciling us to Himself; or man saves himself, reconciling himself to God. The prior is a work of grace, the latter human works. The prior is by grace through faith in Christ alone; whereas the latter is through faith in human works. These are completely different approaches to the throne of our Lord. The prior assumes that only God is able to cure man; the latter assumes man is able to cure himself. The prior assumes the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the latter assumes a different gospel.
I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!
— Galatians 1:6-9
The “good news”, aka the Gospel, is intrinsically good because man doesn’t have to live with the insecurity and anxiety of thinking he has to, by his own exertion, perform the work of justification, thereby reconciling himself to God. Phew! That’s really good news. To those who don’t believe this goes the obvious curse of living a life without any real hope. For who is bold enough to hope their human righteousness equals the very righteousness of God in Heaven? Surely, not I. It seems preposterous at face value, but that is exactly what many so-called “Christians” suppose.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
— 1 Peter 1:3-5
Any so-called gospel that claims man can justify himself, therefore reconciling himself to God, is a false gospel. Look around, there are lots of people who believe such lies. For example, if the Catholics understood their church’s doctrines of faith, they’d know immediately that they are inconsistent with the inspired Word of God. They’d understand that “being good” isn’t how a person is justified in God’s eyes, otherwise, “Christ died needlessly” (Galatians 2:21). If sinful man doesn’t need Christ’s righteousness imputed to them at salvation, then why did Christ go to the Cross? False gospels always attack the work of Jesus Christ on His Cross. Why? Because, if He really did do all the work for justification by faith (He did), then man has no work to do, which derails his plans to save himself!
The truth, that which sets us free (ala John 8:32), is that by the power of God we are reconciled to Him. It’s the only way that has ever existed, the only “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3) we’ve been given. Man may invent “alternative ways to Heaven” in his arrogant contention for control, but the Sovereign God of the Universe scoffs at him (ref. Psalms 2). It is a vile thing to propose alternative gospels; yet, this is what most religions today thrive on, being primitively predatory. The Lord God has no tolerance, whatsoever, for those who supplant His Word.
For the devious are an abomination to the LORD;
But He is intimate with the upright.
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked,
But He blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
Though He scoffs at the scoffers,
Yet He gives grace to the afflicted.
— Proverbs 3:32-34
Why did I write this blog? Because I fear the same thing the apostle Paul feared a couple thousand years ago.
“But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. For if one comes and preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted, you bear this beautifully.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:3-4
I don’t write this blog to cast stones at sinners. My deepest desire is that every sinner realizes how desperate their situation is before the Almighty God. I don’t want anyone believing the lie that self-justification is an option, or that reconciliation comes from anyone other than God, Himself, through Jesus Christ. ”For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). My motivation is love, always. I am acting upon the very “ministry of reconciliation” that I’ve been given, through the Gospel, itself.
Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
— 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
It is by grace through faith alone in Christ alone that we are reconciled to God. It’s impossible for man to reconcile himself, by himself, lest salvation be dependent on the works of man.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
— Ephesians 2:8-9
Love in Christ,
Ed Collins
