Justification has taken the place of regeneration.
Okay, if you're like me, you didn't understand that last statement at first because it was phrased theologically. Here it is again, in layman's terms.
If you ask anyone from the 74 percent of Americans who say they have made a commitment to Jesus Christ what the Christian gospel is, you will probably be told that Jesus died to pay for our sins, and that if we will only believe he did this, we will go to heaven when we die. In this way what is only one theory of the "atonement" is made out to be the whole of the essential message of Jesus.
We have been down this road. Perhaps last time you did not believe me or did not understand when I told you that we were being sold false advertising. Instead of going into depth on that side of things, let's talk about the gospel as it is commonly presented by what the world has labeled "conservative Christians".
We are justified, which is often explained by saying that, before God, it is "just-as-if-I'd" never sinned at all. We may not have done or become anything positive to speak of, but when we come to heaven's gate, they will not be able to find a reason to keep us out.
So what? What's wrong with a free ticket to heaven? We are talking about a one way trip to eternal life with God and Jesus and all our loved ones. Who wouldn't want that if they could have it? No hassle, 100% guarantee, although you don't get your life back if you're not satisfied. After all, we're not talking redemption here. We're talking about a get-out-of-jail free card.
The funny thing about people who get out of jail after so many years is that they often don't know what to do with themselves once they're there. Anyone who's seen "Shawshank Redemption" will know what I mean. Often times we're happier with what we know. Once we are outside the only life we've ever known, we look about helplessly, knowing that we now have something better, but with no idea of how to access it. The salvation of "the right" is much like this.
Practically, there has always been a great problem with knowing for sure that you have performed the right private or mental act, because its essential effect is a change in the books of heaven, and these cannot be seen now.
Okay, really? You experience something life-changing, and no one else can see its effects? Jesus said, "You shall know my followers by the fruit they produce." (Matthew 7:16)
The Christian tradition certainly deals with guilt and the afterlife, but by no means does it take them to be the only issues involved in salvation. The gospel certainly includes the death of Jesus for humankind, but much more besides.
It is this "much more" with which I am concerned. I am becoming more and more convinced that the issue of Jesus' death on the cross and subsequent resurrection solved for us the sin problem forever. It opened the gates of heaven to all mankind. Congratulations, heaven is now open for business.
But we are still on earth.
We still have a choice to make.
In James it says, "You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that." (James 2:19) So believing that God exists makes you no better or worse than demons, the enemies of God.
What about believing Christ died and rose again? You don't think the demons believe that too? I can't think of any reason why they wouldn't. They seem to have a pretty good idea of what goes on in the spiritual realm. I imagine Christ descending into the depth of hell to redeem lost souls caused quite a stir and has not been forgotten. So let's look at that again.
"You believe Christ died and rose again? Good! Even the demons believe that, and shudder." (me)
Does that make you a Christian? No more than believing God exists makes you a Christian. No, you see later in James it talks of Abraham, the founding father of the faith. It speaks of Abraham believing God, acting on his beliefs, showing his faith in God, and that being credited to him as righteousness.
Nowhere does it say that Abraham did a bunch of righteous things, and that made him righteous. It says Abraham turned his faith in God into a reality for his life. His life changed as a direct result of that faith. It was seen by everyone, and it was that faith that made him righteous in God's eyes.
Our church today is no different than when James wrote his letter two thousand years ago. We seek to promise people a redeeming salvation through a set of beliefs. But what we don't offer them is a redeeming life. We talk of baptism and salvation and streets of gold. But all we are offering is a picture of a place that exists.
If someone wants eternal life, I very much believe it is ready and available to them. Jesus has paid the price to grant everyone access. How sad it is then that so many stand and look at the life eternal without ever stepping foot in it. If you truly want to enter eternal life, but you aren't walking into it right now when you can, what makes you think that you will do so after you die? Walking with God is and always has been a choice. Take the first step today.
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