I am thankful to see the truth coming out about this topic. I have heard so many people say "you must be careful talking about grace" to the point where they won't speak about it but they will hammer through all the do's and don'ts of good Christians to the point where most of the congregation thinks that works based salvation is what Christianity is all about. Questions like "I don't understand why 'good' people in the world cannot go to heaven" and statements like "when the books are opened you are going to be judged by every bad deed you ever committed" start coming out during classes. Rom 8 :5-13 talks about how dangerous it is to depend on your good works. Thank you for covering this topic.
Well said. All of this is the consequence of make our doctrines a reaction to false doctrine rather than just teaching what the text says in the first place.
I grew up in a tradition that teaches one can walk away from God and give up their salvation. We too had the underlying, usually-unspoken concern that each sin was fatal. It seems to me that this misunderstanding is based in poor teaching about the atonement.
As I understand it today, Jesus paid the full penalty for every sin for every person for all time. That means it's not our sin that gets us into, or keeps us out of Heaven... so, when we sin, that sin is already paid for. That's pretty amazing grace.
That doesn't mean everyone's going to Heaven, of course... only that it's not sin that sends people to Hell. Sin has been paid for. Reconciliation is the missing element, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5. God is good.
Excellent article, Jack! You addressed the needed balance that is lacking in so many circles. Thank you for showing the blending of grace and truth without excluding one or the other.
I lead a ministry at church called Regeneration recovery ministry. It's all about Grace. Discipleship based recovery ministry that shares stories of grace every week.
This is spot on! The gospel changes everything. It hurts my heart so much to hear the steps of salvation popped off at the end of a gospel-less sermon. We need to hear the gospel every week. I think if I hear one more sermon about “the instrument”, I might just lose it. I never get tired of hearing about Jesus and his saving grace toward me.
That's a great verse. To add to what you're saying, the almost proprietary form of hermeneutics some of them employ makes listeners even more dependent on them.
I am thankful to see the truth coming out about this topic. I have heard so many people say "you must be careful talking about grace" to the point where they won't speak about it but they will hammer through all the do's and don'ts of good Christians to the point where most of the congregation thinks that works based salvation is what Christianity is all about. Questions like "I don't understand why 'good' people in the world cannot go to heaven" and statements like "when the books are opened you are going to be judged by every bad deed you ever committed" start coming out during classes. Rom 8 :5-13 talks about how dangerous it is to depend on your good works. Thank you for covering this topic.
Well said. All of this is the consequence of make our doctrines a reaction to false doctrine rather than just teaching what the text says in the first place.
Well done, Jack.
I grew up in a tradition that teaches one can walk away from God and give up their salvation. We too had the underlying, usually-unspoken concern that each sin was fatal. It seems to me that this misunderstanding is based in poor teaching about the atonement.
As I understand it today, Jesus paid the full penalty for every sin for every person for all time. That means it's not our sin that gets us into, or keeps us out of Heaven... so, when we sin, that sin is already paid for. That's pretty amazing grace.
That doesn't mean everyone's going to Heaven, of course... only that it's not sin that sends people to Hell. Sin has been paid for. Reconciliation is the missing element, as we read in 2 Corinthians 5. God is good.
I think a lot of people believe His blood only flowed backward. The assurance that even future sins are paid for is so important.
Excellent article, Jack! You addressed the needed balance that is lacking in so many circles. Thank you for showing the blending of grace and truth without excluding one or the other.
I lead a ministry at church called Regeneration recovery ministry. It's all about Grace. Discipleship based recovery ministry that shares stories of grace every week.
Excellent!
Great article! Thank you so much.
This is spot on! The gospel changes everything. It hurts my heart so much to hear the steps of salvation popped off at the end of a gospel-less sermon. We need to hear the gospel every week. I think if I hear one more sermon about “the instrument”, I might just lose it. I never get tired of hearing about Jesus and his saving grace toward me.
Hi! Your post resonated with me. What is the sect?
That's a great verse. To add to what you're saying, the almost proprietary form of hermeneutics some of them employ makes listeners even more dependent on them.