For today's post, I am simply going to give the Gospel. There are a lot of misguided ideas on what constitutes Christianity. Some people, either out of ignorance, or willful rejection of what the Bible teaches (and a related to desire to create their own god), think that Christianity is about "being a good person." However, the Bible teaches that:
"10as it is written:
(A) "None is righteous, no, not one;
11no one understands;
no one seeks for God.
12All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;
no one does good,
not even one."-Rom. 3:10-12.
This is why a payment for sins is necessary. Nothing good we can do can get us out of the mess we're in, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"(Rom. 3:23). To have sinned at all is to have incurred legal condemnation from God:
"6The LORD passed before him and proclaimed,(A) "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and(B) gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast(C) love and faithfulness, 7(D) keeping steadfast love for thousands,[a](E) forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but(F) who will by no means clear the guilty,(G) visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation."-Ex. 34:6-7.
His standards are perfect, as He is perfect:
"13You who are(A) of purer eyes than to see evil
and cannot look at wrong..."-Hab. 1:13
So we are subject to eternal condemntion, having incurred legal debt. This arises from Adam's initial disobedience in eating the forbidden fruit:
"12Therefore, just as(A) sin came into the world through one man, and(B) death through sin, and(C) so death spread to all men because(D) all sinned— 13for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but(E) sin is not counted where there is no law. 14Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not(F) like the transgression of Adam,(G) who was a type of(H) the one who was to come.
15But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for(I) many. 16And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For(J) the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought(K) justification. 17For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness(L) reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
18Therefore, as one trespass[a] led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[b] leads to justification and life for(M) all men. 19For as by the one man’s(N) disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s(O) obedience the many will be made righteous. 20Now(P) the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased,(Q) grace abounded all the more, 21so that,(R) as sin reigned in death,(S) grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."-Rom. 5:12-21.
We have incurred, not only Adam's sinful nature, but the guilt of his trespass. This seems unfair to us. We think, "why should I get be blamed for what Adam did?" It does admittedly run counter to our natural thinking. But Paul's point, if we read verses 12-21, is that, just as we are counted guilty for a crime we didn't commit individually (through Adam), so the elect are counted righteous for an act of righteousness we didn't commit.
Having legally incurred the sinful nature and legal debt of Adam, we are granted new spiritual life (still battling the old nature) and legal justification (being made legally right with God and being adopted into His family) through Christ's death and resurrection. Nothing good we can do can save us, sine we're already guilty, which is why Christ lived a perfect life, thus making His sacrifice acceptable to God, only to die punished as though a sinner, so that sinners like us who actually deserve that kind of punishment could have Christ's perfect righteousness credited to us provided we believe He did this for us.
Something I haven't talked about on here, but would like to, is unconditional election. This is probably the most difficult part of the entire Gospel. Unconditional election is more commonly known as "predestination." This is the belief that God, in eternity past, has decided who will be saved, and passes over others, leaving them in their sins. Most professing Christians do not believe in unconditional election, even though it is clearly taught in the Bible. Most want to impose their humanist philosophy onto Scriptures to make it say what they want. This is an innate impulse in man, because, like the notion that we are blamed for Adam's sin, this notion runs counter to our way of thinking.
"29For those whom he(A) foreknew he also(B) predestined(C) to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be(D) the firstborn among many brothers."-Rom. 8:29
Most professing Christians interpret this passage as saying that God predestined those whom He knew would choose Him. This is how they understand "foreknew." However, that's not what the word means. "Foreknow" means "to know beforehand." So what does it mean for God to "know" someone?
"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,and before you were born(B) I consecrated you;I appointed you a prophet(C) to the nations."-Jer. 1:5
Virtually any commentator, regardless of whether they are not they believe in predestination, interpret "know" here as meaning "choose" or "select." For God to "know" someone implies the initiation of an intimate relationship with someone which involves setting someone apart. Paul addresses the question of unconditional election at greater length in his famous Romans 9 theodicy:
1(A) I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— 2that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For(B) I could wish that I myself were(C) accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers,[a] my kinsmen(D) according to the flesh. 4They are(E) Israelites, and to them belong(F) the adoption,(G) the glory,(H) the covenants,(I) the giving of the law,(J) the worship, and(K) the promises. 5To them belong(L) the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ(M) who is God over all,(N) blessed forever. Amen.
6But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7and not all are children of Abraham(O) because they are his offspring, but(P) "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but(Q) the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9For this is what the promise said:(R) "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son." 10And not only so, but(S) also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of(T) him who calls— 12she was told,(U) "The older will serve the younger." 13As it is written,(V) "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
14What shall we say then?(W) Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15For he says to Moses,(X) "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." 16So then it depends not on human will or exertion,[b] but on God, who has mercy. 17For the Scripture says to Pharaoh,(Y) "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." 18So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
19You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For(Z) who can resist his will?" 20But who are you, O man,(AA) to answer back to God?(AB) Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21(AC) Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump(AD) one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience(AE) vessels of wrath(AF) prepared for destruction, 23in order to make known(AG) the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he(AH) has prepared beforehand for glory— 24even us whom he(AI) has called,(AJ) not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?"-Rom. 9:1-24.
Paul spends the first 13 verses addressing the issue of why ethnic Israel was not saved. Has God reneged on His promises? No! God has not given up on Israel, and, as Paul explains in Rom. 11, He has set aside a remnant of believing Jews. Paul's point is ultimately, that God will save whomever He wills. He has mercy on whom He has mercy. We are we to talk back? Can we argue with God?
"all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and(B) he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
(C) and none can stay his hand
or(D) say to him, "What have you done?"-Daniel 4:35
"1The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD;
he(A) turns it wherever he will."-Proverbs 21:1.
"3(A) Blessed be(B) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing(C) in the heavenly places, 4(D) even as he(E) chose us in him(F) before the foundation of the world, that we should be(G) holy and blameless before him. In love 5(H) he predestined us[a] for(I) adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,(J) according to the purpose of his will, 6(K) to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in(L) the Beloved. 7(M) In him we have(N) redemption(O) through his blood,(P) the forgiveness of our trespasses,(Q) according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9(R) making known[b] to us the mystery of his will,(S) according to his purpose, which he(T) set forth in Christ 10as a plan for(U) the fullness of time,(V) to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
11In him we have obtained(W) an inheritance,(X) having been predestined(Y) according to the purpose of him who works all things according to(Z) the counsel of his will"-Eph. 1:3-11.
Here's another very controversial passage. Look at what it says! We are "predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will"-Eph. 1:11.
""Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
a pot among earthen pots!
(Q) Does the clay say to him who forms it, 'What are you making?'
or 'Your work has no handles'?
10Woe to him who says to a father, 'What are you begetting?'
or to a woman, 'With what are you in labor?'"
11Thus says(R) the LORD,
the Holy One of Israel, and the one who formed him:
(S) "Ask me of things to come;
will you command me(T) concerning my children and(U) the work of my hands?[b]
12(V) I made the earth
and created man on it;
it was my hands(W) that stretched out the heavens,
and(X) I commanded all their host.
13(Y) I have stirred him up in righteousness,
(Z) and I will make all his ways level;
(AA) he shall build my city
(AB) and set my exiles free,
not for price or reward,"
says the LORD of hosts."-Isaiah 45:9-13.
God tells us through Isaiah that He is going to use Cyrus to accomplish His purposes, and that we have no place to object. He divinely controls Cyrus' actions for His purpose. Indeed, in the very next chapter of Isaiah, we're told,
"I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, "My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all My purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of My counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed and I will do it."-Isaiah 46:10-11.
Notice that God's plan is portrayed here, not as predictive, but decretive. What He says is His decree. That is, God does not say what's going to happen because He knows it's going to happen - Rather, stuff happens because He speaks it into His existence.
The Bible says to "make your calling and election sure"-2 Pet. 1:10. Make sure you're one of the elect! We do this by calling on Jesus and obeying Him. God tells us to do these things. Does this mean we can do these things on our own? Of course not!
Jesus tells us, "Come to me..."(Matt. 11:28), but He also tells us that "No one can come to Me unless My Father who sent Me draws him..."(John 6:44). He tells us to "repent, [or] you will all likewise perish"(Luke 13:3). But we're told later on that repentance is a gift from God (2 Tim. 2:25). We're told that whoever believes will be saved (John 3:16), but we're also told that it is GRANTED to us to believe in Him (Phil. 1:29). We are told to seek God (Deut. 4:29), but we're told that "No one seeks for God"(Rom. 3:10-12).
You approach the Kingdom of God and observe a signpost that says "whosoever will"(Rev. 22:17), may freely partake in salvation. Those who enter the door, look behind them and see another signpost that says "chosen before the foundation of the world"-Eph. 1:4.
If you are chosen, don't think there was something special in you that prompted God to choose you. Quite the contrary! God does not reveal to us why He chose whom He did, but one thing is certain: none deserve salvation and all deserve damnation:
"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded."-Rom. 3:27.
Amen!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A Common Misconception.
A stereotype concerning conservative, evangelical Christianity is that it must be intolerant, angry and full of hatred. While this is often the case, with folks like Brother Micah (whose theology is as warped as his attitude) and the Westboro Baptist Church (whence comes the horrid "God Hates Fags" nonsense), a truly Biblical Christianity must be loving, kind, patient, and should cater to the worst of the worst in society.
"though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is(F) trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,of whom I am the foremost."-1 Timothy 1:13-15
Paul tells us that he considers himself the worst of all sinners. He had formerly persecuted the Christian Church, having Christians put to death. Peter is another example of one who publicly denied Christ after having made a public profession, which is very serious. The Markan account even records him invoking an oath and swearing he never knew Him (Mark 14:66-72). Yet this is all in accord with God's plan of displaying His surpassing grace in liberating captives to sin from their slavery, and putting to shame those who boast in themselves or rely on their own power or device.
"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are"-1 Corinthians 1:27-28.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEXqMzLX1Y
^John MacArthur does an excellent job here of dispelling the stereotype against Christians that we're bigoted and hateful. He points out that we're not judging the sins of others worse than our sin, and that Christ's blood is sufficient for the sins of whoever genuinely repents, by turning from their sin and trusting in Christ's death on the cross as an atonement for their sins.
" 10"Two men(A) went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee,(B) standing by himself, prayed[a](C) thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12(D) I fast twice a week;(E) I give tithes of all that I get.' 13But the tax collector,(F) standing far off,(G) would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but(H) beat his breast, saying, 'God,(I) be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For(J) everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."-Luke 18:10-14
Replace the Pharisee with a sleazy, hypocritical politician, and the tax collector with a Harlem drug dealer, and you have more or less the sense this parable is supposed to convey.
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on an other you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man - you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself - that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"-Romans 2:1-4
"...there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith."-Romans 3:23-25
"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."-Romans 3:27-28
No one has any room to boast. Sin is so infinitely heinous in the eyes of God, that to try and argue that one person is "better" than the other is like trying to vindicate the character of Hitler by pointing out that he didn't kill as many people as Stalin. All have sinned and all short of the glory of God - to have ever lied is to be a liar, to have ever looked at someone with lust is to be an adulterer, to have ever stolen is to be a thief, to ever have used God's name in vain is to be a blasphemer - without some kind of payment, we have to face God on Judgment Day as lying, thieving, adulterous blasphemers. This is why Christ died on the cross - because nothing good we can do can justify ourselves.
We are all Hitlers and Stalins, since God's standards are perfect because He is perfect and He demands retribution for every sin because He is just. The only person to perfectly fulfill the perfect requirements of God's perfect Law is Christ Jesus, whose death and sacrifice is acceptable because He lived a perfect life. He lived a perfect life and died punished as though a sinner, having identified as such for the sake of His sheep, so that guilty sinners who actually deserve that kind of punishment could have Christ's perfect righteousness credited to Him provided they believe He did this for them.
"though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15The saying is(F) trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,of whom I am the foremost."-1 Timothy 1:13-15
Paul tells us that he considers himself the worst of all sinners. He had formerly persecuted the Christian Church, having Christians put to death. Peter is another example of one who publicly denied Christ after having made a public profession, which is very serious. The Markan account even records him invoking an oath and swearing he never knew Him (Mark 14:66-72). Yet this is all in accord with God's plan of displaying His surpassing grace in liberating captives to sin from their slavery, and putting to shame those who boast in themselves or rely on their own power or device.
"but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are"-1 Corinthians 1:27-28.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXEXqMzLX1Y
^John MacArthur does an excellent job here of dispelling the stereotype against Christians that we're bigoted and hateful. He points out that we're not judging the sins of others worse than our sin, and that Christ's blood is sufficient for the sins of whoever genuinely repents, by turning from their sin and trusting in Christ's death on the cross as an atonement for their sins.
" 10"Two men(A) went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee,(B) standing by himself, prayed[a](C) thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12(D) I fast twice a week;(E) I give tithes of all that I get.' 13But the tax collector,(F) standing far off,(G) would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but(H) beat his breast, saying, 'God,(I) be merciful to me, a sinner!' 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For(J) everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."-Luke 18:10-14
Replace the Pharisee with a sleazy, hypocritical politician, and the tax collector with a Harlem drug dealer, and you have more or less the sense this parable is supposed to convey.
"Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on an other you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. Do you suppose, O man - you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself - that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"-Romans 2:1-4
"...there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith."-Romans 3:23-25
"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law."-Romans 3:27-28
No one has any room to boast. Sin is so infinitely heinous in the eyes of God, that to try and argue that one person is "better" than the other is like trying to vindicate the character of Hitler by pointing out that he didn't kill as many people as Stalin. All have sinned and all short of the glory of God - to have ever lied is to be a liar, to have ever looked at someone with lust is to be an adulterer, to have ever stolen is to be a thief, to ever have used God's name in vain is to be a blasphemer - without some kind of payment, we have to face God on Judgment Day as lying, thieving, adulterous blasphemers. This is why Christ died on the cross - because nothing good we can do can justify ourselves.
We are all Hitlers and Stalins, since God's standards are perfect because He is perfect and He demands retribution for every sin because He is just. The only person to perfectly fulfill the perfect requirements of God's perfect Law is Christ Jesus, whose death and sacrifice is acceptable because He lived a perfect life. He lived a perfect life and died punished as though a sinner, having identified as such for the sake of His sheep, so that guilty sinners who actually deserve that kind of punishment could have Christ's perfect righteousness credited to Him provided they believe He did this for them.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Holiness and the professing Christian.
Something I've noticed that is often considered trivial, though is actually very important, is holiness. To be holy is to set apart.
"Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy."-Leviticus 19:2
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."-1 Peter 1:15-16.
On the one hand, it is true that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works (that is, not by what we do):
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."-Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, the Bible is clear that true, saving faith must be accompanied by works, both in loving conduct toward one's fellow man, charity, and putting sin to death:
"16But I say,AD)">(AD) walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratifyAE)">(AE) the desires of the flesh. 17ForAF)">(AF) the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,AG)">(AG) to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you areAH)">(AH) led by the Spirit,AI)">(AI) you are not under the law. 19NowAJ)">(AJ) the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,AK)">(AK) divisions, 21envy,d]">[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, thatAL)">(AL) those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."-Galatians 5:16-21.
"...if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit youW)">(W) put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."-Romans 8:13
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for theX)">(X) holinessY)">(Y) without which no one will see the Lord"-Hebrews 12:14.
""Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easya]">[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow andB)">(B) the way is hard that leads to life, andC)">(C) those who find it are few."-Matthew 7:13-14.
"He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching andZ)">(Z) journeying toward Jerusalem. 23And someone said to him, "Lord,AA)">(AA) will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24AB)">(AB) "StriveAC)">(AC) to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."-Luke 13:22-23.
Other than the fact that humans are hopelessly depraved (without the Holy Spirit), why is it that so many professing Christians don't see transformation as a big deal? Some of it has to do with "cultural Christian", which itself comes from poor readings of texts.
"And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness"-Romans 4:5.
What's this passage saying? Is it saying that all we need to do is cognitively assent to correct Christian dogma and then we can sit around eating bon-bons and waiting for the endtimes? Of course not. Paul is just saying that we are SAVED by faith, and not by works. As chapters 6-8 of Romans clearly indicate, Paul is very concerned with faith being something transformative. If it's not, you're probably not saved. Paul's point in Romans 4:5 is similar to the point he makes in Romans 10:1-4:
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God fo rthem is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for god, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteuosness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to god's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes."-Romans 10:1-4.
Paul is talking about the Jews, who believed they could be justified by works. He is simply saying that the bedrock of our salvation is faith and not works; but he would heartily affirm that true saving faith must result in works.
"What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?"-Romans 6:15-17.
Living life in perpetual sin is evidence of not being saved. That doesn't mean we won't struggle with sin (see Romans 7:14-25), but we should not be continually in bondage to it anymore. We don't do it uncontrollably and compulsively. Christ died on the cross as a substitution for sinners so that His perfect righteousness could be credited to whoever believes He did this for them. This means we should be progressively conformed to His nature. For someone to know that they are saved by the grace of God, by Christ having died on the cross as a substitute, having born the wrath of God for your sins, should fill you with a desire to live spontaneously as Christ did. That this is considered trivial by so many professing Christians is unsurprising, since as Jesus Himself says, the way is narrow, and few find it.
"Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy."-Leviticus 19:2
"As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy."-1 Peter 1:15-16.
On the one hand, it is true that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works (that is, not by what we do):
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."-Ephesians 2:8-9.
However, the Bible is clear that true, saving faith must be accompanied by works, both in loving conduct toward one's fellow man, charity, and putting sin to death:
"16But I say,AD)">(AD) walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratifyAE)">(AE) the desires of the flesh. 17ForAF)">(AF) the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other,AG)">(AG) to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18But if you areAH)">(AH) led by the Spirit,AI)">(AI) you are not under the law. 19NowAJ)">(AJ) the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions,AK)">(AK) divisions, 21envy,d]">[d] drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, thatAL)">(AL) those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."-Galatians 5:16-21.
"...if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit youW)">(W) put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."-Romans 8:13
"Strive for peace with everyone, and for theX)">(X) holinessY)">(Y) without which no one will see the Lord"-Hebrews 12:14.
""Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easya]">[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14For the gate is narrow andB)">(B) the way is hard that leads to life, andC)">(C) those who find it are few."-Matthew 7:13-14.
"He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching andZ)">(Z) journeying toward Jerusalem. 23And someone said to him, "Lord,AA)">(AA) will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them, 24AB)">(AB) "StriveAC)">(AC) to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."-Luke 13:22-23.
Other than the fact that humans are hopelessly depraved (without the Holy Spirit), why is it that so many professing Christians don't see transformation as a big deal? Some of it has to do with "cultural Christian", which itself comes from poor readings of texts.
"And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness"-Romans 4:5.
What's this passage saying? Is it saying that all we need to do is cognitively assent to correct Christian dogma and then we can sit around eating bon-bons and waiting for the endtimes? Of course not. Paul is just saying that we are SAVED by faith, and not by works. As chapters 6-8 of Romans clearly indicate, Paul is very concerned with faith being something transformative. If it's not, you're probably not saved. Paul's point in Romans 4:5 is similar to the point he makes in Romans 10:1-4:
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God fo rthem is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for god, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteuosness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to god's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to everyone who believes."-Romans 10:1-4.
Paul is talking about the Jews, who believed they could be justified by works. He is simply saying that the bedrock of our salvation is faith and not works; but he would heartily affirm that true saving faith must result in works.
"What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?"-Romans 6:15-17.
Living life in perpetual sin is evidence of not being saved. That doesn't mean we won't struggle with sin (see Romans 7:14-25), but we should not be continually in bondage to it anymore. We don't do it uncontrollably and compulsively. Christ died on the cross as a substitution for sinners so that His perfect righteousness could be credited to whoever believes He did this for them. This means we should be progressively conformed to His nature. For someone to know that they are saved by the grace of God, by Christ having died on the cross as a substitute, having born the wrath of God for your sins, should fill you with a desire to live spontaneously as Christ did. That this is considered trivial by so many professing Christians is unsurprising, since as Jesus Himself says, the way is narrow, and few find it.
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