As I read through many blogs I see doctrinal arguments flying everywhere. Now, some of these seem important. Some probably are significant.
I have spent most of my adult life as an academic. I have found it personally inspiring and exciting, but in the past very few years I have searched for the simplicity that Jesus promised is present in serving the Saviour.
So I’ve seen (and sometimes participated in) debates about whether everyone is saved because of the cross or only those who name the Name of Jesus or live a life totally determined by love; about whether there is a hell in which people suffer forever or whether the “bad” people just cease to exist. The debate about baptism and salvation keeps coming up. Are we saved by God’s kindness (grace) alone or do we have some part to play in working “out our salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12).
These discussions and high pressure arguments are interesting, important and magnetically appealing, but can we really say the right stand on these things is necessary?
Personally, I am drawn to this reality that “our lives are guided by faith, not by sight. We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord. Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him. All of us must appear in front of Christ’s judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies” (2 Corinthians 5:7-10 God’s Word).
Whatever conclusions you draw on these ongoing (and usually hot topics) the fact remains everyone stands before Jesus to be judged by what they did with their gift of life.
Fruits and vegetables (Photo credit: nutrilover)
“I will show you my faith by the good things I do” (James 2:18 God’s Word).
“People don’t pick grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles, do they? In the same way every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit. Any tree that fails to produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into a fire. So you will know them by what they produce. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name? Didn’t we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?’ Then I will tell them publicly, ‘I’ve never known you. Get away from me, you evil people’ ” (Matthew 7:16-23 God’s Word).
See also
December 3, 2012
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