Do You See The Contradiction?
The bible’s teaching regarding salvation is one of the most important doctrines of the Christian religion. To know the gospel is to have a proper understanding of how God saved his people from their sins. Over the years I have spent a lot of time examining the teachings of various Christian denominations on the topic of salvation. As a result, I noticed the following explanation of salvation posted on numerous church websites...
“Because people are unable to save themselves from their sinful condition, salvation is altogether the work of God. Neither good works nor self-improvement can make up for our sin. Salvation is the free gift of God. However, like any gift it must be received. This gift is received by faith, or by believing and trusting in Jesus Christ who died as our substitute that we might live. Through repentance from sin and faith toward God, we turn from our self-ruled life to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.”
Do you see the contradiction lurking in this statement? This error is found all over professing Christendom in our time. Many professing Christians have been pickled in this contradiction for so long that they have lost the objectivity required to logically and objectively assess the statement’s validity. To draw that out more clearly, consider the following:
Three Important Observations
1. If "salvation is altogether a work of God" then why must man "receive it" in order for eternal salvation to transpire? If mowing my lawn was altogether a work of God, would I have to "receive it" by faith in order for the grass to have been cut? Clearly not.
2. How can an unregenerate man, who lacks the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, and thus lacks the faith which is a fruit thereof (Galatians 5:22), receive this gift of salvation given that he does not possess the faith required for reception? (I Corinthians 2:14, II Thessalonians 3:2, Romans 1:17)
3. The statement affirms that "Neither good works nor self-improvement can make up for our sin" yet rejecting an untruth in favor of believing the truth is undeniably an act of self-improvement, one that this statement claims is required to obtain eternal life. If one must believe the truth in order to acquire eternal life, then it is also true that an act of self-improvement is required to make up for one's sin.
The Simple, Biblical Truth
In contrast to the common salvation statement above, the truths of our salvation in Christ are straightforward and easily understood:
God chose a people to save (Ephesians 1:4-5).
Jesus Christ covenanted to give ALL of them eternal life (John 17:2).
The Holy Spirit covenanted to regenerate ALL of them in time (Galatians 4:6).
This is ALL of God and none of man (Titus 3:5).
Those who believe on him HAVE eternal life already (John 6:47).
They did not do ANYTHING to acquire that gift (Ephesians 2:1).
Simply put, you were not required to "receive" the gift of your natural life. No one ever asked, "Would you like to be alive?" or "Will you receive this gift of natural life?" No, natural life was imparted to you without any participation on your part whatsoever. No permission, approval, or reception was required. That obvious and indisputable fact completely obliterates the common Christian notion that "a gift must be received.” The gift of eternal life is not offered to men for acceptance or rejection. It is imparted to them by the working of His mighty power in keeping with HIS covenant promises. (Ephesians 1:19-20)
Finally
The contradictions found in this statement are incredibly prevalent in modern Christendom. But they are easily corrected, provided we have a proper biblical understanding of regeneration, wherein God imparts life to his covenant people immediately by divine fiat. The Lord Jesus Christ put it this way…
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live." (John 5:25)
- Elder Daniel Samons