Bill -
I don't deny that there are several things involved in how WE become justified.... there is some mystery involved (for 2000 years, Christians have used that word in this context). HOWEVER (and this is critical, absolutely essential) anything that blurs the point that Jesus is the Savior must - foundationally - must be rejected and must be wrong. By even just implying that WE do x,y,z and THEREFORE we are saved makes the Savior just self. It means looking in the mirror for the Savior, giving self the credit. It foundationally rejects and repudiates the central, keystone point of Christianity that Jesus IS THE Savior and aligns soteriolgy with that of modern Judaism, Islam and Bhatki Hinduism: that we are justified by what WE do (albeit with divine help and empowerment); "hoop jumping/works righteousness" view of salvation. THIS is why Luther, Calvin and all the Reformers avoided the kind of language you are using - it undermines the central, foundational, keystone point that Jesus is the Savior (not me) and thus all Christianity collapses and we are left with just a minor revision to Judaism, akin much more with Islam than orthodox Christianity: Looking to Christ has been replaced with looking in the mirror at a meritious, empowered, glorious, good-enough ME, ultimately we enter heaven because of what WE did (the central point of modern Judaism, Islam and Bhakti Hinduism and why those religions reject Christ as THE SAVIOR).
IMO, no one CAN ask for forgiveness in the Name of Jesus ("repent") apart from already having the divine gift of faith, and the Bible itself says that no one can ask Jesus into their heart without previously having the divine gift of faith. Indeed, the Bible says that it is IMPOSSIBLE for us to do ANYTHING - anything - anything whatsoever in this context - apart from HAVING faith. To even just imply that FIRST we do x,y,x and THUS we are saved is to destroy Christianity, to abandon Christian justification. Yes, again, there is MYSTERY here. We don't fully understand how all these aspects interrelate (or even if they do): But this must not be abandoned, this must in no way be undermined, this in no way can be placed into question: the Savior is NOT me. Not at all. Not a bit. Not ever. The job is taken. Salvation is what JESUS does (fully, sufficiently, wholly, completely) since Jesus is the Savior. To even imply such is not the case is to destroy Christianity and to embrace instead some from of modern Judaism, Islam and/or Bhatki Hinduism.
Answer this: WHO is the SAVIOR? Answer that - clearly, definitively, singularly - in your heart.
IF you answer "Jesus" then Jesus is the Savior. Not you, not me - not a bit, not at all, not now, not ever, not in any way or shape or form or manner. Salvation is entirely, wholly, completely, sufficiently wrapped up in Jesus. It's entirely HIS work. HIS heart. HIS love. HIS mercy. HIS gift. HIS blessing. His life, His death, His resurrection. His Cross, His blood, His sacrifice. His righteousness, His obedience, His holiness. Not you. Not yours. Not your obedience, not your righteouness, not your prayers or repentance or decisions or invitations, not your perfections, not your surrendering, not your anything, not YOU. You may have some other role in some other matter, but not this. The "job" of Savior belongs to Jesus. Not you.
IF you answer "ME!" then you are the Savior. Not Jesus. Not a bit, not at all. Not now, not ever. Not in any way, shape or form or manner. Salvation is all wrapped up in YOU. YOUR works. YOUR will. YOUR love. YOUR efforts. YOUR merits. YOUR obedience. YOUR righteousness. YOUR holiness. YOUR sacrifice. Not Jesus. Not Jesus'. Jesus may have some other role in some other matter, just not this one. The Savior is you.
When it comes to salvation (justification in the narrow sense) you have two places you can look/trust/rely: The Cross or the mirror. Who is on the Cross, who is in the mirror.
Which is it? Try answering that - clearly, distinctively, definitively, singularly, boldly - in your heart and mind and soul. If you give the Christian answer, a LOT of Christianity falls into place. If you give the Christian answer, then the central point of Christianity is affirmed and all of Christianity comes into focus. True: you too will join with all Christians over the past 2000 years embracing a bit of mystery (we can't wrap our puny, fallen brains around EXACTLY all the DETAILS of HOW Jesus saves) but that's okay.... better to deny we've totally wrapped God around our sinful, fallen brain than to destroy the keystone of Christianity.
NOTHING is more important.
Pax Christi
- Josiah
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