How You Do It Matters
Did you ever get the answer to a math problem correct but lose points because you worked the solution wrong? There are many things in life where the method is unimportant as long as the intended results are achieved. But when it comes to religion, how we go about it definitely matters. The way we approach serving God has eternal significance, and alternatives to His plan will not yield the intended results.
It matters how we view ourselves before God. Take the man who considers himself a good moral person. He doesn’t cheat, he doesn’t lie, and he is faithful in both his marriage and his business. This man may believe that God will save him on Judgment Day because he is a good moral person, but no one will be saved on the basis of inherent goodness or meritorious works. The Bible says that we are saved, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy” (Tit. 3:5). In fact, “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one” (Ro. 3:10-12). God doesn’t see good moral people when He looks at the world. He sees people desperately in need of a Savior, people who are often too arrogant to realize their truly depraved and hopeless condition.
It matters how we make moral decisions. A person may be moral but he cannot be righteous without the proper motivation. The Christian’s choices are guided by his love and fear for God. He considers the Lord’s will and the impact his decision will have on his relationship with God. The good moral person, on the other hand, makes his choices based upon preference, convenience, or peer pressure. He may not curse, smoke, drink, or behave promiscuously, but his decision to avoid these things has little to do with God and everything to do with himself. He chooses those behaviors that are advantageous to him. By contrast, the Christian will choose to do what is right even when it is the most inconvenient, painful, and least advantageous of his options.
It matters how we worship God. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Mt. 7:21). If we call Jesus ‘Lord,’ then we must accept His authority in every area of life, including our choices about worship. Many religious people want to worship in a way that makes them feel good and that they find fulfilling. The righteous man seeks that form of worship that pleases God (Jn. 4:24). Ask Cain (Ge. 4:3-7), Nadab and Abihu (Le. 10:1-3), Jeroboam (1Ki. 14:7-13), or Uzziah (2Chr. 26:16-20) whether it matters how we worship God. The true Christian honors God by honoring what He says about worship in His word.
It matters how we show our faith in Christ. Most churches today tell people who want to be saved to pray a sinner’s prayer. But preachers in the Bible said, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins […] Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord [….]For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Ac. 2:38; 22:16; Ga. 3:26-27). Jesus Himself commanded, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mk. 16:15-16). Are the words of Jesus so difficult to understand? Do those who deny the saving purpose of baptism and invite men to pray the sinner’s prayer truly preach the gospel of Jesus Christ? Can it be called Jesus’ gospel when the conditions of forgiveness have been changed? Friends, it matters how we are saved, otherwise we cannot have confidence in our salvation at all. –JME
It Is Not A Matter Of Numbers
So much of what is done nowadays is done AFTER considering how many are doing the same thing, or at least approve it. The current way of thinking is to take comfort in the idea that “everyone is doing it”, or to find and follow the “majority position”. We can be thankful that God is not influenced by numbers. His expectations of mankind are based upon real righteousness, and reflect truth even if NOBODY agrees with Him. In fact, His realistic assessment is that “...strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life, and FEW there be that find it...” (Matt 7:13, 14). Our standing with God is not put to a vote, nor based on whether we are with the many or the few. God doesn’t grade “on a curve” (where a certain percent is given a certain grade, with the great majority assigned a mediocre but passing grade). His “rating system” comes from His impartial and unyielding commitment to truth, and is designed to reward ONLY those who accept and apply the demanding standard of conformity to it.
We were aware when we began this little paper that it would not be wildly popular, exactly because it acknowledges this fact. We continue with a settled intent to speak the truth and the truth only, because that alone will be of help to our readers. It will become more and more obvious that we are among the “few”, and while being in the minority does not always mean one is right (there are many “minority positions” that are also wrong), it is a pretty sure thing that seeking the majority position will put us on the wrong side with God. As Paul said it, “...if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Gal 1:10). Being a disciple means that we follow NO MAN, or NO HUMAN WAY OF THINKING, even if “everybody is doing it”! In the intensely personal relationship that God seeks with each of us, every individual must purge his mind and life of all contaminating input, search diligently for whatever it is that GOD wants of him, then make that priority number one. In this, we are not “in the dark”, since God has shown us the “way” (even if restricted and hard) in His revelation to us. With most of us, it is not so much a lack of information, but a lack of the will to properly consider the information we have been given. Coming down on the side of the “many” may make us feel good, but it will have no beneficial effect in drawing us closer to God. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO BE LONELY IN YOUR STAND FOR TRUTH! And, for sure, do not let where the “many” stand determine where YOU stand. --The Editors
If we follow the multitude, it will be to do evil: if we go with the crowd, it will be the wrong way. It is natural for us to incline to go down the stream, and do as the most do; but it is too great a compliment, to be willing to be damned for company, and to go to hell with them, because they will not go to heaven with us: if many perish, we should be the more cautious. –Matthew Henry
One Final Thought:
IF
“IF” states a condition. The Bible therefore makes conditional some things. Such as:
¨ IF we forgive others, we will be forgiven of God (Matthew 6:14)
¨ IF we hold fast the word, we will be saved (1 Corinthians 15:2).
¨ IF we faint not, we shall reap in due season (Galatians 6:9).
¨ IF we continue in the faith, we will be unreprovable before Him (Colossians 1:22-23).
¨ IF we endure, we shall reign with Him (2 Timothy 2:12).
¨ IF we add the Christian virtues, we shall never stumble (2 Peter 1:10).
¨ IF we walk in the light, Christ’s blood keeps us clean (1 John 1:7).
--Whit Sasser
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