Is Salvation based on anything you do….

“Come Reason”
Newsletter of Denise Smith
Volume no. 104-4
January 28, 2004

Is salvation based on anything that you have to do or have done?

The response to that for most of us would be, NO! As a person this week stated to me, “I am not righteous because of what I have done,will do, or could do, nor by what I haven’t done or won’t do. It’s not by my merit, but by the grace and declaration of God”. Most of us would agree with that completely and have taken great comfort in knowing that. But then comes the next thing to consider…and which is the very next thing that most people would say… “salvation is available to who ever will believe in Jesus Christ”. Now I ask you, is that statement not a contradiction of the first?

If we have to believe on Christ to have “salvation” then it surely is by merit, or action! If we are required to “believe” before we can receive the salvation of God through Jesus Christ, then is it really by declaration of God or by what one does? Now, does that mean that if we don’t believe salvation was by God through Christ, then it isn’t? Would that not be like saying that just because I don’t believe it… it never happened? God didn’t conclude all men in unbelief to have mercy on all simply because one or two or a million of us don’t believe it… or won’t believe? Is that possible…that an Almighty God would be subject to the decisions or beliefs of those that He created? Or was it done…no matter whether anyone believes or not?

Then comes the issue with those that would seem to think that they are of a special group because they have “believed” and believe they have received salvation by their “belief”. They say that they are “saved” because they have believed on Christ and infer to those that haven’t “believed” or professed, that they are “not saved” because they haven’t “believed”. So now with that said…is that possible? If it’s not possible to be “saved” without first being a “believer” then there is no way possible for anyone to be saved, because I’m sure that all of you will readily admit that you didn’t ALWAYS BELIEVE! So if “believing” is what the requirement is… and most will admit that they didn’t always “believe”.. does that mean that because there was a time that you didn’t “believe” you can’t be “saved”….and the redemptive work of Christ didn’t take place until you “believed”? Could it be that it was already done for you…. as it has been done for the entire world… whether a person believes it’s done or not?

Could it be possible that the Almighty God is bringing us to the understanding that nothing that He does, has done, or will done will ever be contingent on the actions, beliefs, or the wisdom and understanding of that which He created??

Some will clearly say that the benefits of salvation aren’t available to you until you “believe”…. but again how could that be possible…those benefits were available for each of us even when we didn’t believe… and they were done and declared by God to have been finished whether there is a living soul that will ever believe or not! Your belief or unbelief will never change the Almighty God, nor will it alter in any way the things which have been done!! If it were so, and a requirement to believe before receiving salvation…. then no one would be able to ever have salvation…for there is not one that can with a pure heart say that they were always and have always been a “believer”, and in that admission, would be the disqualification for salvation if “believing” is a requirement!!

God asked me one time when I was in the mindset as many of you are and have been that because I had done this or that I was “saved” …. He simply ask… “Do you believe that what I’ve said I have done was done for you?” I said “yes, I do”. Then God said something that I will never forget. He said… “I am no respecter of any man’s person and what I’ve done for you I’ve done for all. If you are going to believe I’ve done it for you, then likewise you must believe that I’ve done it for everyone!”

How could I ever believe that if God could declare my righteousness well before I was sent here…and without me doing anything… including being born…. that He would had not done the same for EVERYONE…even when they didn’t believe it or accept it… it didn’t change what God had done!!! How can we get around the verses in the bible that says “all flesh shall see the salvation of the Lord”…”God concluded all in unbelief to have mercy on all”?

If you’re able and willing to “believe” that God has done this for you … even when you didn’t believe… then likewise you should believe it for everyone else on the planet whether they believe or not!!! You cannot exclude anyone without excluding yourself!! AMEN!!!

Have a wonderful week, and remember in all things, HEAR HIM!! ASK HIM!! KNOW HIM!!