As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
What am I about to write might be considered heresy by some. If any of you reading this are in that camp, please consider that as a child of God, I may still be living in ignorance. My life is a journey and for these last many years my journey has been all about getting to know God better. If what I write does not fit with what you believe, please feel free to gently correct me in the comments.
Peter presumes that as believers we are “obedient children.” How I wish that this were true! I see many who walk in faith moving from ignorance to knowledge of God’s ways. To some extent, that is all we can hope for in this life. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 13:12;
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (KJV)
In this human state, with these broken eyes that see evil1, we cannot fully know God’s will. Yet the time is coming when we will see God face to face. Until then, we all do our best to walk in faith.
I say “all” meaning those whom Jude refers to as “those who have been called.”2 Yet as Jesus himself points out, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”3 Not all who believe act like an obedient child.
So we are faced with a conundrum. We want to know that God has accepted us and that we will be with Jesus in heaven. Yet Jesus says that saying the words, “Lord, Lord,” is not enough. Only those who do the will of the Father enter the kingdom of heaven.4 This is not a “works righteousness” issue. (See “Hearts and Deeds”) This is a question of obedience.
Going back to Peter’s words, he presumes we are obedient children. But what if we are not? What if we act like there is no God except ourselves? What if we act like the “ungodly” people Jude describes in his letter?
It is these questions that bring me to what some might consider the point of heresy. Can we really know we are “saved?” Should we even want to know? If we believe we are saved, what happens to our faith?
Imagine for a minute two football teams about to play a game, Team A and Team B. Just before the game starts, the coach of Team A comes out and tells his players, “You have already won!” There is nothing you can do to lose this game. Your success is assured.
The game begins. Team B goes out on the field and plays as hard as they can. They score! They score again! By halftime, the score is 70 to zip. Oddly, Team A seems unfazed by the score. They walk off the field smiling and chatting. They are confident in what their coach told them. But should they be?
One of the desires common to humanity is wanting to know how life will turn out. Will everything be okay? Can I be assured that I will end up in heaven? Is wanting to know this living in obedience to God’s will or is it an evil desire?
It seems clear that God knows the answer to this question. The Bible addresses this topic repeatedly in terms of “predestination”5 and of being “chosen.”6 God knows those whom he has chosen. God also knows the beginning and the end. He sees us in our entirety while we see only one moment at a time.
Let’s return to our football game for a moment. The teams are coming back onto the field. What do you think the coach of Team A should tell his players? Personally, if I were the coach, I would want the players in the game not just watching it happen.
In closing, I want to affirm that I believe in the infinite love of our Lord Jesus and his saving grace. I am not advocating for works righteousness or any such thing. However, I find it troubling that people who claim to be “saved” act as if obedience to God’s Word is optional. I do not judge others as unfit for heaven, but does any man besides Jesus have the authority to judge someone fit for heaven?
Application: Knowing the Word of God and living according to God’s will is the best assurance we have.
Food for Thought: Is it right to tell a person who is not obedient to the Word of God that they are “saved?”
1 Genesis 3: 5
2 Jude 1:1
3 Matthew 7:21
4 Matthew 22:36-40
5 Romans 8:29-30; Ephesians 1: 5, 1:11
6 Matthew 22:14; Ephesians 1:11; 1Thessalonians 1: 4-10; 1 Peter 1: 1-2
Heretic!
Just kidding my friend :).
I think what you hit on here is that line between sincere faith and fake faith. We are saved through faith in Christ Jesus alone and it is a gift by grace (Ephesians 2: 8 – 9). We can be assured of salvation in Christ Jesus (1 John 5: 11 – 13; John 10: 27 – 30; John 5: 24).
However, a true faith also bears fruit. Matthew 7: 15 – 20: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
As a pastor, one of the most uncomfortable feelings is doing a funeral for someone where the family wants you to pronounce publicly that they were saved based upon an prayer said early in life or a baptism. Then, they reject Jesus and have nothing to do with Him… But wait, he prayed a salvation prayer when he was five. Of course, I don’t know whether the person was saved or not – I can only hope. I am not the judge. We are to have assurance, but that assurance is not based on some religious ritual. It is based on a saving relationship with Christ.
Rich,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I appreciate the comment about funerals especially. Years ago I was asked to do a funeral for a relative who had no church background. It was a horribly awkward situation. What do you say? I remember making the point, gently, that it would be good for everyone there to consider their relationship with God. That said, how does one translate this situation to the living? The tendency is to want assurance that the other person is in agreement with our beliefs. They might “check the box” to get us off their back, or because that is all they feel is necessary. Yet the real challenge is helping each other learn obedience, as Peter points out. This is a messy business!! In this sense, church really becomes a place where we go and give others permission to help us become better servants of our Lord. Instead of demanding the church do this or that for me, I come as a humble servant desiring to learn.
Wow, one has to get up early to beat Rich “to the punch.” Great response. Paul addresses those who treat salvation as fire insurance in Romans 6, as well.
Perplexed on the analogies.
Our faith is not a game and man is not responsible or in God’s manner “keep score”. If the objective of the game is the understanding of the game and teamwork and excellence and sportsmanship then isn’t , The Game a blessed event! At the end ALL PLAYERS of both team are in community and go out for a celebration of the game Together. Not the score!
To say you will play by the rules to then go out and cheat is to declare “Lord. Lord”. That is false in your heart.
God know are heart. Our actions is our heart. What you say has AND means NOTHING to God.
I ask you reconsider your perspective.
Get out of earthy things.
WDYT??
Feather,
Thank you for joining in today!
The danger in using an analogy is that the writer may be focused on a specific aspect of the thing he is writing about. Others may see more or different aspects of the example used. You have drawn much more out of the football analogy than I had intended. I think that is a shortcoming in my writing.
Using your perspective of the game being a metaphor for life, the Game is absolutely a blessed event. Sadly, not everyone celebrates the game together after it is played. Stories of riots, damage, and even death after a professional game are not as uncommon as we might wish.
From the perspective of the church, we live in a time when the Church is fractured by denominational differences. Some churches focus on appearances rather than content. Today’s post brought together the themes of obedience, evil desires, and our knowledge of God or lack thereof (ignorance).
In my own personal experience, it seems there is a tendency to emphasize “checking the box” rather than playing the game. My sense is that you and I are in agreement. God does know our heart. What we do reveals our heart.
I hope this helps!
Blessings.
: Is it right to tell a person who is not obedient to the Word of God that they are “saved?”
Well, here we go, consider this!!!!
If they have accepted Christ, yes.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever BELIEVES in Him shall not perish, BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.
God has FULLY DELIVERED us once and for all FROM THE PENALTY of sin. Ephesians. 1:6
If WE SAY that WE HAVE NO SIN, WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES and THE TRUTH IS NOT IN US. 1 John 1:8
Every man’s work shall be made manifest, they shall be revealed by fire; fire shall test every man’s work. If any man’s work abide which he has built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but He HIMSELF SHALL BE SAVED; yet so as by fire. 1 Corinthians 3: 13-15
All believers have been set free from the PENALTY of sin. It’s a settled issue, once for all time. Each should enjoy it to its fullest, and learn to LIVE in this freedom. The freedom to turn against sin and begin living in the process of learning the truth that this POWER of sin has been broken. Learning to rely on the Holy Spirit to do what we could never do without Him.
It’s a journey, which becomes easier only as we begin to experience, look forward to, the wonderful relationship we have with our Lord through Humbly Obedience to His will over any pleasure of this world,.
It’s an opportunity tp experience, 1 Thessalonians 5:14, And we urge you, brothers, to admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, and be patient with everyone.
Our huge problem is that as finite beings we are all in the process of trying to understand our infinite God. like the clay trying to understand the Potter.
If obedience is a requirement for full to total salvation, where is the bar set? We know it is not 100%, maybe 90%, 75%, how about we find a middle ground, compromise and make it 50%. Then, what about the thief on the cross with 0%, or a person who dies within a year and only gets to maybe 10%.
What I know for certain is, it has taken me 43 years to get where I am today. I have been a prodigal son many times, but always remained a son. I am still far, far, far from meeting the mark, and know full well I never will see perfection until I am face to face with my Lord Jesus Christ. If Paul could not make it, how can I ever hope to make it.
God knows every thought and imagination of my heart, in detail, and is still with me, still encouraging me to continue forward. I also know that if most christians knew what God knows about me, they would be tempted to question my salvation.
Today I live in the peace which passes all understanding knowing I will soon pass on as an imperfect being and will be made perfect when I meet Jesus Christ. For now I keep trying because that is where I am happy. Not perfect but happy in the increasing moments I get to experience the presence of God in my life.
Ron,
Thank you! I really appreciate your reply. You have made me think (as you often do!).
Hebrews 8:12
“I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”
I think we have had several good walk and talk discussions at work over the years about predestination…you were always the instigator in the topic.
The concept takes a bit of wind out of my spiritual sails that tend to stay inflated by a free will or what’s the point of being puppets on a string? I’ve always believed that if God can choose to remember my sins no more He can choose to create me with an undetermined free will. Of course I am swimming in the deep end of the pool with a number of lifeguards on duty so I think I will towel off and get some shut eye. 🙂
Wow. Lots of good stuff. I’m going to add a new goal in my life. To live my life so my pastor doesn’t have to lie at my funeral.