It seems Christians always have been the victim of misunderstanding how God’s work and our actions cooperate to produce our salvation. Hopefully, we understand two things. (1) What God did for each of us in Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection is astounding and incredible! (2) In accepting God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, we accept the responsibility to show our appreciation for God’s gift (we commonly refer to this as obedience). Both those concepts are accurate. However, understanding how those two concepts work together often results in a basic misunderstanding.
There are those who wish to rely on what God did for us in Jesus in a manner that God did not and does not intend. The incorrect manner usually (in some way) absolves us human beings from any response to God for what He did for us in Jesus. The reasoning: (a) What God did in Jesus defies human understanding. (b) What God did/does for us in Jesus is a gift. (c) We cannot earn God’s gift. (d) Therefore, we do nothing to receive the benefits of God’s gift.
God making Jesus Christ in death and resurrection the foundation of divine grace and mercy does defy human understanding. God loving us so much that He would intervene in human existence to make human eternal salvation possible for everyone is beyond human understanding (consider John 3:16-21 and Romans 5:8-11). Truly, what God makes possible in Jesus’ death and resurrection has to be a gift—no human act could deserve what God did for us in Jesus (consider 2 Corinthians 5:18-21, Colossians 1:21-23, and 1 Timothy 1:12-16). Because what He did for us is a gift, there is nothing we can do to earn God’s saving acts. Who could earn forgiveness, sanctification, and atonement (consider Romans 11:33-36 and 1 Corinthians 1:26-31)? The entire concept of human earning is an affront to the concept of divine grace!
The question becomes this: Is there a concept that combines the concept of a gift given and responsibility on the part of the receiver? For certain! There is the concept of assuming responsibility—consider Philippians 2:12, John 3:21, and 1 John 1:6, 7. The person who accepts what God did in Jesus “works” or “practices.”
Paul did emphasize the fruit of the Spirit in contrast to the deeds of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-24). He also associated the Spirit’s fruit with crucifixion of the flesh’s deeds—a deliberate execution of the acts that opposed the cultivation of the Spirit’s fruit.
Peter emphasized what is typically called “the Christian graces” (2 Peter 1:2-11). The Christian individual finds life and godliness if he/she develops these things. The qualities Peter listed were to be diligently pursued. Practicing them would prevent stumbling and grant entrance into the eternal kingdom.
Both Paul’s list and Peter’s lists involve doing or practicing God’s values. They declare there is a “doing” that is not related to an “earning.” Does that concept exist? Can there be a “doing” that does not “earn”? Is it possible to be committed to a responsible behavior without the motivation of earning? Can a genuine gift require responsible behavior? Does the responsible behavior earn the gift?
This concept not only exists, but people use the concept today. The concept is called an inheritance. The gift of inheritance is associated with salvation a number of times in the New Testament—Matthew 25:34, Mark 10:27 (Luke18:18-23), Luke 10:25-28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Corinthians 15:50; Galatians 5:21, Ephesians 1:18, 5:5, Colossians 1:12-14, 3:24, Hebrews 1:14, 6:12, 9:15, James 2:5, and 1 Peter 1:3-5, 3:8, 9.
Why inheritance? (1) The first reason is based on the Christians’ relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The New Testament commonly refers to Jesus before his coming, during his earthly stay, and after his ascension as God’s son (consider John 3:16, l7, and 17:1-3, 5). He rules (is Lord) now and will continue to reign until he defeats all God’s enemies. Then he will subject everything (including himself) to God again (see 1 Corinthians 15:24-28). Through Jesus Christ, by being in him (Galatians 3:26-29), Christians are family or household to God (Galatians 4:4-7, 1 Timothy 3:14, 15)—remember, the word “church” comes from a Greek word that means “the called out.” Christians are “called out” to be God’s family continually.
Christians are heirs because they are family to God in Christ. Therefore, they have the responsibility to behave like the Holy God’s family (consider 1 Peter 2:5-10).
(2) The second reason is the concept of inheritance. If a person is to receive an inheritance, the person (a) is qualified and (b) behaves as a qualified heir. Though behavior does not “earn” the gift of the inheritance, failure to act like an heir can remove the gift. In inheritance, there is a gift combined with the behavior of one who is an heir. Also, there certainly is the understood practice of an heir losing the gift of inheritance because of inappropriate behavior (consider 2 Peter 2:20-22).
A Christian obeys God because the Christian appreciates all God has done for him/her. The motivation for any and every act of obedience is NOT a desire to “earn.” No one can be deserving of God’s inheritance of salvation that results in entering God’s eternal kingdom to receive eternal life. The motivation is the desire to say “Thank you!” to God as the person learns how to act like a person who is in God’s family. To respond to God in obedience for all God did/does for those in Jesus Christ is an expression of gratitude, never a human attempt to earn God’s inheritance.
Again, the question returns--“Who are you?”
For Thought and Discussion
1. What seems to make Christians victims?
2. What two things should Christians understand?
3. What does an incorrect understanding of God’s grace usually do?
4. Give the general reasoning used to absolve people of any responsibility in salvation considerations.
5. What is the question that should be answered from scripture?
6. What did Paul say was the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:19-24?
7. Give Peter’s list in 2 Peter 1:2-11.
8. What is the concept that combines giving divine gifts and human responsibility?
9. What two reasons exist for referring to salvation as an inheritance?
10. Explain why Christians should obey God.
Link to Teacher's Guide Lesson 11