I remember a few years ago I had a conversation with a local Greek Orthodox Priest. He was so adamant that I call him Father (and then his name). That alone should be a red flag for anyone who knows scripture. Matt 23:9 > And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. We’re talking spiritual fathers here, not actual physical birth fathers. But, I diverge.
We were going back and forth regarding Eternal Security, and I made my case, which for anyone who knows me, my explanation was in-depth and scripturally reinforced, but all he did was refer to one verse in The Letter of James regarding "faith without works is dead." He gave me nothing beyond that. However, where he really went off the rails was when he proceeded to give me his own parable of salvation by works. Let me give you this disclaimer! Other than Jesus, who spoke in parables? Really… Leave the parables to Jesus. And... how about NO to modern-day versions of them!
He proceeded to make his case by telling me his story.
> "Salvation is like you climbing Mt Everest. It costs a lot of money to actually be allowed to climb that mountain. Jesus is like the guy that paid your way to make it possible that you could summit Mt Everest. He paid for the permit, He bought all the gear and provisions. But…” Here we go! There is always a “BUT” when it comes to Lordship Salvationists. “But… you must put in the work to climb it.”
I was actually embarrassed for him. I’m thinking: You went to how many years bible college, and then seminary, and considering all the Greek you had to learn, this is the best you have?
What he was FULLY implying was: "In the end… You may make it... maybe not?" Well... even a Muslim and other heretical groups believe a version of that!
It all depends on you putting in the work. After all, the way was paid that you may be allowed to climb. BUT… the buck stops with you. It all depends on you putting shoe leather to the road of salvation. You need to put some skin in the game to seal the deal.
You know what? If it's about my shoe leather, and my doing, and my works – well… like the old saying goes – “you get what you pay for!” What I pay, based on me, myself, and I is just not going to pay the debt that only Jesus could pay. It is not going to seal any deal regarding salvation!
Look... if you didn’t have what it takes to purchase your salvation, you sure don’t have what it takes to maintain it.
Besides, when the salvation gospel message is about you doing, it is about that very thing – YOU! It takes the focus off Jesus and puts it on yourself! We all should know where that leads.
Okay... that's a great story, but what it’s NOT, is a biblically-based modern-day parable regarding salvation! It is a man-made doctrine based on Lordship Salvation (Calvinism) principles. It is ANOTHER gospel! Those that teach such doctrines are “Devil Dogs.” (My personalized version of “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing.")
I hope this is not the answer he gives parishioners when they come to him for answers regarding "what must I do to be saved?" It is literally the blind leading the blind. One cannot give a correct biblically grounded answer for what one does not know, and one does not know because one does not possess the free gift of eternal life on the basis that Jesus gives! The stuff He gives is free, eternal, never-ending, and devoid of my works. Just believe.
If someone… (actually, let me re-word that). If anyone comes to me and tells me of all the works and doing they must do to be saved… I question that they are saved. Additionally, if they proceed to tell me how they, or I, can lose salvation because of all the things (works) that we are "NOT doing"… I again question that they are saved! One must believe that the promise that Jesus gives is "Eternal," As in NEVER ends. His words, not mine. Now if we are talking in regards to Blessing in this life and Reward in the next that is a different subject altogether. But... I am not. I am speaking on Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation) alone. Nothing else.
You see, this individual, this man of the Cloth, Priesthood, Clerical Presbytery, whatever you wish to call it, is one of many that hold to a form of "Lordship Salvation Doctrine" referred to as Calvinism, and another variant called Arminianism (which to be fair, Greek Orthodox hold to Arminists views, but would deny it). The truth of the matter is that Jesus, John, and Paul have left us written records regarding salvation being not by ANY works, but ONE WORK! The work Jesus did on the cross alone... devoid of any doing that I could possibly bring to the table.
Jesus said it, John attests to it, and Paul affirms it! Jesus said these words when asked “what works must we do?”
John 6:28-29 >
Therefore they said to Him, "What must we do, that we may be doing the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you should believe in Him whom He has sent."
John 6:32-35
Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Believe what exactly?
Well believe what Andrew believed (John 1:41); Believe what Phillip believed (John 1:45); Believe what Nathanael believed (John 1:49); Believe what Martha believed (John 11:27), and then finally believe what Peter believed (even though it took him a while to get there).
Jesus says to Peter – “But, who do you say that I am?” Peter's response is recorded in Matt 16:16; Luke 9:20, and then John 6:68-69.
They all believed Him to be the - The Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, and all that entailed!
Now that may be just too easy for some, but that is the gospel from the lips of Jesus himself and then re-affirmed over and over, by two of the most prolific writers of the New Testament - John, and Paul!
In conclusion, it is not about climbing a mountain, it is about believing Jesus to be who said He is, Jesus doing what He said He would do, solely trusting in HIS WORK and not you own, and truly believing what Jesus said – “Life without end, where you will never see death because you have (as in already) passed from death unto life” all on the basis of BELIEVING!
Yours in Christ,
-Brent
Graceapologetics101.org / https://www.facebook.com/graceapologetics101
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