LORDSHIP SALVATIONISTS - RECONCILE WITH THE CROSS!
Luke 23:39-43 One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ? Save Yourself and us!” But the other responded, and rebuking him, said, “Do you not even fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed are suffering justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom!” And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
My son and I often sit and pass the time talking about biblical passages and other theological issues. Often I have found myself telling him the story of the cross to answer many things.
I frequent a Facebook page called “Men of God.” Although there are a lot of posts that are way out into the weeds biblically, and I often ponder dropping out from the page, I am intrigued to stay for the sake of attempting to bring some correction. Don’t get me wrong. It is not that I have all the answers to deep theological questions, but I do know that I have a very good handle on the basics, the essentials, of the Christian faith.
This blog entry is the result of posting the story of the cross as an example of Grace alone, by Faith alone, in Christ alone - essentially that we are saved when we repent of our unbelief and believe on Jesus to be everything the Word tells us.
I posted a response to some Calvinistic meme regarding how you have to keep “working it” to maintain your salvation and actually be saved. An individual, which I would love to name due to his flaming arrogance but shall remain unnamed, responded to my post that > If works are where it’s at then Jesus lied to the thief on the cross. He responded with a resounding “NO” Jesus cannot lie. Then proceeded to tell me that there is no way the thief on the cross could have been with Jesus in heaven because Jesus did not go to heaven until after He went to hell and conquered heal, death, and the grave.
I didn’t respond for I did not have the time, nor the energy to debate or converse on the basics I was attempting to convey without a huge long discourse.
But now I am!
Now then… I, in no way, intended to be dismissive regarding the deeper theological points, or point, that this individual wished to convey.
But in a single response, he undermined his own reply. The subject at hand was whether or not Jesus lied to the thief on the cross if “works” are required. His response was an absolute “NO” - No Jesus cannot lie. Then proceeded to tell me that the words of Jesus > that “Today you shall be with me in paradise” could not be true for the reasons already stated above.
Did this man just listen to, or should I say read and comprehend, the words that he just used in response?
He said it is impossible for Jesus to lie, BUT…!
Look… without getting into all of the other deep theological subjects that can be conjured up regarding Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, let us stick to the subject that Jesus Himself declared >
John 5:24 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”
Again He said >
John 6:47 “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.”
And then again His words to Martha >
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
So then… When Jesus said the words - “Today, you shall be with me in paradise,” He said what He said, and He meant every word of it. I do not care about all of your other theological reasonings!
The greatest point to be extracted from the conversation between Jesus and the thief on the cross was all based on the thief coming into a place of BELIEVING Jesus is who He said He is, believing that He truly is a King, truly the Son of God, and truly the Messiah.
And that…
He was not baptized, he did not respond to an alter call, he did not take communion, he had no good works, he could not kneel, he could not clasp his hands in prayer, and he didn’t even have a confession of repentance and pray a sinners prayer. He simply BELIEVED!
Those that cling to Conditional Salvation (aka: Lordship Salvation, Calvinism, Arminianism, Grace PLUS, Faith PLUS, and any other Faith plus works false doctrine that man can conjure up) need to reconcile with the events that took place between Jesus and a thief!
Grace alone, by Faith alone, in Jesus’ completed work alone.
Comments