SOTERIOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF
SALVATION (Part II)
This devotional series focuses on a matter
of supreme importance. “SOTERIOLOGY” comes
from the Greek root word, “sotero,” which is translated into English as “salvation.” Understanding salvation, receiving salvation
and sustaining salvation is mission critical to our eternal purpose and destiny.
Many people struggle with the idea
of personal accountability to God. Their underlying question is simply this: ‘Why
can’t I live in the way I choose?’
Framed in another way, why must the
creation be subject to the
Creator?
Even within the ranks of the institutional
church, this troubling question has become increasingly prevalent. In the contemporary church, it has become
commonplace that many who lay claim to discipleship now seek to embrace an ala carte connection to Christ. That is, instead of being open to instruction
from the Word of God, these persons choose to arbitrarily define the parameters
of their spiritual relationships, and the requirements thereof. In effect, they have seated themselves upon
the throne of their own lives and they have become their own gods. Although they are labelled as believers, they
are actually lost souls “whose minds the god of this age has blinded.” (II
Corinthians 4:4)
To gain more understanding of this
spiritual malady, prayerfully consider the following:
I
Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this
world?
I
Corinthians 3:19a (NKJV)
For the wisdom of this
world is foolishness with God.
Romans
12:2 (NKJV)
And do not be conformed to
this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove
what is that good and
acceptable and perfect will of God.
Understand this. The original sin WAs idolatry. It was not about eating the fruit of a
forbidden tree. Not really. Rather, it was about fulfilling the
satanically-spawned ambition to walk in autonomy and freedom from divine connection
and control. Willfully disobeying divine
directives, our fore-parents abandoned their covenant relationship, opting
instead to exercise authority over their own lives. The result was the entrance of sin and shame
into creation, a God-ordered and God-blessed creation that had been divinely designed
to sustain salvation forever, i.e. to maintain an environment of safety,
security and soundness. To wit, the original
design of Eden was the absence of sin, i.e. total environmental and spiritual
deliverance from the power, practice and penalty of sin. Our fore-parents did not choose wisely. What choices are we making?
Consider this. Recent times have
produced tragic and public departures from the faith. In some cases, even well respected church leaders
have totally abandoned the belief that we are ultimately accountable to
God. Their newfound perspective is that ‘a
loving God’ could not possibly condemn or punish those who rebel and refuse to
embrace Him. In their newfound theology,
God accepts all of us just as we are, with no real requirements that we adjust
our attitudes and actions.
Although their perspective is pure nonsense, in one small way I must agree
with them. Quite clearly, the scriptures
state that “God did not appoint us to
wrath.” (I Thessalonians 5:9) Therefore, it is not the will of God that any
should perish. (John 3:16-17) So if we
die in our sins, if we are judged unworthy of eternal life and fellowship with
Him, if we are ultimately consigned to everlasting punishment, it is not God’s will. It is not God’s choice, but ours. If we take the road to hell, we make the
decision to travel there over the
grace, goodness and mercy of God, over
the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ, over
His body and shed blood, over the
eternal Word of God, over the preaching
of the gospel, and over our own consciences,
which tell us (unless we destroy them by continual willfulness) that there is a Creator who rightfully makes
demands upon ALL those whom He has created. Stay tuned…more to come.
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