Question:
I heard your show for the first time on Monday the 15th of April. You gave 3 examples of what were not the meaning of a Savior and what was the meaining of a Savior. Your last example of a true Savior was wrong too. Does not the person who is trying to swim to shore have to do something to get into the boat like reach up with his own hand to grasp to and hold on to the person in the boat? See, he has to do something, right? In case of salvation, does not God give the person faith to believe?
Answer:
Thanks for your comments! Listeners like you keep me on my toes. Keep on listening! Faith is not a work. Romans 4:16 says, “Therefore it is of FAITH, that it might be by GRACE…” AND THEN ROMANS 11:6 SAYS, And if by GRACE, then is it NO MORE OF WORKS; otherwise GRACE IS NO MORE GRACE, But if it be of WORKS, THEN IT IS NO MORE GRACE: OTHERWISE WORK IS NO MORE WORK.” BY THE WAY! The word ‘FAITH’ AND ‘BELIEF’ are the same word in the Greek language. The Bible states that our “FAITH OR BELIEF” (IN JESUS CHRIST) IS COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS IN ROMANS 4:5. Your analysis is incorrect. You have the rescuer and the rescued confused. If a person “worked” toward their own rescue, they would be the rescuer. A person needs a rescuer only when they are in peril. When we decide to “work” and be our own rescuer we void out the necessity of a rescuer. Jesus rescued us by dying on the cross… what part do you think you might perform in helping Jesus Christ die for the world’s sins? There is nothing you can do! You can only watch as a loving sovereign God rescues you by dying on the cross in your place. You can not work or help in any part. Ephesians 2:8,9 speaks of the works scenario which you allude to, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” You cannot boast that you rescued yourself… you would look very foolish! Can you imagine a newspaper headline saying, “Man Rescues Self From Ocean”? WE SIMPLY RECEIVE THE “FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST” BY TRUSTING HIM AS SAVIOR.