Righteousness Through Faith - 1

"Righteousness Through Faith - 1"
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Recently, I encountered the following question in several different forms and sources. So, I decided to address it here hoping it will benefit you.

Question 1: After becoming a Christian, does my salvation depend on my works?
Answer: No, our salvation was never dependent on the works of any law, because the law cannot condemn a Christian as sinner. Romans 8:1 says, "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death". Although the law is still there and we strive to keep it out of fear or love, it cannot condemn us. Neither it can prevent your salvation. In this we see a great picture of God's abundant grace.

When we were sinners, if we became Christians by grace through faith without any merit (work), then it is absurd to say that my salvation now depends on the merit of righteous deeds after becoming Christians. The Bible clearly says, "For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son." (Romans 5:10)
If God did not condemn us when we were sinners, would God condemn us when we are His children? NO. God is just and fair in this, God is not compromising justice for mercy. Because God knows this: although we did not explicitly disobey God in the garden in Eden, we all stand guilty and as sinners only because of Adam's sin. Adam was the perfect representative of us, since we would have done the same if we were in Adam's stead. Therefore God is just and fair in making everyone who believes righteous although we did not explicitly do righteous deeds. "Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous." God's justice is met by Jesus Christ on the cross where the penalty of all sins were paid and His mercy is shown to us through the free gift of salvation.

That being said, the immediate question that follows is

Question 2:"Then, can I continue in sin? Because either way I am going heaven, why suffer the hardship of keeping the law and doing good deeds everyday?"
Answer: My answer to this is plain and simple, "A true Christian will never say I have a license to sin now and therefore I will freely sin. I say this with all confidence because it is no longer him (the old self with sinful nature) that live but Christ Himself lives in him as he was born-again and became a new creation on the day he believed in the Gospel that was correctly presented to him. He was reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. Therefore he knows the value of salvation he freely received and of the new nature of Christ, and he will desire to obey the commandments. Sometimes, he will fail in doing so and ending up in sin, but that will not decide his eternity since God has already declared him righteous and citizen of heaven through the righteousness of Christ. The temptation of the flesh will be there until the day he dies and he may give in to temptation or overcome it, but neither of that will change the inner transformation, nature and the position now has in Christ. So, don't fear for the commandments of men or teachings of men, that threatens you based on the condemnation of law. The obedience to the law cannot be accomplished through fear but only through freedom and love"

If God is for us, who can ever be against us. And I am fully convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) AMEN!

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