Sin vs. Salvation

I wrote recently that no one will go to hell because of sin so why do I believe that? In my first writing which I called Salvation vs. Sin I quoted John 3:16-18 as my proof text. I’m going to write out some more scripture and then talk about it. These are all from the NKJV.

 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly¹, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-20 “There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than the other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; unless you repent² you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.’” Luke 13:1-5

¹ assuredly = truly, truly; I tell you the truth

² repent = to turn around and go the opposite direction; to do the opposite

Jesus is telling us that all sin is the same before GOD and that if we do not repent of our lifestyle of sin we will not enter into His Kingdom. So how is this not the opposite of when I said, “No one will go to hell because of sin.” It is because Jesus was not talking to unbelievers but He was talking to Jews, they knew the Word of GOD, The Law and The Prophets, and He was speaking about those who were the religious and political leaders of Israel, those who were supposed to teach and lead the people in their relationship with GOD. They were waiting for their Messiah, and they offered animal sacrifices to cover their sins as prescribed by the Law of GOD. They understood that they needed the Messiah to come and deliver them, they just expected Him to be more of a political – warrior leader rather than a spiritual – moral leader. This is something that we seem to forget when we try to understand what Jesus is saying to us. Jesus did not speak to unbelievers, even when He dealt with gentiles they were people of faith. Paul was the one who taught believers how to minister to unbelievers and unbelievers how to become repentant believers.

In my first writing on this I said that the theology of salvation is deep and sometimes complicated, this is because we often misunderstand to whom and why Jesus said what He said. As believers we should know that all scripture is divinely inspired and is for teaching and training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16-17), and that it is not for our personal interpretation but for all men everywhere at all times (2 Peter 1:16-21). The message Jesus brought to the Jews of salvation from sin was that it was through Him only, that is the same message that Paul brought to the world of unbelievers, there is salvation in no other name than the name of Jesus (Matthew 10:32-33, 40; 11:28; John 12:27-36; 14:1-11; Acts 3:16, 4:12; Philippians 2:9; Hebrews 4:1).

So how do we repent and become more righteous than the Pharisees and scribes. First we hear the truth that Jesus is the only means of salvation from death and hell and believe by faith that it is a gift from GOD. When we know in our heart by faith that Jesus became sin for us and took our place in judgment before GOD, and took our place in punishment in hell all we can do is except it or reject it. This is the truth that when we understand it (know it in our heart) it will make us free. Free from the bondage of the legal requirement of the law to be holy as GOD is Holy, it will make us free from the religious requirement of certain actions and behaviors that cause us to appear as something we actually are not. It makes us free to worship GOD in Spirit and Truth led by His Holy Spirit and His written Word. Which is also the second point, it is only in receiving GOD’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ that He makes us “the righteousness of GOD in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3; 2 Corinthians 5:14-6:2; Titus 3:3-8) Therefore more righteous that the scribes and Pharisees.

I have to stop here, there is so much to say about this topic and the many sub-topics that this would stop being a blog and become a book. Read each scripture listed and read them again in their larger context. You should always read the Bible in this manner, isolation can lead to error.