Had a recent conversation with a chap here who has an unfortunate common misunderstanding about what salvation in Christianity involves. Many unfortunately think if they do enough good things they’ll get to heaven.
Salvation involves the following things:
Gods grace
Your faith in God
That it. The answer to ? is nothing. You can’t add add anything more to Gods grace and your faith. As God said, our works are but filthy rags to Him.
James discusses this in depth, but the best example is the man on the cross next to Jesus who came to faith as he hung there dying. He asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus replied ‘Today you will be in paradise with me’.
This man obviously didn’t get to do much to work towards getting to heaven in his last few minutes hanging there. Yet he’s now in heaven.
You don’t have to give a dime, you don’t have to go fix your neighbors roof, you don’t have to get off your butt.
BUT. There’s always a but!
What is faith? How do you know you really have faith? Because the Holy Spirit motivates you to WANT to give a dime, fix your neighbors roof, get off your butt. A Christian is someone either going out to promote the word or supporting someone who is. God says only give joyfully. That means don’t give money or time unless it brings you joy.
Supporting can be financial or a desire to consistently pray for those going out. A penniless quadriplegic praying for others will be in heaven standing next to Billy Graham who spoke in front of huge audiences and brought millions to Christ.
Now if you consider yourself a Christian but have no desire to help others as I’ve outlined above, then you need to pray to God for growth in your faith. When it happens you and those around you will notice the new you.
Salvation involves the following things:
Gods grace
Your faith in God
That it. The answer to ? is nothing. You can’t add add anything more to Gods grace and your faith. As God said, our works are but filthy rags to Him.
James discusses this in depth, but the best example is the man on the cross next to Jesus who came to faith as he hung there dying. He asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus replied ‘Today you will be in paradise with me’.
This man obviously didn’t get to do much to work towards getting to heaven in his last few minutes hanging there. Yet he’s now in heaven.
You don’t have to give a dime, you don’t have to go fix your neighbors roof, you don’t have to get off your butt.
BUT. There’s always a but!
What is faith? How do you know you really have faith? Because the Holy Spirit motivates you to WANT to give a dime, fix your neighbors roof, get off your butt. A Christian is someone either going out to promote the word or supporting someone who is. God says only give joyfully. That means don’t give money or time unless it brings you joy.
Supporting can be financial or a desire to consistently pray for those going out. A penniless quadriplegic praying for others will be in heaven standing next to Billy Graham who spoke in front of huge audiences and brought millions to Christ.
Now if you consider yourself a Christian but have no desire to help others as I’ve outlined above, then you need to pray to God for growth in your faith. When it happens you and those around you will notice the new you.