Dear Brethren:
What does it take for us to become pearl of the Kingdom of God? It may appear fairly obvious, but it seems there's a deal of misunderstanding among the brethren.
Many of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ will, of course, believe you just 'believe' without understanding the meaning of the word. But my post-bag highlights the fact that many Christians who ought to know better also misunderstand 'what is necessary for salvation'.
Let's explore it.
The starting point has to be Jesus Christ. "There is no other name given among men whereby we must be saved". It is through Jesus alone that mankind can enter the Kingdom of God. Forget Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism - and 'Churchianity'. All represent man's effort to find a way, round God's method of salvation. Through Christ, then - and only by God's grace. His favor. His mercy. Nothing we can do will ever earn salvation - not in a million years. Why, then, put ourselves through the hoop by losing our job, putting the family's back up - because we observe the Sabbath and the Biblical holy days? Many brethren have decided just that: Sabbath, holy days, unclean meats - doctrine even - simply don't matter. 'In Christ I am free' is the cry. So if such observances don't matter where is the dividing line? It's OK to keep Sunday (some now do), and Christmas (some do), eat pork (and some do). If that doesn't mean anything why not keep Friday and Ramadan? Or Tuesday. The majority of Moslems and Hindus and Buddhists are good enough people. They look after their own, worship diligently and no-one can doubt their sincerity. The ecumenical movement would have us embrace all religions as 'just another way to God'. But that, of course, isn't Christianity; not Biblical Christianity.
On the other hand, some Christians see 'keeping in the faith' as something of a tight-rope walk. Wobble just a little and - well, unless you repent it's hell for you. Is that the teaching of Jesus or the Bible generally?
One Christian believes we ought not to observe birthdays while for others that's OK. Both claim Biblical support. The same with make-up (for women, that is!). Or the weightier matter of military service - some say fine and some see serving in the armed forces as a salvation issue. And both camps supposedly base their relative position on the Scriptures. Another contention is a 'place of safety'- protection from the Tribulation. Evolution vs. Creation is further contentious point, with Christians defending both - and supposedly from the Bible. Then there are disputes over the Biblical holy days. When should we observe the Lord's Supper? Or Pentecost? There are, too, at least half a dozen differing dates offered this year for all of the holy days, depending on which 'inspired' calendar you espouse.
In all these matters there are Christians - and organizations - out there who robustly defend their peculiar view as essential for all Christians. The tightrope again. If they are correct, then we had better believe it! However, we need to ask, is our eternal life so precarious, so dependent on doctrinal perfection? What does God require of us?
The Bible has many examples of men and women whose behavior should shock. (Not, of course, a license for any of us to do as we please.) Yet they 'lived by faith' and they are 'after God's own heart'. These godly people shared a couple of characteristics: they worshipped the true God, and they were willing to repent of wrong personal behavior. In other words, they 'loved God' and they 'loved neighbor as themselves'.
Consider the first generation of Christians - largely Jews. As Jews they were as widely divided as today's church, yet sharing common foundation teachings. The apostles didn't have to teach them, for example, who God is, or which day is Sabbath, or on which days God prescribes that they assemble annually to worship Him, or about the mortality of the 'soul'. In their diversity they were all 'the Israel of God'.
But to be part of the new Israel, the church of God, required an added dimension: Jesus Christ.
Convinced by the prophetic Scriptures, by their personal guilt at having caused the death of Jesus, and by their urgent need for forgiveness of sin (see Acts 2:14-39) they enquired about what they should do. The apostle Peter's reply was that they must have the indwelling divine nature, the Holy Spirit - through repentance and baptism.
And that remains the key to salvation. A mere behavioral change isn't enough - many outside Christ have radically altered their lifestyle, had a 'makeover'. All Peter's hearers had the externals of true religion. But that wasn't enough - there has to be a change of heart. Christ, by faith, has to be living his life in us. And like babies, we have to grow up and through experience to become mature.
If Christ is active in us we have salvation assured. No matter what our doctrinal deficiencies, no matter how young - or old - in the faith. For he, internally, urges us to a greater understanding of the divine will. Truth grows in each of us at varying rates!
Over the centuries, however, men - and women - have sought to carve a name for themselves by overlaying these basic truths with a tangle of doctrinal debris. It results in such anti-Christian pursuits as the Inquisition, the medieval religious wars, persecutions. No less the tendency to condemn all who disagree with 'my' private sectarian viewpoint. When the Spirit of Christ is working in us there will be one major visible characteristic: "By this they will all know that you are my disciples - by your love for one another" (John 13:35). That love grows out of a heart filled with the divine Spirit, the mind of Christ. Working in us it produces all those attitudes and behaviors that are revealed by God in His perfect Law. It's a spirit of tolerance, concern, patience, mercy, humility and obedience to the divine will. Destructive heresy - self-willed opinion leading to sectarian division - stems from opposing qualities.
What, then, does it take to be 'in the Kingdom'?
The unfolding expression of the perfect mind of Jesus Christ dwelling in us through a repentant attitude (and baptism) from which flows willing and active submission to the divine Law according to individual conscience. Maturing spiritual fruit, in other words. And it is Jesus Christ - and he alone - who ultimately will judge us.
To comment on this article or request more information, please contact James McBride by e-mail at the comment form below.
For PDF or mailed copy, see CGOM. Excerpt from New Horizons Issue 33, May/June 2002. Edited by James McBride of the Churches of God, United Kingdom.
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