A big difference

All people are not equal before God! We are indeed all the same, namely sinners (Romans 3:23) but God treats us differently. There can only be one reason: righteousness! But no human judgement or justice would be capable thereof, only righteousness before God. There is only one God, one Gospel and one righteousness – whoever receives this truth, through personal faith, has been justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus which makes us Christians, redeemed, children of God (Romans 3:21-22). God's Spirit searches and finds no place amidst unrighteousness. It is impossible! For that reason the Kingdom of God cannot be found in this world (John 18:36). Faith does not come from us (John 14:6) and yet we should actively believe. So to speak, maturing from a gifted faith to a saving faith. There is also a faith which does not save, but leads to trembling (James 2:19). It is not the knowledge of God and one's faith which saves, but rather one's faith in the Gospel. The Gospel is a powerful force – not ours, but God's power – and thus, faith is accessible to anyone who wants to access it (Romans 1:16-17). If God was a God of equalizing and not of righteousness (that would be mutually exclusive in an unjust world) He would also save those who didn't want to be saved at all.

Such a person could however never live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4), and evenly never come from believing to seeing, because he does not believe so what would he see (1 John 3:2)? The Bible states very clearly that it will be to you according to your faith (Matthew 9:29). What hope would purify such a person? Whoever believes, remains! Whoever does not believe, cannot be made and remain sinless like a believer – that would be unjust. Jesus Christ did not die and rose again for the self-righteous, but for those people who are aware that they are sick and not well (Luke 5:31). Consequently, God must also deny eternal salvation to someone who is indeed able to believe (2 Peter 3:9) but does not seize faith (he regards it as “foolishness” 1 Corinthians 1:18). Otherwise God would be unjust and unbelievable. That HE is not. We read in Psalm 145:17 “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” Jesus Christ is, in particular, the righteousness, who effects and accomplishes redemption and salvation, by God's unlimited power. To prevent someone from believing (also oneself) means to be an enemy of righteousness (Acts 13:8-10) and to live a lie. It is (in the true sense of the word) not indifference! Therefore God also exhorts us through Paul “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20. This exhortation is definitely just and comes from a loving caring heart. Is this the case with you?

Jörg Bauer