Tripping Over Salvation

When people come to saving faith in Jesus Christ, it is common for them to be concerned about the eternal future of those they know and love.  They have made a decision to receive eternal life through the Gospel, and it isn't uncommon for them to be earnest in sharing with others.  It is fitting to put a high priority on eternity, for this life we experience now on earth is a breath by comparison.  The alternative to spending eternity in the presence of God in heaven is eternal torment in hell, so the stakes are shockingly high.

What I have observed is when the loved one does not see their need for Jesus Christ or pushes back against the Gospel, conflict can arise.  The well-meaning believer can exert pressure on others by trying to change their minds with arguments.  Others can be very preoccupied with what I will call the "salvation status" of someone else, believing they are not born again or wondering if they are going to heaven.  In many of these cases the Christian does not demonstrate the peace, joy or rest God provides at all, frustrated or afraid for their loved one who does not love Christ.  Not content with assurance of our salvation by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, some also long for assurance concerning the salvation of others.  It is strange the one made upright by God's grace and walking with Jesus can be preoccupied over one particular person is saved or not.  Perhaps it is better not to have that assurance of salvation for someone else you are hoping to find, otherwise you might stop praying for them!

Praise the LORD God is a Saviour, and we can rest assured His will is not that any should perish.  I read a great passage this morning that shows God provides opportunity for repentance and deliverance even to people He knows will not listen.  Jeremiah 36:1-3 says, "Now it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: ² "Take a scroll of a book and write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel, against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah even to this day. ³ It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the adversities which I purpose to bring upon them, that everyone may turn from his evil way, that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin."  The tenor of God's words show He looks for the opportunity to forgive.  In addition to giving human beings a conscience, God provided warnings of the dire consequences of sin.  It wasn't that God couldn't or wouldn't forgive, but people refused to listen to Him.  That wasn't God's fault, seeing He also gave them eyes, ears and the ability to think and reason.

As Paul reasoned with the Greeks concerning the true God who Created all things is not an image made of gold, silver or stone, fashioned by man, he said in Acts 17:30-31:  "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."  The resurrection of Jesus is proof He has the power to forgive sins and give eternal life, and also that He will judge the world in righteousness.  No one is righteous in themselves except Jesus, and praise God His righteousness is imputed to all who trust in Him.  Since we are assured of so great a salvation, when we are concerned for others let us first seek our Saviour and commit our loved ones into His hand.  God shed His own blood to save them (Acts 20:28), and He is able to use us or anything He desires to bring them into eternal glory by grace.  Whether we sow, water, reap or wait on the LORD, let us exhibit the fruit of the Spirit by patience with fullness of joy.