[Biblemat] A>Do We Have Rules To Follow? (Kent Heaton)

[Kent Heaton]

Do We Have Rules To Follow?

(Kent Heaton)

 

The feeling of most in the Protestant churches embrace a doctrine of salvation that is based more on feeling than expressions of works. Salvation solely by faith is the foundation of most teaching in the denominations of our community. The emphasis is the Calvinistic theory of indwelling of the Holy Spirit dismisses any need to be saved by works. Billy Graham wrote, "We are saved solely by our faith in Christ, not by our works." [Gainesville Sun, October 27, 2007]. Are Christians required to follow rules to be saved? 

The Bible teaches that salvation is not by faith alone nor by works alone. James 2 clearly testifies that justification is by faith AND works. God demands that His children be obedient to Him which requires an action of works. Jesus taught in Matthew 7:21 that salvation cannot be accomplished without doing the will of the Father. If we were saved by faith alone there would be nothing else to do. The apostle Paul believed that salvation was more than faith alone: "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). He does not contradict what he told the brethren at Ephesus in Ephesians 2:4-10. The salvation of Ephesians 2 is the salvation that can only come from the Lord and his grace; the salvation of James 2 and Philippians 2 is what man is required to act upon that grace.

If Christians do not have rules to follow then we are without obligation to keep the law of God. Failing to keep the law of God would mean we do not love Jesus Christ. "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love" (John 15:10). Jesus said we must keep His commandments. From the Law of Moses we find the Lord telling the children of Israel to "diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and His testimonies and His statutes which He has commanded you. You shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord" (Deuteronomy 6:17-18). The child of God cannot do what is right and good without doing (works) the will of the Father.

God has always had commandments, testimonies, statutes, laws, rules and regulations for his people to keep. The life of a Christian is not one of the drudgery of law keeping but keeping the law because we love the Lord. "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and observe His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith" (1 John 5:2-4). Salvation is by our faith working with our works, and as a result of our works, faith is perfected (James 2:22). Jesus said, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it . If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him" (Luke 11:28; John 14:23). Without keeping the word of God, we will never find the blessing of a full life here or the promise of eternal life.



Kent Heaton
207 NE Fourth Avenue
Trenton, Florida 32693
352-463-6916/3793
www.trentonchurchofchrist.com
www.northfloridabiblecamp.com
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