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By Neal Griffin
Can man be saved by the performance of rituals? Is salvation the accomplishment of man or is it the sole accomplishment of God? That is the question.
The rich young ruler of Matthew Chapter nineteen came seeking just such a ritual whereby he could "gain" eternal life by his own effort. He was accustomed to paying his own way, but Jesus explained in verse 26 that salvation is not accomplished in such a manner. He said that such accomplishment on the part of man is "impossible".
If any ritual on the part of man can accomplish salvation then salvation is the accomplishment of man, but salvation is of God. It is a free gift from God. To argue otherwise is to deny this very important Bible principle. I don't know whether this is merely an interesting paradox or if it is a contradiction of sorts, but my brethren who would impose "essentials" on us will concede that Jesus saves. How can this be? Jesus saves---but water baptism saves? Can we have it both ways? Jesus says, "impossible". Jesus' death on the cross was adequate to accomplish salvation but some deny this. Perhaps this illustration will make their position clearer: To them a person who has heard, believed, repented, and confessed is yet lost because he has not been water baptized. He is lost without it, but saved with it. Dear reader, it should be clear that this ascribes saving power to water baptism. If we are lost without it but saved with it then we are saved BY it. This argues that salvation is accomplished by man in his performance of it. Jesus says, "impossible". Whom shall we believe?
But, what about faith? These same brethren argue that faith is an accomplishment of man. Is faith an accomplishment of man? Most definitely not, and for at least two reasons. Faith cannot be construed to mean the performance of a ritual, and secondly faith is a gift from God. God gave us a measure of faith and granted us repentance. Man cannot lay claim to salvation because he is smart enough to believe and change his mind. Man can lay claim to salvation only by reason of what Christ has done. Man owns nothing of comparable value by which he can bargain with God for salvation. He owns nothing of which God covets, and it is insulting for anyone to try to pay our gracious Host for His free gift. God gives us faith and then declares us righteous because we have it. A better description of "free" there is none.
Abraham believed God and it was imputed to him for righteousness. Abraham was not a righteous man except for the fact that God declared him so and the same is true for us today. Romans 4:21-24. But what about Abraham's obedience? Abraham's obedience merely demonstrated his faith. He was counted righteous by reason of his faith and not by reason of his demonstration of it. Obedience is a demonstration of saving faith but not the essence of it. Abraham was counted righteous before he sacrificed his son. Our righteousness is also a declared righteousness. It is not based on our goodness. We are saved by reason of the goodness of God. Our attitudes concerning our own righteous works as they relate to salvation should be that they are no better than filthy rags or dung hills. We are declared righteous because of what Jesus did. It was His righteous works that earned salvation for us.
Yes, salvation is the accomplishment of God. It is His free gift and it should be a small matter for man to put aside his arrogant pride and gratefully accept it. To God belongs the glory for our salvation. To trust in anything else is to fall from grace.
In what do you trust for salvation? Is it in your righteous performance of rituals?; Your obedient law-keeping?; Your church membership? The Bible recommends Jesus. It was He Who owned something of enough value to bargain with God. It was He Who paid our entire ransom price. It was He Who purchased us with His own blood. To Him belongs the glory.
Please consider these thoughts. I believe them to be in keeping with the Word. Your servant by reason of Calvary,
Neal Griffin
10514 Bar X Trail
Helotes, Texas 78023
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