“Free” and “Easy” Salvation?
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) | Categories: Salvation, 2 Samuel, Luke, 1 Peter
All of my life, I’ve heard people talk about salvation as being something that was free for the taking, and easy to attain. One of their favorite words seemed to be “just”- as in, “If you will just do this”, or “just believe this,” or “just feel this way in your heart.” These concepts bother me somewhat in light of what the New Testament as a whole teaches. But...
I think I understand why biblical salvation is “free” in that we can neither buy nor earn it (Romans 5:15ff), and the how the Lord’s way is “easy” in comparison to the devil’s, or man’s, way (Matthew 11:28-30). And I think I also understand that salvation requires that we believeand docertain things which are relatively simple in obedience to the gospel (Mark 16:15-16), and that when we believe and do them, we will feeldifferently about God, ourselves, life, and eternity (1John 3:18-20).
But here’s what I don’t understand: If salvation is supposedly so free and easy that the word “just” is accordingly prevalent in the way folks describe its requirements, then please explain what Luke 14:25-35 and 1Peter 4:17-18 are all about.
Luke begins by telling us about the multitudes of people that were following Jesus, v.25. The Savior then turns to them and almost seems to discourage them from becoming His disciples by telling them how much it will cost! Note the itemized list of the “cost” of discipleship: 1) a subjected love of your family (“hate” is from the Greek word miseo, which means “to love less”- not to harbor animosity or ill will), v.26; 2) dailycarrying your own cross (an implement of your own death), v.27; 3) a commitment strong enough to last a lifetime, vv.28-32; and 4) valuing your faith more than all of your earthly possessions, v.33. Yes, salvation is absolutely “free” in the sense that we can neither earn it nor buy it, but such certainly doesn’t negate the fact that it has a definite “cost” factor.
And then there is 1Peter 4:17-18, which reads, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?”
Again, there are few things that seemingly must be taken into account from the context of this passage. Almost from beginning to end, Peter’s epistle seems to have a couple of main points: 1) those who intend to follow Christ must live lives of holiness and right conduct, 2:11-12; 2) so living may well bring persecution and suffering, 2:19; and 3) God expects Christians to keep doing the “right/good” things even when “bad/wrong” things happen because of obedience, 2:20-23. What is “easy” about that? It seems difficult enough to do the right thing when doing so has no personal and detrimental consequences. So, how is it “easy” to be obedient to God when others ridicule and persecute you for it?
Now before you begin to think I’ve switched sides and started playing for the other team, let me explain a few things. The “difficulty” to which Peter refers in 4:18 is not a reference to becoming a Christian. He is speaking of the difficulty of remaining a faithful Christian until the end despite persecution and suffering. Note the context of the previous, and following verses, (vv.16,19), “but if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God…Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” He is not saying that it is “difficult” to become a Christian (and thus to be initially “saved”)- he is saying it is “difficult” to maintain the necessary faithful obedience through the fires of persecution all the way through to eternal salvation (which was also Jesus’ point back in Luke 14:25-35 by the way). And perhaps just as importantly, he is saying that those who never even begin the journey to salvation by obeying the gospel certainly have no hope.
So, is it easy to become a Christian? Yes, if you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and are willing to obey Him in baptism (Mark16:16). Is it easy to live the Christian life that our initial obedience requires to complete our salvation? No, but it sure beats the alternative- both here and hereafter!