Going Through The Motions Will Not Save

People often question why Christians spend time studying the history of Israel, since they are not Jews, and are no longer under the Old Testament Law.  I Corinthians 100:11 tells us, “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.”  We can look back at what happened to Israel as a result of their actions and learn how to live a life that God will bless, as well as the consequences of disobedience. 

One of the biggest events in Israel’s history was the escape from slavery in Egypt.  After four hundred years of increasing abuse, the Israelites had been desperate to escape. When Moses promised fulfillment of the promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob they, and a mixed multitude of other slaves were eager to leave Egypt.  Unfortunately, for many of them their interest only went as far as escaping the abuse, and did not extend to developing a nation of their own.  When faced with problems after their escape the repeatedly tried to go back to Egypt. 

Sadly, today, much like the Israelites many people see becoming a Christian as a way of escaping an immediate problem, such as alcohol or an unhappy home or escaping eternal judgement, with no interest in having an entire new life.  Many times our presentation of the gospel plays into that, encouraging them to make a profession of faith without real commitment, to just “try Jesus.”  Jesus described such people in Matthew 13:20-21.  “But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.”  Because they are only concerned about an immediate problem and have no deep commitment to Christ, when problems arise they turn away. 

Paul addresses this problem in I Corinthians 10:1-4.  “Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.”  

They had all had the same teaching and the same experiences in the wilderness, with all of them following the pillar of cloud and all going through the Red Sea.  All of them had eaten the manna and drank the water from the rock at Rephidim.  They all made the same profession in Exodus 19:8.  “And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD.”  In spite of having all done and experienced the same things,  I Corinthians 10:5 tells us, “But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.” 

The problem was not that they had not done the right things, because they had all done the same things.  They all had the same opportunity, but some of them were more interested in their personal desires and comfort than in following the lord, as I Corinthians 10:6-10 makes clear.  “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.  Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.  Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.  Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.  Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.”  It is a serious warning to us that people can do all the right things and still not be saved because their heart attitude is wrong. 

When a person truly receives Christ the Holy Spirit comes into his life and begins to change his attitudes.  Galatians 5:22-23 tells us,  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law.”  II Peter 1 talks about exercising and developing those spiritual attitudes, concluding with II Peter 1:10-11.  “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”  Those spiritual attitudes the Holy Spirit produces are the evidence of our salvation.  As Jesus said in Matthew 7:20, “…by their fruits ye shall know them.”