Salvation Is Wholly Dependent on Faith In Christ.

Because it is so easy for people to go through the motions of accepting Christ without real faith or commitment, like the Israelites who left Egypt but did not truly believe in God, The author of Hebrews has made a point of taking the trouble to make sure one is saved.    He continues with that thought in Hebrews 4:11-13.  “Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

When the scriptures produce a sense of guilt about what we are doing, we need to check out why because the scriptures can make us aware of things we had never considered as wrong, distinguishing between our emotional and our spiritual state, and revealing false mindsets and sinful attitudes.  It is important to realize God knows our very thought and feelings and thus cannot be fooled.  None of us deserve to go to heaven, as Romans 3:10-18 tells us.  “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.  Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

We were born into a sinful world and involved in sin before we had any chance to avoid it.  Fortunately, God is a loving God, and made provision for us to forgiven in spite of having sinned. As Romans 3:21-26 tells us.  “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” 

Our salvation is completely dependent on God’s mercy, accepting Christ’s sacrifice for us.  Because of who offered that sacrifice, we do not have to worry that it will not be accepted if we allow him to save us.  Hebrews 4:14-5:3 tells us, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  Having then a great high priest, who hath passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin.  Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help [us] in time of need.   For every high priest, being taken from among men, is appointed for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: who can bear gently with the ignorant and erring, for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity; and by reason thereof is bound, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.”

Because he is the son of God and has never sinned, Christ can offer a sacrifice that will pay for all our sins, but because he is also human and has experienced every temptation humans experience, he understands how easily we fall into sin.  As a result, we can come to him without fear, knowing he will forgive if we are willing to take responsibility for the sin.  Any other priest would have been limited to just posting bond so we didn’t have to pay the penalty right now, because they would have had their own sin to pay for. 

Obtaining salvation is easy, but it does require us to depend completely upon Christ, as John 3:16-18 tells us.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”   The heart attitude is far more important than the words used.