Dear God, I Have Questions

As I have become more devoted to following Jesus I have noticed a conversation that has come up. Depending on the pastor, church, and denomination some believe that going to heaven requires faith in Jesus dying on the cross for our sins and works. Others believe Jesus died on the cross to save us because we sin every day and no matter how much we try we will still fall short of righteousness. So, Dear God, I have questions about this.

First, here are some main verses we declare Jesus is our savior.

Romans 10: 9,13

9 “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.“

13 “for, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

The Ryrie Study Bible, New International Version (1986)

The most wonderful thing about Jesus is that he takes us just as we are. We don’t have to be perfect to come to Jesus. Actually, most will truly find God when they are at their lowest. Jesus is patiently waiting for the day when we are ready to follow him. In the beginning journey of accepting Jesus Christ, we don’t have to know the whole bible. Everyone has an individual testimony and a special walk with Jesus. Some of us have been walking with the Lord for 20 years, while others have just started their journey. The other part to walking with Jesus is that everyone has different sins they struggle with. This piece is probably the hardest part for everyone to come to terms with, whether that is someone who gossips, lies, or in extreme cases has murdered. But we are forgiven and saved by grace through Jesus Christ because no one is righteous enough. These statements are similar to what you would hear from someone who believes we are saved by faith in Jesus and not by works. Here are some verses

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.“

When Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and testified before the Sanhedrin after Jesus had been resurrected and ascended to heaven: Act 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.“

Titus 3:4-7 “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

NIV Bible

Now, for the example of someone saying you need works to be saved by Jesus. Most of the people I have listened to in this category don’t use the word, “works”. They say phrases like, “Follow Jesus”, “obey”, or “When you become a Christian, you die to your old self and are reborn. You no longer want what the flesh wants. The Holy Spirit guides you away from sin”. The process of dying to self is hard and can be a long journey. Here is an example of this in the bible. A statement made by Jesus (verse below with the image).

It has been difficult at times to find the truth of the bible since there are so many opinions out there pulling believers in every other direction. So there has been lots of praying; and reading the word of God for myself to find out what exactly is “being saved by Jesus.” One moment I thought, “Yes we are saved by Jesus and no amount of works could make us righteous”. Then I would come across a bible verse that would change my mind. Like, in Revelation when Jesus addresses all the churches. He tells them what they have done wrong as Christians and what they have done right. That is when it hit me. The only way we are able to do any good works is by the Holy Spirit guiding us. As we grow in our faith and knowledge of the Holy Scriptures it becomes easier to know what is good and pleasing to the Lord and what disobedience is in God’s eyes. But we all still fall short because we will always sin. It is our fleshly nature.

Paul speaks on this when he wrote to the Galatians 5:17 “For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do what you want.”

Written by Paul to the Romans 3:22-24 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew or Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Ryrie Study Bible, New International Version (1986)

Jesus is the ultimate judge of our actions. He is the only one who is righteous and able to determine if our works are from the Holy Spirit or from our own strength. Jesus teaches us through the washing of the word that just because someone is rich and powerful does not make their works better than a homeless person on the street. Each Christian is at a different point in their walk with God. It is not our place to make the final judgment on someone’s works(actions). When we put on the full armor of God we can walk in peace to gently help a fellow brother or sister who has been led astray. It is our job as Christians to spread the true gospel. Sometimes that might mean reminding other Christians of what that gospel is. We are one in Christ. What we do to each other is what we do to Jesus.

Matthew 25: 34,35,40

34-35 (Jesus said this) Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.”

40 (Jesus said this) The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”

Ryrie Study Bible, New International Version (1986)

We obey Jesus and follow his teachings because he saved us by dying on the cross and showing us he lived a sinless life. Jesus knew we would falter. That is why he sent a helper, the Holy Spirit to guide us away from sin. But it is up to us to listen to the Holy Spirit. We will make mistakes but our strength and forgiveness are in Jesus.

As a child, I believed in Jesus. Then the world pushed through to silence him from me. I slowly stopped following Jesus. I didn’t ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. I lived for the flesh. There were moments when I actually heard the Holy Spirit trying to warn me about certain things but I ignored him.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 “Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.”

NIV Bible

I was living in the flesh. I didn’t want to be saved. I wanted to save myself and do it my way. God gives us lots of chances to come back to him. This is where the grace comes in, God forgives us for not obeying him. He patiently waits for us to be ready to say, “Okay God, I give it all to you”.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. “

NIV Bible

In the end, I am glad I asked God these questions. It was a growing experience. It got me searching for more verses in the bible. The most important lesson I learned is works are not for boasting, they are to spread the gospel. It is about helping humanity because we are all one in Christ. What we do to each other is what we do to Christ. He is the most righteous and the only one that can judge our works (actions).

God Bless you all.