Fighting for our Lives?

By Caz Jackson    9th November 2003    0 responses

Fighting for our lives? Or losing our salvation?

I wonder what you reaction was to the title of this article. Maybe, “is it really possible to lose salvation?” Maybe “What’s the point in making so much effort?” The good news is that these things are talked about here, but the bad news is that you may not like what I say. But keep reading!

The first passage I’d like to quote is from Romans 11. Verses 16 – 24 likens the Jewish race to the original “olive tree,” i.e the chosen ones of God, and foundation of the Christian faith (Jesus being a Jew, and Old Testament Judaism being a shadow image of the salvation to come through Jesus Christ), and likens the Gentiles (anyone who isn’t a Jew) to a “wild olive tree”:

“If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid. For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” Romans 11 v 17-21.

“Some of the branches have been broken off” – lots of Jews do not believe in Jesus as the Messiah, and therefore cannot accept His sacrifice as the only way to heaven. Some gentiles have become Christians, and now have the salvation which was founded from within the Jewish race. Which is fantastic for the “wild branches.” But there is a warning here, a very stern one. Paul tells us not to boast over the Jews, just because we have the salvation which they cannot bring themselves to accept. It is implied that we are to love them, just as we are to love all those who do not accept the Saviour. We are also warned that we should be extremely careful about our own faith. Why?

Because Jews have been broken off from the tree, for their unbelief (v19, 20). The only reason gentiles can be “grafted in” is their faith in Jesus Christ, which they stand by. But, if the “natural branches,” the chosen ones of God Himself, can be cut off because of unbelief, we are no different, and will not be spared, if we, likewise, do not believe.

I have heard discussions about whether or not it is possible to “lose” salvation, once it has been gained, mostly based on John 15 v 6. Up until this point I was undecided as to what I believed on this particular topic, but today I believe it is indeed possible. Paul clearly states here, in v 21, that God will not spare those who fall away because of unbelief, and echoes the words of Jesus Himself in John 15.

If we read further, we find that anyone who turns to believe in Jesus Christ and His offer of life, will be accepted by God and grafted, or re-grafted into His tree. Good news for both the Jews and Gentiles who do not yet know the truth:

“Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!” Romans 11 v 22,23

But why should we bother with the effort? Recently I was talking to a friend who was thinking of “giving up”” on Christianity. They couldn’t see the point of trying so hard to do everything they needed to do to please God, especially when it was obvious that they would never be perfect. They were looking at everything that is causing problems in their life and were thinking “Okay, so I’m a Christian. God should be looking after me, but I don’t see Him working. Why should I bother?”

To answer the question, we need to look again at exactly why we’re Christians. Are we Christians because there’s lots of nice people to socialise with on a Sunday at church? Are we Christians, because that’s the trend among our friends/family? Are we Christians, because we think, if we do things right, God might help us out with this, that or the other? If you’re a Christian for any of the above reasons, I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong end of the stick.

The other passage I looked at helps us out with this:

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6 v 12.

Just look at who’s fighting for control over us! These aren’t the cute kiddies who turn up at Halloween dressed in their “scary” costumes, and asking for sweets. We’re dealing with dark, powerful forces of evil who are trying to battle with God for our souls. Does that make you think?! It scared me. The reason why we are Christians should not be based in this life, as are all the reasons I stated above. After death there is no middle ground. Heaven or Hell. And we know where the “spiritual forces of evil”” want us, right?

We’re not striving for perfection for perfection’s sake. We’re not in a relationship with God just because it helps us in our everyday life. It does, of course, but the truth is that we are in a race as Paul wrote elsewhere. The battle and the race are the same thing – our spiritual walk with Christ. And the prize? The spoils of the war? Quite simply, life. We don’t just gain a ticket into Heaven, it’s also a ticket OUT of Hell!

We are by no means alone in the fight. After warning about the evil powers, Paul reveals the “armour of God”:

“Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Ephesians 6 v 13-17.

And, in conclusion to His writings of losing salvation, we find the verse which was recently the Crossring “Word of The Week”:

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12 v 1-2.

God will spare us through the blood of His son. But we have to fight, in His strength, as we are weak, so as not to let salvation slip though our fingers, as a result of apathy, complacency or arrogance. For now, you are saved, and some of your friends are not. Be careful. Never stop fighting for your life. Everything can change.

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By Caz Jackson

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