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A FALSE PREMISE
Most ideas about salvation are based upon a false premise. That false
idea is this: that sinners can do this or that and by doing so please God and
obtain salvation. This popular idea is not taught in God's Word.
Consider this passage:
“Because the carnal mind is enmity against
God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then
they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh,
but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his,” (Romans 8:7-9).
Two kinds of people are presented to us in this text: some are
identified as “they that are in the flesh,” in contrast to the
“ye” who are
“not in the flesh, but in the Spirit.” Humans are
either “in the flesh” or
“in the Spirit” depending on whether
or not the Holy Spirit dwells in them.
Not only do we see two kinds of people in this passage, but we are
informed that each kind has differing abilities. Those
“in the flesh
cannot please God.” This is a clear statement which is contrasted with
those “in the Spirit” - those who have the Spirit dwelling in them.
Those only born naturally cannot please God. Those who have
experienced a second birth by the Holy Spirit can please God. In spite of
human reasoning there is absolutely nothing – no act, no prayer, no
repentance - no work whatsoever that a natural man can do to please God: not
even the so-called “sinner's prayer” whatever that is. Regarding this
inability Jesus said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which
hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day,” (John
6:44). Spiritually dead men can do nothing spiritual!
To the man
“in the flesh,” the Lord Jesus said,
“That which
is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is
spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again,” (John
3:6-7). It is only after a spiritually dead sinner is
“born again”
that he, because of the indwelling Spirit, can pray, experience godly
sorrow, repent and believe to the saving of his soul. Paul wrote of this in
Ephesians 2:5 saying: “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us
together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;).
It is this quickening or
being born again that God accomplishes independent of any act by the sinner.
The fact that God alone accomplishes the new birth is hated by the natural
man. It robs him of his pride. He has nothing to do with causing his new
birth. But if sinners are to be saved, they must first be born again by
God's Spirit whom no man can influence or control.
“Ye must be born
again!” |
