CHRISTIAN SALVATION PART 2

NO FORGIVENESS IN SINS

In the last article we examined the necessity of having to keep ourselves in the love of God lest we negate a genuine salvation as well as the hope of eternal life.

This article will more focus upon the forgiveness of sins and how it is the love of God which covers the multitude of our sins, not as a cloak for ongoing sin, but rather a cover in the sense that manifest righteousness does away with all sin.

The reason "manifest righteousness" or the "love of God" covers sin is found in the combination of firstly God's mercy in being willing to freely forgive our past rebellion and faithlessness, and secondly, the union we have with God in the establishment of our hearts in Christ. We see this concept patterned in the words of David...

Psa 32:1  A Psalm of David, Maschil. Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whosesin is covered.
Psa 32:2  Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
...
Psa 32:11  Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that areupright in heart.

Take note that David makes a connection between those "whose transgression is covered, whose sin is covered" with "in whose spirit there is no guile" and  "are upright in heart." There is no forgiveness without a corresponding transformation of a wicked heart full of guile into an upright heart in which there is no guile. This is so important to understand and it is why God reckons or imputes "faith" as righteousness.

Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:6  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7  Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8  Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

We don't "work" in the sense of simply "moving" in order to be reckoned us just by God. Rather we keep ourselves in the love of God through which we manifest uprightness of heart. Thus it is God working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Our "movement" or "work" is simply a manifestation of God's work upon our heart.

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Faith works by love, love works no ill, thus faith upholds the righteousness of the law.

Gal 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Rom 3:31  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

Keeping ourselves in the love of God is inseparable from a faith that works by love, therefore the forgiveness of sin is clearly premised upon the principle of the manifestation of an upright heart. This is why the sentiment we find in Romans 3:31 is followed by the sentiment of God reckoning faith as righteousness in Romans 4:5. A faith which is inclusive of steps (Rom 4:12) and a trusting in God (Rom 4:20-21).

This is all so simple, it is the simplicity of Christ which is in accord with the doctrine according to godliness.

1Ti 6:3  If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

How could the Church System get it all so wrong? They have perverted grace from being the manifest power of God working upon an upright heart unto an outworking of genuine righteousness, into some kind of "positional salvation" with a cloak for ongoing defilement.

So dear reader, which will you follow? A cover requisite of a manifest righteousness, or some kind of theological cloak for ongoing manifest unrighteousness?

Carefully reflect upon the following words by James and Peter...

1Pe 4:8  And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Jas 5:20  Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Please consider.

Scott