Salvation: Are we saved because of our commitment to Christ?
Off and on all my life I’ve heard people say that to be saved and someday be able to get into Heaven there must be a commitment to Christ. Is that true? Is this how people are saved from God’s condemnation? Must a person commit their life to Christ to be saved? If they do, where is the Scripture in the Bible that says that to us in this present dispensation of grace? It seems to me that this would be very important information everyone should know, wouldn’t it?
From the time of man’s fall into sin in the Garden of Eden he has been prone to think he could do something himself to remedy his disobedience and resultant sin problem. We see this in his sewing of the fig leaves to cover the nakedness he became conscious of after he had sinned.
Genesis 3:7
7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. [Emphasis added]
Being totally inadequate to solve his problem, the Lord slew an animal and clothed Adam and Eve with the skins of that animal.
Genesis 3:21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. [Emphasis added]
This “clothing” God provided was representative of what we now know as the righteousness of Christ. Man’s acceptance of that clothing is a picture of faith. Today a person acquires that righteousness by faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as the sole basis for his salvation. It is through this and this alone that man is delivered [or saved] from the condemnation of God.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel [EUANGELION = good news] which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: [Emphasis added]
It is because Christ took upon Himself our sins and the condemnation of God that a way for our salvation has been provided. Because our sin alienated us from God, making us His enemies, a way of reconciliation was desperately needed. God fully addressed that need through Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he [God the Father] hath made him [Jesus Christ] to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. [Emphasis added]
When someone accepts this message for salvation, the Bible calls it justification by faith. No works or deeds of any kind on our part are necessary to receive it.
Romans 3:24
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: [Emphasis added]
Because of its importance, the apostle Paul devotes a lot of time to this subject in the book of Romans.
Romans 3:28
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. [Emphasis added]
We’re not saved because we’re committed to keeping the deeds of the Mosaic Law or anything else. We’re saved because of a commitment Jesus Christ made to pay the penalty for our sins. To say someone needs to commit to Christ is a subtle demand for a form of works for salvation. But Scripture clearly tells us we’re saved apart from works of any kind.
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. [Emphasis added]
Sometimes people confuse God’s plan of salvation for Israel in a former time with ours. James, who wrote a letter to the twelve tribes of Israel, is often quoted as justification for this thinking. We, today, are in no way a part of the twelve tribes of Israel and James is not our apostle.
James 1:1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. [Emphasis added]
James clearly taught a message that demanded works for salvation.
James 2:20
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? [Emphasis added]
It is Paul who is spoken of as our apostle today. It is through him that our instructions for salvation and more are given.
Romans 11:13
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I [Paul] am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: [Emphasis added]
To say that works are required for salvation clearly contradicts what Paul taught us for today in this present dispensation of grace.
Conclusion—
I’ve been around people long enough to know that when they start talking about making a commitment to Christ for salvation, they’re talking about conduct, some form of works. They’re talking about a way of life consisting of dos and don’ts. But salvation today doesn’t come to anyone that way. Works of every kind are completely excluded!
Again, Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. [Emphasis added]
Romans 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. [Emphasis added]
Aren’t we glad it was Jesus Christ who committed Himself to the cross of Calvary to provide us with a way of salvation? If there’s any kind of commitment to be made on our past, it is a commitment to accept Christ’s work through His death, burial, and resurrection as completely sufficient to provide us with everlasting salvation.
