THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
By A. E.
WILSON.
Since
the days of Calvin and Arminius, there
has been a constant debate in regard to the standing of Christians who sin. Calvin
rightly contended that [eternal] salvation is by grace, and nothing can destroy the
believer's relationship with the Lord. Arminius and his
followers, noting many Scriptures which speak of a sinning Christian being
called into a personal accounting because of his [wilful] sins, err in attributing to the sinning Christian a
loss of his [eternal]
salvation. Calvin and his followers have
gone to one extreme in teaching that a Christian is not accountable for his
sins because they are all under the blood, and that it makes no difference how
one lives. The Arminians have gone to the other extreme and damned to hell* any Christian who sins. These two current systems of theology have
caused many thoughtful Christians to ask the question: ‘Is there any
difference between a God-fearing, Christ-honouring, Spirit-led Christian, and
one who is carnally-minded, worldly ambitious and self-pleasing?’
[* That
is, “The lake of fire” – the eternal
state of the lost after resurrection.]
Some
have gone so far away from the Scripture as to contend that if an individual
sins after his confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, this is evidence
that he has not been saved. Such
contention is not true because I Cor. 3:12-15, Eph. 2:8-9, and other similar
passages, teach conclusively that works do not enter into [eternal] salvation
and that it is possible for an individual to be [eternally] saved and not have a single good work to his
credit.*
[*
That is, a death-bed salvation.]
The
Word of God teaches that there is a difference between Christians. The designation in the Word of God reveals a
three-fold classification of mankind: The unsaved, called the natural man, and
the saved, which are divided into two groups - the spiritual and the carnal. There is no gainsaying this fact. The carnal man is a Christian dominated by his
carnal life, but that he is a Christian is unequivocally set forth in 1 Cor. 3:1-4. We can dig back into the Old Testament for a
classic example: Abraham,
representative of the spiritual Christian, and
One
of the most poignant truths in the Word of God is that Christians must render
an account unto the Lord for the deeds done in the flesh. This is such a repulsive doctrine to many
Christians that often the one proclaiming this truth loses friends. But God's truth must be proclaimed whether man
receives it or not. 2 Cor. 5:10, shows the
place of judgment of the Christian's works and reveals the terror of the Lord
against those who have been found wanting in the way of a consecrated life. By direct statement, parable, type and symbol,
the Holy Spirit has set forth in the Word from Genesis to Revelation the truth
that faithful Christians will be rewarded and unfaithful Christians shall
suffer loss. For instance, consider
briefly Luke 19:11-27. Here our Lord shows that in the days of His
absence His business has been committed into the hands of His servants. When He returns, the servants shall be called
before Him to render an account of their faithfulness. One is given authority over ten cities during
the millennial reign another is given authority over five cities, while the
unfaithful one has no authority whatsoever during the Kingdom; however, the
fact remains that he is a servant of the Lord and his [eternal] salvation is secure, though there is no place of
reigning which would give him honour and glory.
Those who refuse to accept the Lord are brought before Him and slain in
His presence.
David's
experience in the wilderness reveals that many of the men associated with him,
because of their faithfulness to him in his exile, were given places of honour
when he established his kingdom. Many
others, because of their unfaithfulness, though still in his kingdom, had no
place of rulership.
Our
reigning with the Lord is contingent upon our suffering with Him. Read 2 Tim. 2:12
and Matt 20: 20-23. You will note in the latter portion of these
verses that the position in the Kingdom is up to the Father and it is on the
basis of works.
In
conclusion, forget not this truth: [Eternal] Salvation is by grace, and rewards are on the basis
of works. The thousand-year reign of
Christ is a period of time in which rewards to the faithful will be manifest as
well as loss and suffering to the unfaithful.
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