Good Works

Lately, I've been spending my time with Titus... Paul's epistle to him, anyway. (Did you know that Paul called him "my true son in our common faith" like he did Timothy? Titus 1:4.) Anyway, as someone who believes--not in a "works salvation," but in a lived-out faith--Titus 3:8 spoke to me.

Having been accused at one time of belonging to a cult (the Church of the Nazarene), and often being accused of believing in a works salvation, Paul's words to Titus confirmed a deep-seated belief within me. Something that is so foundational to who I am, in fact, that I didn't even realize where it came from. Namely, that "those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works." (Titus 3:8)

If the Word says it, why would I believe differently?

Does this mean Paul advocates salvation by works? Of course not! Read Ephesians 2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

It means that God expects His children to live as such. Why would we argue with that?

The Weight of the Cross

As a writer, I'm always looking for article ideas, so I've set up several alerts on Google to notify me of new entries relating to my areas of interest. One such notification came through today from a news story in the Lehigh Acres Citizen, a local newspaper in Lehigh Acres, Florida.

According to this report, the ministerial association in Lehigh is planning a "Cross Walk" to commemorate Easter and kick off their combined Easter service in the park. Several of the local clergy will be carrying a huge wooden cross through the town, traveling a total of about five miles. Because of the size and weight of the cross, the clergy are considering how to transport the cross, some even suggesting that wheels or rollers be added because they may be unable to bear the cross without them.

Aren't we glad that Christ was able to bear His cross for us? The cross that would ultimately bring the salvation of the world was carried solely on Jesus' back. And while His walk down the via dolorosa (the way of suffering) was only about 1/2 mile, for the most part He carried that cross alone. Yes, Simon of Cyrene was forced to help for a bit, but the weight of the cross which would save humanity was on Christ.

Praise God for His salvation as we move toward Resurrection Sunday. Oh, what a Savior!

Are You Ready?

Yesterday, I learned of the death of a friend from my former pastorate in Veedersburg, Indiana. John Rahm was a sweetheart who would literally give you the shirt off his back. He loved to laugh and tease his pastor, but he also refused to let me get even a cup of coffee for myself if he knew I wanted one. He was a treasure to be around and will be missed by many.

Coming face-to-face with death always makes me examine my heart. Am I ready to die? Am I convinced that when I do die, I'm going to Heaven to be with Jesus?

My answer is an unequivocal YES! I am ready to die. Not that I'm trying to rush it. It's like the guy who said, I'm ready, but I'm not trying to get a load up to go today. ;o) But being ready is knowing without a doubt that I'll be with Jesus when I die. And I have that assurance.

2 Corinthians 5:8 says in speaking of Christian believers that to "be absent from the body [is] to be present with the Lord." I believe that to be absolute truth. I'm just waiting on the Lord's timing to take me Home. There's still work to be done here. Still souls to be saved. Still loved ones and friends to encourage.

But when my time does come, I have no doubt at all that I'll be ready. Can you say the same?

The Crux of the Gospel

Believers know, of course, that the cross, the virgin birth, the sinlessness of Jesus - among other things - are the foundation of the gospel and are part of our belief and salvation. As I was reading the Word this morning in John 14:23-24, however, it struck me that this passage is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in living faith rather than simply claiming it. It reads:

If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words...

So many people argue with Nazarenes because we believe that you have to live your faith; because we believe that if you're a Christian, it will show in your life. (NO, we are not saved by works. But faith without works is dead. That's Bible.)

We don't believe that saying some little "sinner's prayer" gives you reason to believer that you can go back to your former lifestyle, whatever that was - drinking, carousing, lying, or any other form of "scratching and clawing" - and then when you die, spend eternity in Heaven with Jesus. The Word does not bear that out. And this passage is one that assures me of the truth in this conviction.

There are no hidden meanings here. No obscure texts or passages we can't understand. Jesus is very plain-spoken in this passage. If you love me, you'll do what I tell you. Wow, what a novel idea! A Christian will actually follow Jesus. (Yes, I'm being sarcastic... but only in a loving way!)

But the importance of this is that only Christians (born-again, renewed, changed, converted believers in Christ) are going to make it to Heaven.

If you are concerned enough about your eternal soul that you would say a sinner's prayer and believe that Jesus is indeed the only way of salvation, then please don't gamble with eternity by not following Him as He commands in this crucial passage of scripture.