Deliverance from Sin and Punishment
How many times have people say they want
to be free from punishment? How many have expressed their desire to be
delivered from sin and win eternal life for themselves, hence; be saved?
Writing to Timothy, a co-worker in the
Church Of Christ in the first century, Apostle Paul advised the former, thus:
“Run your best in the race of faith, and win eternal life for yourself; for it
was to this life that God called when you firmly professed your faith before
many witnesses” (I Tim. 6:12,Today’s
English Version). And as to how valuable faith or belief is, Jude, another
apostle of the Lord, wrote, thus: “For even though you know all this, I want to
remind you of how the Lord once rescued the people of Israel from Egypt, but,
afterward destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude 1:5, Ibid.).
Contending with the Enemy
Throughout the history of
God’s people, the devil who is the enemy of the elect has been doing what he is
best at which caused Apostle Peter to remind the faithful, thus: “Be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom
he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world“ (I Pet. 5:8-9, New King James Version).
Certainly, Satan will use every ploy or
machination in his hands to deceive the gullible. To safeguard the believers,
Apostle Paul warned them, thus: “The Wicked One will come with the power of
Satan and perform all kinds of false miracles and wonders, and use every kind
of wicked deceit on those who will perish. They will perish because they did
not welcome and love the truth so as to be saved. And so God sends the power of
error to work in them so that they believe what is false. The result is that
all who have not believed the truth, but have taken pleasure in sin, will be
condemned” (II Thess.2:9-12, TEV).
Of course no one in his right mind will
admit to having been deceived by Satan. However, the Bible has a way of
exposing those who have unfortunately fallen to the wiles of the devil, thus:
“You are doomed! You call evil good and call good evil. You turn darkness into
light and light into darkness. You make what is bitter sweet, and what is sweet
you make bitter” (Isa. 5:20, Ibid.).
Therefore, we can glean from the Bible that those who are deceived by Satan
succumbed to distorting the truth to their own doom, as evidenced by their
calling good evil, and vice versa; and turning darkness to light and light to
darkness. Hence, they come to believe the opposite of what is right and good.
One ought to realize though that the commandment of God is what is right and
good (Rom. 7:12, Ibid.).
The truth concerning salvation
Take the issue of
salvation. Many believe one can be saved without the benefit of the Church Of
Christ. To them, membership in the Church Of Christ is no longer necessary. And
that belief in Christ as one’s personal savior is all that is needed to be saved
from punishment and win eternal life. They further allege that what is
important is one’s relationship with Christ, irrespective of church membership.
What do these people who espouse such beliefs fail to realize? They have
totally relegated to the background and ignored the significance of Apostle
Paul’s message, thus: “This is a great mystery. (I’m talking about Christ’s
relationship to the church” (Eph. 5:32,
God’s Word).
It is true that Christ is the Savior,
but what He is going to save is the Church, which is His body, thus: “For a
husband has authority over his wife just as Christ has authority over the
church; and Christ is himself the Savior of the church, his body” (Eph. 5:23, TEV). Sadly, a lot of people failed to
see this truth.
The Church Of Christ and redemption
But the true believer of
Christ ought to believe in what is written, thus ‘So Jesus spoke again: ‘In very
truth I tell you, I am the door of the sheepfold…I am the door; anyone who
comes into the fold through me will be safe…” (John 10:7, 9, Revised English Bible). And the fold or
flock that man must come into is the Church Of Christ according to Apostle
Paul, thus: “Take heed therefore to yourselves and to all the flock over which
the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers, to feed the church of Christ which
he has purchased with his blood” (Acts 20:28,
Lamsa Translation). This should silence once and for all the belief that
Church membership is no longer necessary. If it were not the true Church Of
Christ, yes. But, with the true Church, that which belongs to our Lord Jesus
Christ and to our Lord God, membership in it is a necessary condition to be saved and be free from
punishment.
Should anyone insist that faith alone
is sufficient, Apostle James replies in no uncertain terms, thus; “My brothers,
what good is it for someone to say that he has faith if his actions do not
prove it? Can that faith save him? ... You see, then, that it is by his actions
that a person is put right with God, and not by his faith alone” (James 2:14,
24, TEV).
Winning the Battle
It will do well for the
true members of the Church Of Christ to heed the admonition of Apostle Paul,
thus: “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil,
so that after the battle, you will still be standing firm” (Eph. 6:13. New Living Translation). So as not to
give way to the enemy, with much resolve Apostle Paul advised the Christians
further, thus: “So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight round your waist,
with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to
announce the Good News of peace. At all times carry faith as a shield; for with
it you will be able to put out the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And
accept salvation as a helmet, and the word of God as the sword which the Spirit
gives you” (Eph. 6:14-17, TEV).
Asking God’s help through prayers
The heavenward journey is
fraught with trials. We, members of the Church Of Christ, God’s people in these
last days, are very much aware of this. Nonetheless, in our great desire to be
free from punishment or to be saved on Judgement Day, we do our best to
safeguard our faith, buoyed by Apostle Paul’s reminder, thus: “Do all this in
prayer, asking for God’s help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For
this reason keep alert and never give up; pray always for all God’s people”
(Eph. 6:18, Ibid.).
We,
likewise, draw inspiration from the prayer of King David, thus: “I look to the
mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who
made the heaven and earth. He will not let you fall; your protector is always
awake. … The Lord will guard you; he is by your side to protect you. … ‘The
Lord will protect you from all danger; he will keep you safe. He will protect
you as you come and go now and forever (Ps. 121:1-3, 5, 7-8, Ibid.). “With the Father Almighty at our
side to guide us, we can truly be certain of deliverance from life’s woes and
throes, more so from sin and punishment.