Question: Hey Andy, what’s your view of the sovereignty of God, especially over salvation, and how strong or mild are your convictions on this issue?
Hi, well, in terms of the sovereignty of God, ESPECIALLY over salvation, I’ve always said that “Christianity is not a religion – it’s a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.” However, I didn’t always understand this, nor see it this way.
Why We Need Jesus
Before I had fully given myself over to God, I saw Jesus as more of a key than the door. It’s like, we needed Jesus to open the door to salvation, but then once we used Him to open that door, we didn’t need Him anymore. I also didn’t really understand that Jesus was really all that I needed to get to Heaven. I suppose I sort of had the worldview on this about being a good fellow and all. Also, growing up in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, I had the idea that the Native Americans were totally spiritual and that we needed to be like them, trying to find other ways to get to God, I suppose. But it wasn’t until I came across John 14:6 where Jesus said that He’s the Way and the Truth and the Life, and that nobody comes to the Father but through Him. But it’s not just coming to Jesus, walking through the door, and having nothing to do with Him, but it’s by having a personal relationship with God through Jesus that one is saved. We come to Him through faith; we trust Him; we learn from Him; we communicate WITH Him through constant and daily prayer; there is no way to salvation through any other means – only through faith in Christ.
How is Christianity Not a Religion?
It’s interesting, too, for there are so many people (even people who call themselves Christians) who think there are many ways to Heaven – but there aren’t. Only through Christ can one be saved. And Christianity isn’t a religion because a religion is all about what we need to do in order to get right with God, or to get into Heaven – good works, being a nice guy, loving others (not genuinely, but in order to gain merit), not murdering anybody or stealing, being in “harmony” with others, etc. – but Paul said that’s all in vain and will never get you anywhere. Christianity isn’t a religion because it’s not about what we have to do to get right with God, but about what God has already done (through Christ). The only action we need to take is to accept His invitation through faith and enter into a relationship with Him (deny ourself, repent of our sins, follow Him). How strong am I on this? “I’m solid, man”, lol. There is absolutely NO other way to God (nor Heaven) but through faith in Jesus Christ.
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