Lord’s Day 11

Question 29: Why is the Son of God called Jesus, that is, Saviour?
Answer: Because He saves us from all our sins, and because salvation is not to be sought or found in anyone else.

Question 30: Do those who seek their salvation and well-being from saints, in themselves or anywhere else believe in Jesus as the only Saviour?
Answer: No. Though they boast of Him in words, they in fact deny the only Saviour Jesus. For one of two things must be true: either Jesus is not a complete Saviour, or those who by true faith accept this Saviour must find in Him all that is necessary for their salvation.

The preaching of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ has fallen into disfavor in many churches today, at an almost linear rate. This linear rate is discovered when you compare such factors as the size of the church, the extent of the church’s outreach and the popularity of the teaching of the church. Of course, I am not speaking of every church, and this linear rate is not all-inclusive. But it seems that the more visual churches are much more likely to preach things that are not as offensive as the cross or the sins of man which could only be redeemed through the work of Christ on the cross.

The fault for this is found with church leaders who are buckling under societal pressures to become less offensive and more inclusive. The desired result of this is to increase church membership and to raise funds. These are both things that are not taught in the Bible as the core goals of the church, and yet they are deemed to be of paramount importance! Since the faithfully preached gospel has a tendency to offend, we insert other purposes for the church. Family values and financial responsibility are held up as the standard in place of Christ. As long as we aren’t striking the nerve of our trouble, which is separation from God by our sins, pastors feel the freedom to preach about whatever topic they feel will help mold their church into the image of the mega-church, so they can reap the same benefits that some pastors enjoy.

When the gospel of Christ is not preached, those who are suffering in their sins are told by this exclusion that their hope is not to be found in the church. Instinctively, people realize that they are lost. I would go so far as to say that people know in their own hearts that they are spiritually dead. Why else would we advertise revival meetings and why do new teachings arise? As a church, we have a responsibility to lift up no god but the one true God. The one who is a savior to all who believe. We need to lift up Christ in our teachings and our sacraments at all times and remind people that there is life beyond the death that we are born into.

The Jesus we read about in the Bible and the Jesus we seek to create in our hearts are two different people. One is Lord and Savior, the other is just Friend. A friend is someone who helps you up when you fall. A friend loves you for who you are and accepts you that way. A friend is willing to try new things. A friend will compromise with you and give you your say in some things as long as you give him or her their way in other things.

Jesus is not one to let you flail about this life as you seek the peace we all crave. He does not meet you halfway in anything. Christ provides the requirements that God demands! (hat tip: Tim Challies) I know of people who are terrified by this proposition. They know that they are sinners. They know that they have fallen short of the glory of God. And they are quite sure that it is up to them to atone for their own failings and then lead a perfect life. To compound the issue, they are subjected to teaching in the church that does not acknowledge sin as sin. If you try to explain sin away and rely on the efforts of anything or anyone other than Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, you not only are lost and remain dead in your sins. You are only grasping at the idols of the heart.

If this describes you or someone you love, point out to them that the Bible does say that God demands perfection, but it is a perfection found only in the miracle of Salvation. If you expect to earn it through your works, you have already lost it. The works of our hands and our faith in created biengs are fleeting, but the gift of God is eternal.

Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.