Faith in Your Faith | Damage of a False Gospel – Bad News

Throughout my short life, I have always had idols in my heart. They are everywhere, and just when I think they’re licked, poof, another one pops out of my heart.  At times I wonder if I am just a joke when it comes to my profession of believing in Christ, being I am such a continual idol factory. The question of the security of my salvation is always at the forefront of my mind and recently has been a topic of heated debate amongst my peers and colleagues.  Throughout the last few years, (two years in VA and now almost a year in California) the Lord has given me the gift of deep depression and the greater gift of His mercy through it so that now I can rest in the assurance of Christ more and more each passing moment. Before that, I realized that my hope was in a forever tug-of-war with my mind and what I knew as truth.  Let me explain.

Early in my life I felt the call of God’s good news and have loved Him for as long as I can remember. During my adolescent years, I remember harboring great fear because there was very seldom an hour that went by that I didn’t find some sin in me. At 9 years of age, this seemed out of the norm, but for me, it was a daily struggle. Each evening I labored in prayer, asking God to secure me in Heaven through Jesus Christ alone, and each morning I awoke with a sense of mercy and hope that would last me a very short time. After many months of this internal debate, I realized that my hope was in Christ, not in my ability, not in my holiness, not in my sinlessness, and could not be found in “me” at all!  That same week I was confronted with my continued struggle by a family member who assured me that “all I needed to do” was “receive Jesus”.  This language was different from what I had read in scripture, but in over an hour, I was led to believe that my salvation could be secured if I just “prayed” the right prayer.  While it was the same prayer I prayed every day, that the Lord would save me, seal me and keep me through eternity in Jesus Christ and His work, this small and maligned meeting would steer my “hope” into idolatry quickly.

For many days I didn’t doubt. I found my life centered on Christ and my joy was full; that is until temptation tapped my shoulder at school. Temptation for me came in the form of anger, pride, self-glory, and a very high view of myself, especially when bullied or confronted with what I referred to as “stupid” investments. Then the doubt and “joyless” mindset began to creep back in. But this time I had an anchor!  I prayed for salvation, I prayed the prayer, I said the magic words and ALL IS WELL! My salvation experience had become my newest idol.

For nearly 15 years this was my motion. I would put my FAITH in my FAITH!  I found I had a love affair with my salvation experience (as it was called) and not my savior!  This was a devastating curse in my life that caused great pain and strife because while I had hope in my actions, they didn’t produce any power of confidence (with faith) in my eternal life. So even when seeking counsel I was reminded that I had “done what was required to be saved” and I should be “at rest” while the Lord was working on me.

There are 400 pages of personal journals and stories that center on this very thing, but I will say to you this: Having faith in your faith; faith in the fruit of your faith, or faith in anything but Jesus Christ is no faith at all and worse, it is a condemning faith that is misplaced and non-effectual.  Beloved, turn from the self-reliance, the cultural questions, and the blatant disregard for the truth of scripture. Run to Christ Jesus alone for salvation, rest in His work, His righteousness, His Good news, His love, His mercy, His grace!  Believe on Christ and not the ways of the world. Stop measuring your assurance on the “day” of your believing, but on the faithfulness of the one in whom we have life! Regard your abilities as nothing and realize that all good that is done is done because God has worked in you.  No man will stand justified before God because of His works, but all who are justified before God are so because of the works of Jesus Christ – nothing else saves.

My heart has been troubled for many seasons, and while I am still working through a lot of this, even my own darkness, I know that my hope and light comes only through Jesus Christ, not my work, but His. The GOSPEL is for us, it is only for those who believe… while it brings dead men to life and unbelievers to faith, it is for us first to salvation, then to daily hope and power!  Preach the gospel to yourself when you doubt. Preach the gospel to your heart when you sin. Preach the gospel to your mind when you grow weary. Preach the gospel to your household, your neighbor, your enemy!  Proclaim the good news that Jesus Christ completed the work of redemption once for all!  Stop slaving away at a false hope, the bad news stays bad when we do!

With all the foolishness and all the affection of Christ!

Staying Stupid,

James

Nov 27, 2008 at 09:02