Up To You or Up To God?

Up To You or Up To God?                                            October 16, 2022

            Who determines where you will spend eternity?  Is it up to you, or is up to God?  The short answer is “Yes!”

            That salvation from sin and the resulting eternal life are a gift cannot be denied successfully!  Romans 6:23 couldn’t be clearer: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  We call Jesus “Savior” for a reason – if we could provide for our own deliverance from the guilt and penalty for sin, we wouldn’t need a savior.  But obviously we cannot!

            Unfortunately, some have erroneously concluded that since we cannot save ourselves by ourselves, we must be totally passive.  They believe God unconditionally picked and chose certain individuals to be saved and exercised irresistible grace toward them regardless of any faith or obedience.

            Others have bought into the equally mistaken idea that by working really hard we can “almost” save ourselves, and God’s grace just gives us a little nudge over the finish line.  Such a notion ignores the fact that good works can’t wash sin away – only Jesus’ blood does that.  The bird lady in “Home Alone – Lost In New York” was wrong: a good deed doesn’t erase a bad deed.  Not even Christmas!

            The fact is, a gift is given on the terms of the giver.  Complying with God’s terms to receive the gift of eternal life isn’t meriting or earning salvation!  In no way does it deny the grace of God.  And we have the free will to decide whether to comply with God’s terms or to refuse them.  God elected (chose) Jesus to be our Savior, and He elected (chose) to save those who trust and obey Jesus.

            So, is it up to God or up to you?  Yes!                                           By Joe Slater

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The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” (I Corinthians 15:56-58)