Salvation Is Not A Transaction

It says in Acts 16:31, 'believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, you and your entire household.' Viewing salvation as if it is a transaction has caused thousands of people to think they are saved by their vocal 'allegiance' to God or Jesus. As if attending church or saying 'Jesus is Lord' makes God change his perspective of you (Matthew 7:22). This perspective separates truth from experience, and makes faith out to be a cognitive response to a truth principle. Believing in Jesus doesn't mean you assent to a truth principle, it means you trust Him, have seen Him to be who He actually is. You have known Him through experience (see the Greek word Epignosko).

This is the knowing talked about in scripture, it is a kind of knowing that implies transformation. There is a crowd of people who claim to be Christians based on right knowledge who's lives don't carry the flavor of knowing their freedom, forgiveness, and salvation that Jesus paid for. A Christianity, where saying you know Jesus is more important than exemplifying Him. Anyone ever heard of Gnosticism?

Salvation as transaction is humanistic, meaning it is viewing things from a man to God perspective. It is all about what I need to do to change God's view of me, to be better, or to apprehend my salvation. Salvation as portrayed in scripture however is more properly viewed from a God to man perspective (read Ephesians 1:3-13 for example). I didn't save me, Jesus saved me. I didn't apprehend God He apprehended me. I didn't catch His attention but He has captivated mine.

What about Acts 16:31? It says if you believe in the Lord Jesus you will be saved, but what does believing Jesus mean? God purposed in Christ Jesus to reconcile the cosmos to himself (2 Cor. 5:19) our faith in Him is an acceptance of the facts. We are saved! He did a good job! Believe in Jesus, faith, is trust in Him, it is 'epignosknowing'. When you know Jesus you are saved because you know that you are saved. He saved you, that is the good news.

Both heaven and hell are full of forgiven sinners. Belief, from our end is just an acceptance of the facts. God isn't waiting around to forgive people when they turn to Him, He turned to them and forgave them on the cross. May we stop being so petty with our ideas of 'faith', and break away from a theology that only serves to bolster pride and arrogance. My faith is a gift I received from hearing the good news (Romans 10:17), the good news that I am included in Him. Rather than bolstering pride the good news leaves no room for it. I had nothing to do with my salvation, and neither do you. Boast in Him!

"Come to a conclusion (Katergozomai) on whether or not you are saved. When you get the facts lined up, you will experience a fear and a trembling self-distrust realizing that it was God who saved (Energeo) you apart from you. That revelation will set you free and will bring you to a place of trust in God who gives you both the desire and ability to carry (Energeo) out His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13)." - New Revised Dan Translation