Write The Author
By Neal Griffin
It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation and nothing else. Not once is it written nor implied that salvation is accomplished by way of anything else. And since the power is vested in the Gospel it would behoove anyone who is serious about obtaining salvation to learn exactly what the Gospel is.
The Gospel is the glorious good news that salvation has been brought down. It announces the fact of Jesus. It is historical fact. Paul, by the Holy Spirit, wrote that Jesus came to earth as a man, was crucified, was raised on the third day, and now sits at the right hand of God. This is what the Bible defines the Gospel to be. Read it in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4. It is the announcement of God's way to save His creation.
But even though the Gospel is summed up in one sentence there are those who, in vain efforts to support their private interpretations, insist that it consists of every dot and tittle in the New Testament writings. To them the power of God is the Gospel plus something else. Jesus' blood is not sufficient to accomplish salvation, and man must fill in for that which Jesus was lacking. The idea that man must fill in for what God was lacking is foreign to the Bible. Salvation is the accomplishment of God and to argue that man accomplishes it in his performance of certain "essentials" is to deny what is recorded in Matthew 19:26. Jesus said that salvation is "impossible" on the part of man.
The rich young ruler desired to accomplish salvation by his own effort and Jesus answered, "impossible", and His answer has not changed over the years, but regrettably there are those who preach another gospel which is not the Gospel. When sincere seekers come asking what they can do to gain salvation pulpit ministers do not say, "impossible", as Jesus did. Instead they say, "possible", and send the seekers happily on their way confident that they have complied with the "essentials" and gained salvation by their own efforts. When the rich young ruler asked Jesus that same question Jesus did not send him happily on his way. Instead the young ruler went away very disappointed in that Jesus did not list "essentials" whereby he could "gain" salvation by his own effort. Paid pulpit ministers, however, do not give the same answer. The invitation at the end of their pulpit sermons does not jibe with this Biblical example. Instead they list "essentials" whereby man can gain salvation by his own effort, and unlike Jesus they send the enquirers on their way rejoicing that they have accomplished salvation. Jesus said "impossible" on the part of man.
The essentials of salvation were all performed at Calvary. If it can be established that accepting a free gift is a work (essential effort) on the part of man then I concede. If trusting in Jesus for salvation can be counted as meritorious effort then I concede, but I have not once observed the recipient of a free gift who claimed to have earned it by reason of his acceptance of it. Salvation is the accomplishment of God. He never intended for man to save himself. If this were the case there would have been no need for the crucifixion, and when men presume to accomplish salvation on their own part they render void the sacrifice of Jesus. When men presume to put their trust for salvation in their own imagined compliance with law they have "fallen from grace". Galatians 5:4. If salvation can be accomplished on the part of man by his participation in certain rituals then salvation is of man. Jesus said, "impossible".
What about all the examples of obedience in the New Testament writings? So, what about them? If you can show me one instance where their obedient acts were performed in order to "gain" salvation your argument will have some merit, but the truth is that there is not a single Scriptural example to support this idea. The first New Covenant sons of God did many things in common but they did not do any of them in order to gain salvation. If there is a connection between their obedience and salvation it is in the "because of" sense rather than the "in order to" sense.
Dear reader, this is too simple to be misunderstood. Jesus made it perfectly clear that it is not in man to accomplish salvation. Matthew 19:26. The power of salvation is not in man. It is in the Gospel. The Gospel is the power of God unto salvation and Jesus is the substance of the Gospel. Let us gratefully acknowledge that fact and completely place our trust for salvation in Him and nothing else! This is a very serious issue and that is why I beg you in the name of Jesus to prayerfully consider these thoughts whether they be true.
Neal Griffin
10514 Bar X Trail
Helotes, Texas 78023
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