Matthew 17:1-13 The Transfiguration of Jesus
Pastor Chris,
Sunday's message of God's love was inspiring and uplifting and something to reflect upon, which leads me to a question, do I have salvation through God's love or is more required of me? And If so, what do I need to do to receive salvation because today I was told there is nothing I can do to receive more love or less love through any action of my own?
Respectfully,
Conflicted
Dear Conflicted,
Thank you for the excellent question. But before I get to answering your question, let's recap a bit.
At the baptism of Jesus, Matthew says that immediately as Jesus came up out of the water the heavens opened up and the voice boomed saying, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." It's identical to the voice that Peter, James & John heard at the transfiguration of Jesus, when on the top of Mount Tabor in the Galilee, Jesus changed before them and was seen talking with Moses and Elijah. That's when the cloud overshadowed them all and the voice proclaimed, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him."
At our baptism, just like at Jesus', the same declaration is made; God calls us beloved! We are His. We are loved. We are marked. And that never changes. It's been the same since the beginning of time and will be true in another 10,000 years. God simply loves us.
...this is where that last part of the transfiguration declaration comes in..."listen to him," or listen what Jesus is saying to us.
To answer your question, the simple answer is that while it is true we cannot change the love of God toward us, we still have the capacity to either accept or reject this love. There is a possibility for all people being saved and that is God’s desire, but universal salvation (all being saved through the work of Christ) is contrary to the scriptures. There is a response required of us...listening to Jesus.
In our Wesleyan/Methodist tradition, the ultimate Love of God is called Prevenient Grace. It is the love and grace of God given to us before our acknowledgement of God. When we respond positively to this grace, by recognizing God’s love and forgiveness towards us and accepting it by placing our trust in Christ we are then Justified (Justifying Grace) or saved. It is not so much that we have to do something other than accept something. Then our response following this acceptance begins the lifelong process of Sanctifying Grace, which helps us and guides us into more complete holy living.
Let me put it this way. The love of God is like a beautifully wrapped gift left for you on your dining room table. It’s addressed to you alone. It includes a note that says why you are getting it, you read it, understand it. But you do not open the gift. Rather, it remains unopened, even stored away. You know it is there, but you set it aside. Do you benefit from the gift inside the box? Do you even know how the item in the box could alter your experience of life?
We can choose to open the gift and utilize what’s inside or not, just like the love of God.
This gift, like all gifts, require our acceptance of them, and our active response to unwrap, explore and use it. Then it becomes our salvation.
Jesus' preaching and teaching is important to us here. He said early on, "repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." He required a response. Sure he didn't require it to receive some of the blessings of God, healings, miraculous food and other miracles, but he did challenge them and us to take his blessings to another level...to follow him; to "take up our cross"; to "enter through the narrow gate...that leads to life."
Yes, Jesus loves us as the old song states, but in order to benefit from that gift we must accept it, open it, & try it on. Then we'll know the true nature of salvation, "when we cry Abba! Father! it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." (Rom 8:15b-17a, NRSV)
Peace ><>
Pastor Chris
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