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Many religious people have a
one-eyed approach to religion. They can only fully see one or the other side of a two-sided proposition. One
needs to open both eyes so he can bring both sides into focus into one big picture. There are several areas
where we need to keep both eyes wide open.
The Goodness and Severity of God
“Behold therefore the goodness and
severity of God ...” (Rom. 11:22). Too many people only have one eye open when looking at this picture. Those
who can see only the goodness of God live without the fear needed to serve God. While those who focus only on
the severity of God live with an inordinate amount of fear of God.
God has amply demonstrated his
goodness toward us. He created us in His image (Gen. 1:27). He sacrificed his Son to save us (John 3:16). He
has offered all men salvation from sin (Mark 16:15, 16). He has blessed Christians with all spiritual blessings
in Christ (Eph. 1:3). He is the author of eternal salvation for those who obey him (Heb. 5:8,9).
God has also adequately
demonstrated his severity in the punishment for sin. In the Old Testament, because of sin he drove Adam and Eve
from the garden and the tree of life, sent the great flood upon the earth, destroyed Sodom and Gomorah,
consumed Nadab and Abihu with fire, and did not permit Moses to enter the promise land. In the New Testament,
He killed Ananias and Saphira for lying, and caused Herod to be eaten of worms.
We must understand that while God
abundantly rewards obedience, he also severely punishes the disobedient.
Faith and Works
Many of the Protestant reformers
had a one-eyed approach to salvation. Perhaps they were over-reacting to the old medieval church’s elaborate
system of working out one’s salvation. As a result most Protestant churches teach salvation by faith only. They
have difficulty opening the other eye and seeing that a certain kind of works also plays a part in salvation.
“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a
brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, depart in peace, be ye
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it
profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I
have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that
there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son
upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the
scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and
he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”
(Jas. 2:14-24).
Our salvation is not by faith only
or by works only. It is by faith that works by love (Gal. 5:6).
Grace and Law
A goodly number of people have one
eye so focused on the grace of God that they cannot see that Christians are under any kind of law. After all
does not John 1:17 say that “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” Does this
mean that the law given by Moses was totally without grace? And that the system of Jesus Christ is totally
without law? Hardly.
There was some room for grace even
under the law of Moses. “Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find
grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. And he
said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not
with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found
grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall
we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the LORD
said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew
me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of
the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will
shew mercy. (Exodus 33:13-19).
John 1:17 is not teaching that
there was no truth nor grace under Moses. When one views the context he can see that Jesus is talking about
truth and grace in their fullness. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory,
the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace
and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is
preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness
have all we received, and grace for grace (vv. 14-16) (All emphasis mine - eob).
The system of Christ is not grace
without law, but grace within law. We are “not without law to God, but under law to Christ” (1 Cor. 9:21). We
will be judged by law – the law of liberty, but law non the less (Jas. 2:12). We must strive to keep the law of
Christ, but wherein we fail we have access to the grace of Christ (1 John 2:1). We should not expect to be
covered by the grace of God while continuing to wilfully sin (Rom. 6:1-2; Heb. 10:26-29).
Sharpness and Gentleness
Brethren sometimes have a one-eyed
approach to dealing with brethren who err. With some it must always be with gentleness. With others, the only
way is with sharpness. The Bible teaches that both approaches are needed, depending on attitudes and
circumstances. We are told in some cases to restore with gentleness or meekness (Gal. 6:1), and in other cases
to “rebuke sharply” (Tit. 1:13). Gal. 6:1 is dealing with one “overtaken” or surprised rather one who wilfully
walks headlong into sin. According to Vine “overtaken” suggests one caught of guard as opposed to premeditated
sin. In this case gentleness is called for. But for the one who is deliberately and wilfully in sin sharpness
is called for.
We are told to “warn those who are
unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. (1 Thess. 5:14) In many cases the overt
action of the sin may be the same, the method of dealing with it may differ widely depending on the
circumstance. Let us say there is a sister in the congregation who is not attending services as she should. If
it is determined that it is because she is unruly – she knows her duty but (demonstrates a “spirit of
insubordination” – Vine), then she should be sternly warned and if after sufficient warning she does not repent
withdraw from her (2 Thess. 3:6). However, if she is merely weak in the faith and is willing is learn she needs
support and teaching. If because of the difficulty she has in dealing with a husband, who opposes her every
effort to attend the services and may even mentally and physically mistreat her, she has become very
discouraged (fainthearted). She is wondering if it is worth all the abuse to attend faithfully. She needs
comforting.
This is the principle taught by
Jude: “And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the
fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. (vv. 22, 23).
Security and Danger
Some professed Christians see no
danger in being lost, while others feel no assurance of salvation. In each case, they need to open both eyes
and see the total picture. There is a danger that children of God can depart or fall away from Him and be lost
and they are so warned. Thus, they are told to “take heed” lest this happen (1 Cor. 10:12; Heb.
3:12).
Yet, one must not let the
possibility of this happening rob him of the assurance that he should have in Christ. We are assured that God
will help us in overcoming temptation so that we will not fall. He will provide for us a way of escape (1 Cor.
10:13). We must be willing to take the escape route. He promises us that if we do certain things that we will
never fall (2 Pet. 1:10) and that by being faithful unto death that we will receive the crown of life (Rev.
2:10) He has also assured us that if we will confess our sins that we will be forgiven (1 John
1:9).
If one has an eye open only to the
danger of falling (not seeing the promises) his life as a Christian will be miserable. On the other hand, if he
only has an eye open to the promises (not seeing the dangers) his life will be one of false security. He must
be aware of both.
So, let us keep both eyes open and
see the total picture.
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© Copyright 2008, Edward O. Bragwell, Sr.. All rights reserved.
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