Doing And Being

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" Titus 3:5 (KJV)

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

I would like to address something here that may seem harsh, but it is not my intent. Many Christians pull these scriptures above from the Bible to say that Salvation isn’t something that you “do” but rather something that you “get”, and though on first blush they (the passages) may seem to validate the point, in reality they do not. 

Let’s be clear, Salvation is not something that you “do” and is not a “work”, however to get Salvation you must do something to get it!

Why do I even bring up this point? Because, like so many things in our Christian walk, many in the Body Of Christ have misconceptions and misinformation concerning the truths of God. Just saying the "sinner's prayer" and affirming that you believe in Christ, and accept Him as Lord and Savior, accomplishes nothing without real change! 

And this is something that we are required to do! Change our hearts through repentance and change our attitudes through knowledge in the Word Of God. If we don't "do" these things then we have no gift of Christ's Salvation!

Let's take a look at what I mean. 

There was a statement made to me concerning this subject, "Hey Jonathan: if repentance was a "work", then you have a contradiction with Titus 3:5 and Ephesians 2:8-9." Hence the posting of the above verses. In essence what he was saying was actually two differing things, and then giving them a definition that would make it seem that they really are the same, they are not. 

Let me explain, as these concepts can be very confusing to a Christian.

Works is one concept, and to “do” something is another concept, though it may seem you are talking about the same thing. Works means that you are attempting to accomplish something, with an intent of results to gain something you desire. He worked hard for his wages. He worked to overcome his fear. 

This is an action with an intent that what you have done will accomplish something directly through your own efforts. 

But when you "do" something, you are taking an action that will effect a change, but it really doesn't matter whether or not that change was brought on by yourself, or an outside influence. He walked out of the building and got wet by the rain (rain is wet as always). What did he "do" here? He walked out of the building. Was there a change that occurred here? 

Yes, he left one place (the building) which resulted in a change in his condition (he got wet). 

The same holds for when we "do" things in our Walk Of Faith with God. We are to do things (actions because of faith NOT actions to establish that same faith) as we make our journey back to God that affect that walk. In essence we are doing things to effect change in our mortal condition. However when speaking of Salvation, God gives it as a gift, even though we "do" something that brings that change!

Therefore, though the statement, "we are not saved by anything we do" seems to rebut my assertion that you have to do something to get Salvation. However it doesn't really as Salvation (salvaging, saving, renewing, etc.) is totally by the power of God, and rightly so, we do not "save" ourselves. 

However, if we do not place ourselves in a position to receive that gift of Salvation (repentance, faith in God, accepting Christ as savior, et al) then Salvation is like the package at the Post Office, you will get it when you go pick it up. If you don’t pick it up it will remain where it is! Same concept here, unless you place yourself into position to receive Salvation (by the above actions, which by definition means to “do” something) you do not receive Salvation, because you haven’t picked it up!

Holding onto sin is also an action, dynamic in nature, and is the definition of perdition as a condition of this world, and also the acts of the sinful nature. We are in a condition of sin, because we are in the world, and we can choose to remain in that condition or overcome it. So the releasing (overcoming) of sin is an action as well, but one that can only come through direct decision AND direct effort to do so. 

Why is it that perdition, or sin, is only a dynamic action, and not also a passive one, at least on our part? Because you have to overcome a state of sinfulness that is the condition of life, that is passive (the condition of sin), however your efforts to be free require your actions to do so. You have to do somethingdynamically (meaning with a purpose or a goal in mind). 

Receiving Salvation takes effort on our part to receive it. But it is only the starting point, we must also walk forward under Grace and The Promises, to do as we now know to do, by the faith that is now in our hearts through our newly acquired renewal in Christ. We do things because of our new nature in Christ, but that new nature is imparted to us by a gift from God.

So we can see that Salvation is both a gift and a condition, and something that we operate in as God's Children discipled under Christ. We are in constant flux between acts of faith and the resulting conditions of those acts. As we are between the acts and conditions (or results) of those acts in everyday life. Confusing at times, but hardly rocket science!

God will use us in many, and often surprising, ways. We are working for the Lord when we take up our cross and follow Him. Christianity is all about "doing" as well as "being", for God is dynamic, and our lives in Him are also dynamic. Though I always maintain, "Christianity isn't something that you do, it something that you are", it is by nature of our Christianity that we will be constantly "doing" God's will. 

The first step however, is to BE in God's will through Salvation. It is something that all men should do! 

Be blessed, be loved and be at peace. May the light of God's glory and presence fire the brilliance of your souls. You are greatly loved.