Chapter 12: The False Salvation Doctrine

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Suppose your friend has a brother that does hateful things towards her.

You despise the brother because of his hateful behavior. However, you and your friend are members of a “conservative” congregation that places great value on human life at all stages of development. Plus, your friend loves her brother despite his terrible and often hateful behavior. You reason that your

friend loves her brother and you reject all thoughts that this hateful brother should be murdered. Therefore, as far as your friend is concerned, you believe in the commandment, “Thou shall not murder.”

Your friend has great respect, love and honor for her parents. They

have come to know you quite well. Despite the fact that sometimes they may be wrong in life, you have come to honor them by showing deference to their opinion. Therefore, as far as your friend is concerned, you believe in the commandment, “Thou shall honor thy Father and Mother.”

Do you get the picture? You would not think of doing anything that intentionally offends your friend would you? That is not the way we live in this earthly life. If we are fortunate to obtain such a friendship, we do all we

can to respect and honor that friendship. We wouldn’t for example, take our friend’s belongings, sleep with her husband, curse at her parents, murder her brother, tell lies about her or otherwise offend her and expect such friendship to continue. We are all smart enough in life to understand that you do not

treat close friends that way. So why do Christians treat God in a much less favorable way than they would treat a close friend? Will God understand?

What if that close friend was God or His Son Jesus, who both offer

you salvation simply by “calling on their name?” Do you honestly think they will have salvation waiting for you if you did not care enough about them to restrain from behavior that is offensive to them? Hello, anyone home? The illustrations above are exactly what it means to live in faith. It

means that you live for God’s righteousness and that you understand your heart must be right towards God like your heart is right towards a close friend or loved one. This is not rocket science. It only means that you treat God and Jesus as you would any close friend you love. Do not intentionally

offend them in anyway. Treat God and His Son Jesus Christ as your close friends and you will see eternal salvation at the point of your death.