Salvation. The saving grace of Jesus Christ bestowed upon those who trust Him, repent of their sins, and believe in His Word.
Who is responsible for your salvation?
Am I, as a pastor? Is your local church pastor? The man on tv you follow?
No.
If I, carrying the title of teacher, tell you a false gospel, then woe to me!
IF I were to engage in the telling and spreading of a watered down, added onto or an abbreviated gospel, then I would be held accountable before God and harsh would be my punishment. (This is why the Epistle of St. James warns those who are Bible teachers not to assume the role lightly.) Many will be the false teacher who faces God's anger on the day of Judgement; for they will have led people astray for love of money, fame and power.
But If I, or any other pastor, tells you what the Bible teaches, in the clearest and most sincere manner that we can, then we have done our duty to you, out of love for you and for God. We cannot make you accept Christ, we cannot make you believe the Gospel's truths; we can only present the Word and exhort you. We can pray for you, and answer questions as best we can, but that will not secure your salvation.
NO teacher, scholar, writer, pastor can save you. We are mere humans, flawed and in need of God's grace ourselves. We may be guideposts and assistant shepherds to the Great Shepherd, but it is He that can, and will, carry you to safety, if you trust and believe.
You, my friends, must study God's Word diligently. You must be in prayer for God's guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit to work in your lives and in your hearts. You must come to Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord, confessing your sins and your need for forgiveness. You must confess Him to others, believe in your heart He is raised, be baptized, and make His path your path; you must become His disciple. He will make you into a new creation, give you a new heart, and save you from the judgement that your sins would deserve without His redeeming mercy.
When you stand before God, you will not be able to blame anyone else for your sins, or for your following a false teacher, or not knowing the Word of God. (If you have the internet, you can read the Bible, and many good commentaries, online.) You will not be able to say that your salvation was supposed to be the responsibility of any other person in your life.
Do not put the fate of your eternal soul in the hands of *any* mortal man; instead put yourself in the hands of the only one who can save and redeem you, Jesus Christ. Check all teachings against the Word of God and hold fast to the Bible, do not let yourself be led astray by smooth talking salesmen, who give you only what you want to hear, and not what will challenge, convict, strengthen and test your faith.
This is too serious a subject to shrug off, my friends. The Apostle Paul urged believers to examine their faith often, be sure you doing so. Make sure your trust and faith are secure in Christ.
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
Who is responsible for your salvation?
Am I, as a pastor? Is your local church pastor? The man on tv you follow?
No.
If I, carrying the title of teacher, tell you a false gospel, then woe to me!
IF I were to engage in the telling and spreading of a watered down, added onto or an abbreviated gospel, then I would be held accountable before God and harsh would be my punishment. (This is why the Epistle of St. James warns those who are Bible teachers not to assume the role lightly.) Many will be the false teacher who faces God's anger on the day of Judgement; for they will have led people astray for love of money, fame and power.
But If I, or any other pastor, tells you what the Bible teaches, in the clearest and most sincere manner that we can, then we have done our duty to you, out of love for you and for God. We cannot make you accept Christ, we cannot make you believe the Gospel's truths; we can only present the Word and exhort you. We can pray for you, and answer questions as best we can, but that will not secure your salvation.
NO teacher, scholar, writer, pastor can save you. We are mere humans, flawed and in need of God's grace ourselves. We may be guideposts and assistant shepherds to the Great Shepherd, but it is He that can, and will, carry you to safety, if you trust and believe.
You, my friends, must study God's Word diligently. You must be in prayer for God's guidance and the presence of the Holy Spirit to work in your lives and in your hearts. You must come to Christ, acknowledging Him as Lord, confessing your sins and your need for forgiveness. You must confess Him to others, believe in your heart He is raised, be baptized, and make His path your path; you must become His disciple. He will make you into a new creation, give you a new heart, and save you from the judgement that your sins would deserve without His redeeming mercy.
When you stand before God, you will not be able to blame anyone else for your sins, or for your following a false teacher, or not knowing the Word of God. (If you have the internet, you can read the Bible, and many good commentaries, online.) You will not be able to say that your salvation was supposed to be the responsibility of any other person in your life.
Do not put the fate of your eternal soul in the hands of *any* mortal man; instead put yourself in the hands of the only one who can save and redeem you, Jesus Christ. Check all teachings against the Word of God and hold fast to the Bible, do not let yourself be led astray by smooth talking salesmen, who give you only what you want to hear, and not what will challenge, convict, strengthen and test your faith.
This is too serious a subject to shrug off, my friends. The Apostle Paul urged believers to examine their faith often, be sure you doing so. Make sure your trust and faith are secure in Christ.
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
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