Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross ---- Life-Transforming Hope by Barry Newton Terms of Surrender by Stan Mitchell ---- COLUMN: Hands-on Faith Life-Transforming Hope by Barry Newton Even though she was still single, she deliberately abandoned the adrenaline rush of navigating through the nightclub social chaos of chance encounters with potential sleep-over suitors. Even though the authorities had put some of his friends in jail for embracing the same convictions, he remained resolute. Their track record confirmed they knew how to successfully massage the system to swell their bank accounts. Nevertheless, they had abruptly turned their backs to that lifestyle. What could cause people to make such dramatic life changes? Although the answer comes to us in the form of an apostle's letter, a narrative is not difficult to reconstruct. On a Sunday morning long ago in Palestine, a lifeless tomb was suddenly filled with majesty and the power of an indestructible life. In that incredible moment, God mercifully offered humanity, as if on a gleaming platinum platter, the reason to endure, the reason for repudiating evil desires, the reason to be shaped by holiness. At that instant, standing in that once dark and dank tomb, Jesus possibly looked at his hands knowing the grace of salvation was safely reserved in heaven to be revealed at the end of time for those redeemed by his blood. As the years rolled by, disciples rejoiced in retelling how God's mighty working on that wonderful morning had created a compelling hope leading them to reject ungodly desires, endure suffering, and pursue holiness. Even those who had never seen Jesus had believed in him. They, too, were counting on what God would provide them when Jesus would be revealed. Pagan neighbors may have mused at the unusual lives of Jesus' disciples. Here was a community of people whose values were not so heavily invested in the here and now. Perhaps they appeared to possess something of a wanderlust for a better place. Even today this story continues to unfold. With each new disciple, God remains at work. God's power continues to shield each precious, purified soul in Christ through faith for that glorious day to come. What can cause people to live for God? What could lead people to radically alter sinful lifestyles in order to be characterized by self-control and holiness? The answer lies in someone truly grasping God's working: the grace of salvation awaits the people of God. Adapted from 1 Peter 1:3-21 ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://www.forthright.net/handson_faith/lifetransforming_hope.htm ---- COLUMN: Reality Check Terms of Surrender by Stan Mitchell "When or where did God ever ask sinners how they would like to be saved?" (Charles Hodge, Gospel Advocate, December 2002). That's an excellent question. Who are we, after all? Aren't we sinners, hobbled with a colossal debt to the God of all the earth? Aren't we destined for a richly deserved punishment of death (Romans 6:23)? And didn't the Son of God pay for our sin at an historically high cost? If nothing else, the sight of Christ hanging on a rough Roman beam should humble us! So who are we, sinners all, to demand God's mercy on our own terms? And who are we, who preach, to offer terms of salvation on a basis other than those that God has specified? What arrogance! What presumption! Members of the church of God mock the "five steps of salvation." Has anybody found the Biblical alternative? Certainly men wistfully suggest alternatives, but they are terms other than those God laid down. To be saved, we must still respond to the Gospel message in faith (Romans 10:17). This faith will spark a process of radical lifestyle change -- repentance (Luke 13:1- 5). This faith should be expressed in words (Romans 10:9). Then one must be immersed, on this profession of faith, in baptism (1 Peter 3:21). Has this been oversimplified at times? Perhaps. But the answer is to define these terms Biblically, to teach this process, not to abandon these principles. It makes no sense to speak in terms of surrendering our lives to Jesus, but to offer this surrender on our terms, not his. Or did we mistake this process for a negotiation? ---- Read this article online, tell us what you think, see who's commenting, click here: http://www.forthright.net/reality_check/terms_of_surrender.htm ---- You can help us get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.htm