Salvation

Walking in The Way: A Journey of Faith and Righteousness

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , Leave a comment

“They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.” (Jeremiah 32:38-39, NKJV)

Scripture affirms that there is but “one way” to salvation.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Jesus is our path to God, our means to salvation and our example of how we should live. He is The Way.

The Way is an affirmation of faith and submission to God’s will.

Blessed are the undefiled in the way,
Who walk in the law of the Lord!
Blessed are those who keep His testimonies,
Who seek Him with the whole heart! (Psalm 119:1-2)

The Apostle Paul perceives The Way as a journey that must be pursued with perseverance and endurance. Of course, every journey has a destination. In Philippians 3:14, Paul characterizes the destination as “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

The resurrection. Eternal life with Christ Jesus. This is the journey’s end.

Throughout the New Testament – particularly the Book of Acts – “The Way” is used as a description of the early Christian movement, such as in Acts 9:2:

“…so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

Thus, The Way can essentially reference (1) the early Christian faith, (2) Jesus Himself as the path to salvation and eternal life, or (3) the moral or spiritual journey taught and inspired by Christ. However, as evidenced in the first psalm of the Psalter, there is a right Way and a wrong way:

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the ungodly shall perish. (1:6)

For some who have not been immersed in Old Testament scripture, The Way is sometimes assumed to be a phenomenon introduced subsequent to Jesus’ incarnation and earthly ministry. Such a focus on Jesus in the NT can often obscure His presence – and that of The Way – in the OT, particularly in the books of Isaiah and the Psalms.

In Psalm 15, for instance, King David poses a question for which he subsequently imparts his God-inspired reply – a question that Paul undoubtedly appreciated:

1Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?

That is, who may stand before God? Who will receive “the upward call of God in Christ Jesus?”

2He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart;
3He who does not backbite with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend;
4In whose eyes a vile person is despised,
But he honors those who fear the Lord;
He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5He who does not put out his money at usury,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things shall never be moved.

The psalm describes those “of The Way.” The Way is paved by integrity, honesty, goodness and compassion. Our relationships are not slanderous, evil or scarred by disloyalty; rather they are defined by generosity, unity, sacrifice and prayer. We hate what God hates and love what He loves. Our heart is aligned with His.

Jesus is The Way. Without His sacrifice on the cross, The Way has no destination. Without His teaching and His example, the path to righteousness remains hidden.

It is hidden no longer. Love your neighbor – even your enemy. Forgive all so that you may also be forgiven. Live humbly and sacrificially. Serve others. Follow Him. Share the gospel.

Do you follow the one way? Perhaps you have devised your own way. Given the temptations, the divisions and the vanity of this world, it might seem normal that we each validate our own truth and forge a path that is aligned with it.

For instance, perhaps your version of the truth implies that heaven is waiting for those who are “good” people. Maybe you have made idols of fame, wealth or other men. This is not The Way.

To follow “The Way” is to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6)—not just to believe in Him, but to pattern your entire life in emulation of Him.

The True Sons of Abraham: Defining Inheritance Through Faith

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , Leave a comment

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:15-16)

There is robust debate between Dispensationalists and most other Christian factions about the Apostle Paul’s specific reference to the “Israel of God.” Dispensationalists, noting that nowhere in scripture is the church explicitly called Israel, maintain that the phrase refers to ethnic Jews who have embraced Christ. Such a position fits well with their end-times scenarios.

Many Christians see it differently – primarily (but not always) treating New Testament references to Israel as the Church – the entire community of believers in Christ Jesus regardless of heredity. Personally, this is the direction in which I lean, but must confess that I am far from a biblical scholar. Thankfully, I do not believe that this is a salvation issue.

Nonetheless, I am unmoved by the Dispensationalist argument, particularly when viewed within the larger context of the epistle. For me, Paul’s intent seems quite clear in Galatians 3:6-9:

Just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Translation: Abraham’s faith made him righteous in the eyes of God. Those of faith – ONLY those of faith in Christ Jesus – share in that righteousness as the adopted sons of Abraham. Thus, it is not a bloodline that defines those that inherit the Lord’s blessing – it is faith in God. Those of faith are the true sons of Abraham – the true Israel. The CHURCH.

For they are not all Israel who are of Israel. (Romans 9:6)

Abraham, of course, had physical descendants. They became the nation of Israel – God’s chosen people with whom He established His covenants. Unfortunately, Israel failed to maintain its fidelity to those covenants. And it is through Israel’s failure that the door was opened to the Gentiles:

Through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. (Romans 11:11)

It was always God’s plan to graft in the nations (Romans 11:19-24) – those who were not physical descendants of Abraham. This is a consistent theme of the Old Testament as evidenced in the writings of the prophet Isaiah (56:6-7):

“Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

The faith of Abraham was the instrument through which the Lord’s blessing would be available to all – those believers of ethnic descent as well as the Gentiles who, by their faith, are beneficiaries of His grace.

I have already opined that the specific meaning of Israel in the NT is not a salvation issue. So why expend excessive verbosity on the topic?

Because the conflation of God and country might be a salvation issue.

Christian Nationalists, for example, maintain that, like the OT Israel, theirs is God’s chosen nation – and that it was founded as such. Consequently, they seek to consecrate their illusory moral superiority into the law of the land.

I have posted time and again as to the many reasons why this is a bad idea – an un-Christian idea.

In ancient Israel, the law was integral to maintaining the identity and integrity of the nation as God’s chosen. The law was also God’s instrument for illuminating sin. Adam and Eve’s failure to obey a single command introduced sin into this world. The law exposed their descendant’s inability to maintain fidelity with God’s instruction.

So great was Israel’s disobedience that God, in His limitless love for His creation, sent His only begotten Son as a propitiation for that infidelity, and to codify a renewed covenant – one long promised by His prophets.

“Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

Written on the hearts of those who seek to maintain faithfulness to this new covenant is this:

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14)

The Christian Nationalists, however, see it differently. To them, the law is fulfilled by maintaining strict obedience to legal mandates – an outcome that antiquity has proven is an impossibility. That is why Jesus was sent to us.

Instead, they believe that, like ancient Israel, their nation is God’s chosen. They fail to recognize that God’s chosen is not a nation. It is the Israel of God – the CHURCH.

We will not be judged as a country, but as believers in Christ Jesus. Faith is a choice that we must make as individuals. It is not one that can be legislated or made for us.

Is it a salvation issue if Christian Nationalists seek to remove that choice? I pray that it is not. Though there is nothing Christian about Nationalism, I believe that most will have the right answer to the big question: “Who do you say that I am?”

I fear, however, that by throwing up roadblocks for those of us who seek to bring people to Christ through love and compassion rather than guilt and compulsion, their rewards in heaven will be diminished.

“Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Luke 6:43-45)

The Eternal Blessings of Mercy and Forgiveness

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , 3 Comments

While recovering from hip replacement surgery, I spent much of the past week in front of my computer striving to up my social media game. I’ve got a long way to go.

I also took the opportunity to tinker with an AI tool for the first time, posing a simple question: what are the benefits of forgiveness? In a split second, an essay conveying a dozen mental and physical dividends was spewed my way. The rewards included improved mental health, enhanced relationships, emotional healing, heightened self-esteem, and reduced risk of such health issues as high blood pressure, cardiovascular stress and a weakened immune system. (But nothing about my hip!)

Continue reading “The Eternal Blessings of Mercy and Forgiveness” →

For the Love of God: Deciphering the Sheep & the Goats

Tom Ratkovich, , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

“In the end, that Face which is the delight or the terror of the universe must be turned on each one of us . . . either conferring glory inexpressible or inflicting shame that can never be cured or disguised.”

C.S. Lewis

For me, the Bible’s consummate message is found in the 25th chapter of the Book of Matthew – specifically verses 31-46.

Prophecy, Not Parable

Some characterize this passage as the parable of the sheep and the goats. My quibble with such a characterization is that I believe this episode is not a parable at all, but a prophecy of what the Lord’s return for His faithful will engender.

The parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13, NKJV) begins “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins…” Verses 14-30 of the same chapter explain the parable of the Talents and commences “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country…”

But nowhere in the prophecy of the Sheep and the Goats will you find the words “like” or “likened.” It begins instead with a definitive statement of what will happen upon the second advent of Christ Jesus:

“When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.”

Matthew 25:31

A statement of facts – when and then – not simply a story to illustrate a moral lesson.

The Chasm between the Saved & the Unsaved

The prophecy continues:

“All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.”

Matthew 25:32-33

The separation of such a multitude is a logistical impossibility for anyone but God. I picture the Lord creating a chasm – sheep on one side, goats on the other. Dictionary.com defines chasm as (1) a yawning fissure in the earth’s surface, or (2) a sundering breach in relations, as a divergence of opinions, beliefs, etc., between persons or groups.

Both definitions are relevant. Certainly, there is a divergence in beliefs between those on the right and those on the left. But it is also likely that the Lord will create a physical barrier.

How will that chasm be created? Three biblical verses might offer some insight into the Lord’s plan.

As we learn in Revelation 1:16:

“He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.”

Perhaps one swing of that sword is the instrument with which Jesus will create that chasm. Isaiah 66:16 tells us:

“For by fire and by His sword the Lord will judge all flesh.”

Ultimately, it is God’s Word upon which – and by which – judgment will be rendered.

“…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”

Ephesians 6:17

To paraphrase the cohesive message of these verses: out of the Lord’s mouth proceeds the word of God, the virtuous judgment and perfect discernment that will separate the sheep from the goats.

Blessed are the Sheep

And for the sheep, that judgment will be good.

“Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.“

Matthew 25:34-36

One might infer from these verses that getting into heaven is all about good works. After all, we’re talking about feeding, clothing, sheltering, visiting. But such an inference misses the point.

“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’”

Matthew 25:37-39

In other words, the righteous did not even know they were doing good works! Good works become dead works when they are done for the wrong reasons – such as to boast or gain favor. But if one is oblivious to the fact that he or she is doing good works, they certainly aren’t being done for the wrong reasons.

The Great Commandment

Good works flow out of authentic faith. It is faith and obedience that will be rewarded; faith in Christ Jesus and obedience to His commandments – the greatest of which are set forth in Matthew 22:37-40. When asked which is the great commandment in the law, Jesus responded:

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

There are two small words in this reply to the Pharisees that I find curious: “like it.” How, we must ask, is the second commandment like the first? I can only answer that it is like the first in its intensity – in its passion. It is like the first because it is equally great, equally vital.

Am I saying that we must love our neighbor with same intensity and the same passion with which we love God? Perhaps Jesus did when he instructed His disciples:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

John 13:34

Of course, we do not worship our neighbor. We do not pray to our neighbor. We do not evangelize about our neighbor.

But our neighbor is made in the image of God. If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, should we not love our neighbor in the same way?

The concept of vertical love flowing out to horizontal love is wonderfully characterized by theologian Kent Hughes in his commentary on the first chapter of Philippians:

“Paul prayed that the Philippians’ love would overflow all dimensions in a lavish, ongoing, limitless love — an unremitting geyser of love up to God and a flood of love out to others.”

How We Love God

Crucially, the prophecy of the sheep and goats makes it absolutely clear that loving our neighbors is how we love God:

“Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

Matthew 25:40

Having been justified – declared righteous by the Lord – for their faith that has been manifested in love, vertical and horizontal, the sheep are sanctified by God – set apart for His special purpose.

The Fate of the Faithless

Jesus then turns to the goats in verses 41-43:

“Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’”

The Bible defines sin as a transgression of God’s law. It seems the goats will look to Old Testament law – including the Ten Commandments – for their definition of what constitutes wickedness. Their perspective will be that sin is an act of commission, such as murder, theft, adultery or taking the Lord’s name in vain.

But that is not the case here. As we see in Matthew 25:44-46:

“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Sins of Omission

The condemned will be separated not on the basis of what they do, but on the basis of what they do not do. These sins are acts of omission rather than commission. It seems apparent the goats will fall short of the Lord’s command to “love your neighbor as yourself” and, in so doing, fail to love Him.

Like the goats, it is not difficult for us to minimize sins of omission through rationalization or ignorance. Each time we do so, however, minimizes what Jesus did for us on the cross. Instead, we must see all sin as disobedience to God and glorify Him for having saved us from it.

The Upward Call

In conclusion I believe this episode represents the essence of Christianity – and the manifestation of each God-inspired word written by every contributor to the Bible.

In Philippians 3:13-14, the apostle Paul has eloquently articulated the end game for the faithful:

“One thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Jesus has promised to return for His sheep and to make that call. This prophecy of the sheep and the goats makes the basis for that call irrefutable: faith in Jesus Christ that manifests in love – love of God and love of others.