I want to plant a church. A church that is full of degenerates, gays, atheists, drunkards, addicts, abusers and agnostics. I want this church to do nothing but hear and talk about the Gospel. The Truth. Nothing else added to the “service.” No other impositions will be held on those that belong. I might go so far as to encourage sinful acts and behavior!
The point?
To remove any and all traces of the problems that are incubated and birthed in our current churches. Those problems: thinking that we, as sinners (or saints) have ANYTHING TO DO WITH OUR SALVATION. When Paul said that: ”For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 HCSB) he meant it. Read it again. You are saved by Grace. Not your grace. His. His gift to you. SO THAT YOU CAN NOT BOAST. (Yes I am yelling.)
Imagine a church that was so full of sin, it had a reputation. Sinners. No one telling them they needed to behave better when they attended. They came as they were. Sinners, fallen. ”For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 HCSB) All of us have fallen short. ALL.
Have a look at the first verses of Romans 2. “Therefore, any one of you who judges is without excuse. For when you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you really think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same—that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness; affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. There is no favoritism with God.” Romans 2:1–11 HCSB
There is so much in those verses. Too much to write about now, but I have italicized the ones I wanted you to focus on: You do the same things. YOU SIN. Also, what leads to repentance? What leads us from turning away from sin? God’s Kindness! Not His wrath! Do you love God because you fear hell? Then I would question your salvation.
I know that this is an over correction to a problem. I know that I cannot gather a bunch of people together, encourage them to sin, and preach the Gospel to them. Mainly because the Bible still teaches that we shouldn’t sin. It would be wrong for me to encourage it. But hear this: IT IS ALSO WRONG FOR YOU TO BOAST IN ANYWAY ABOUT YOUR SALVATION. You had nothing to do with it.
“And they cried out in a loud voice: Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10 HCSB)
Your ability to do “good” works starts with Him. What about Philippians 2:12 you say? You know the verse: “So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Now read 13:
“For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13 HCSB)
“So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.” (Romans 9:16 HCSB)