Contingencies [Part 2]

Last week we discussed how God’s grace and goodness is not contingent upon our circumstances. This week I want to talk about His love for us not being contingent either. 

If we have read the Bible, we know that we do not earn salvation, not in any way, shape or form. (Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, chapter 2, verses 8 and 9).

Not only that but when we mess up and make mistakes, God doesn’t love us less because His love is not contingent upon our performance. (Read any story in the Bible).  

Jesus died for us once and for all. That is not contingent. It’s not like if we sin He has to die for us again. He died, once and for all. His sacrifice was strong enough to wash away every impurity and imperfection. (Paul’s letter to the Romans, chapter 6, verses 9 and 10). 

Even though I have heard this message countless times, it’s still a relief when I say it out loud. Something inside me still wants to earn God’s love and affection. Something inside me still says that if I mess up, He will love me less. It’s almost like my ancestors lived thousands of years attempting to earn salvation… and then it’s like God made a way for us to not have to any more but a few more thousand years later it’s still ingrained into our bones to do it the old way. Follow an old covenant per se. 

In many instances I have seen modern Christianity create a list of dos and don’ts to fall in line with. It’s like, the gospel, plus this list, equals your salvation. However the truth is that Jesus plus nothing equals everything. We’ve talked about this in other blogs. But we have got to get this through our heads, mine, I know, in particular. 

My seat at the table is not contingent on if I follow a list of dos and don’ts. Professing that Jesus Christ is Lord and believing in my heart that God raised Him from the dead is all that matters (Romans chapter 10, verse 9). But we put a whole lot of other stuff in there- you’re not saved unless -fill in the blank. You’re not a Christian if- etc. there is no wiggle room. I think if we saw Jesus walk through our town with His group of fishermen we would judge them based on our lists and deem them not good Christians according to modern Christianities conditions. 

Eh, heart shmart. Do you go to a certain church, dress a certain way, vote a certain way and have a specific vocabulary? Come on now. What is the gospel? The gospel is that Jesus died to save a bunch of dead people who could not save themselves, had no hope, did not deserve saving. The gospel is NOT: we cleaned ourselves up enough and did enough good things that God was convinced to let us into heaven. 

God’s love for us is not contingent upon anything except our faith in Jesus Christ. Once He has your heart He will make any and all changes He wants. But our salvation is not contingent upon what condition we are in when we come to Jesus. Just that we come to Him.