Saved by Grace, not by deeds

Contemplations.

One of my friends said to me:

- I just can´ not believe in a God that would send me to hell just because I do not believe in him.

I said:

+ Why is that ?

- Because that is an ultimatum. Believe in Jesus or go to hell. That sounds manipulative.

+ Let me ask you something. If a building is already on fire and someone kicks the door open and says; "come out, this is the only way". Is that an ultimatum or is it a resque ?

- What do you mean ?

+ You were already going to hell. I was already going to hell. That is not God being cruel, that is humanity choosing sin, and that is justice. God does not send innocent people to hell. The fact is there are no innocent people. The standard is perfection, not better than your neighbor, not mostly good - perfection. Have you ever lied, have you ever lusted, have you ever hated someone, have you ever been prideful ??

- Yes.

+ Then you are guilty. To be honest I have too. we are all guilty.

- So you are telling me it is believe or just burn ?

+ No. It is guilty but rescued. You were not standing on neutral ground and God came up and just shoved you towards the fire. You were already fallen and he caught you before you would hit the ground. Jesus did not come to threaten you he came to take your sentence. The cross was not an ultimatum, it was a substitution. Justice says the wage of sin is death, but love says, I will pay it for you.

- But why make believe the condition ?

+ Because love can not be forced. Salvation is not a hostage situation, it is a gift. If someone pays your debt you still have to accept it. If you refuse it the debt does not disappear. God is not saying; "Believe in me or I will torture you", he is saying; "you are already dying I made a way, take it ! Hell is not proof that God is cruel, the cross is proof that he is not. And if you are wrestling with this question that means that the door is still open. 

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Saved by grace.

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