Question:  Dear Greg,

            In answer to a question concerning “Christians” practicing a homosexual lifestyle and believing that the blood of Jesus covers such blatant transgressions, you said that someone who does this has never truly been saved.  This implies that there are things that, if done, show that you are not saved.  Does it follow that there are things (i.e. penance, taking of the Eucharist, evangelism) that, if not done, show that you are not saved?

            Don

Answer:  Dear Don,

            Without specifically referring to the answer I gave that forms the basis of your query, I would imagine that my emphasis concerned the works that God produces in those whom he has saved.  For example, James says that faith without works is dead.  Some misunderstand the force of these remarks, and interpret them legalistically, as if the works, merits, or actions to which James refers are something that humans produce.  James is simply saying that if someone is saved, born anew, given a new life in Christ, spiritually resurrected from the dead, a new child of God (there are many metaphors the New Testament uses to describe our real, vibrant relationship with God), then there are signs of that life that God has granted, by his grace.  But again, those signs are there only because of God’s work—unless he saves someone, they will not have these works in their life.

            There is a problem, of course, with simply judging outward appearance and actions (see 1 Samuel 16:7 and John 7:24).  Those who belong to God are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9), and the Holy Spirit is not physically discerned.

            On the one hand, someone who is an atheist can appear to be patient, appear to be filled with joy (Galatians 5:22-23).  And, someone who is truly saved, a child of God, can slip and fall—doing something that God is not producing in their life, but something that is a fruit of their own flesh (see Romans 7:7-25 for Paul’s discourse on this topic).  Were we to judge on appearances alone, we might judge the atheist to be a Christian, and the person who slipped and fell as an unbeliever.

            Therefore, in a pure sense, THINGS that we do or THINGS that we do not do are not the evidence of salvation—the evidence of God’s saving work in our lives is God’s continuing work in our lives, the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) that he produces.  To God goes the glory, for the great things he has, is and will do through broken, sinful human beings.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht