Three Voices On The Radio

This morning, while driving to my office, I heard three voices speak on Christian radio. One quoted 2 Peter 3:8-9, and called all his listeners to bow the knee to Christ and ask Him to become their Savior. The second said that the reason Christians are so bad is because we try so hard to be good, and that goodness is not achieved by trying. The third said that anyone who questions his own salvation is listening to the devil.

One completely right, one half-right, and one completely wrong.

The half-right man was the preacher who said that to question one's own salvation equals listening to the devil. It is true that there are Christians whose lack of assurance about themselves springs from their legalism or emotionalism. Because they think that assurance is based mainly on their own performance, they lose all assurance whenever they sin. Or because they think that assurance is based on feeling joyful all the time, then they doubt their own salvation any time they're in a low mood. Satan takes advantage of that.

But there are people who should examine themselves, to see if they are really in the faith. There are people who have been given a false assurance of salvation, or because they were preached a distorted message. These are people who should examine themselves, and make sure they are God's children by going back over the essential roots of the Gospel. 

The completely-wrong man was the one who said that Christians should not try to be or do good. This is a very old heresy called antinomianism -- doctrinal lawlessness, you might say. It is dangerous nonsense. The New Testament is fuilled with exhortations to action for godly living.  The Lord said, "Brothers, seeing that we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves of all remaining filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 7:1). Godliness doesn't result as the unintended side-effect of doing other things.

The completely-right man said that the reason Christ hasn't come back yet is because He is still saving sinners. The preacher did not limit the "us" found in 2 Peter 3:9 to the elect. He extended an indiscriminate call to everyone listening to his message, to come to Christ.  I happen to know this preacher is a strong Calvinist, yet he extended a Gospel call to everyone without exception.

So, Charles Stanley was half right, Steve Brown was completely wrong, and Alistair Begg was completely right. The full message is that all may come to Christ; those that believe themselves saved should make their calling and election sure; and then, having come to Christ, we should pursue the holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.