10172026 A Loving God

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of our wonderful, loving God.

Some of you are more aware than I am about the various versions of “god” that exist and of what those false gods demand of their followers. Rather than try to accurately catalogue the requirements of specific religions, let me give a list of actions that are supposed to be helpful in obtaining, keeping, or solidifying one’s salvation within various religions.

Baptism. Praying. Fasting. Taking communion. Doing confession before you die. Giving money. Giving up personal belongings. Offering sacrifices. Entering seclusion. Self-flagellation. Doing good works. Doing a two-year service journey. Doing humanitarian work. Going on a pilgrimage. Killing an infidel. Martyrdom.

And these works might have to be done in the right way, at the right time, in the right place, or with the right frequency. Missing them even once at the wrong time can mean disaster. Furthermore, doing the wrong thing can undo what has already been achieved. And certain sins – well, if you do them, there is no hope for you whatsoever.

But then there is the one true God. What does He say?

“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9).

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).

Those other religions require man to do all kinds of things – some of them pretty major. They leave him constantly striving to do more, fearing that he hasn’t done enough. He has to follow a fearful god who always requires him to do more than he can do and to be what he cannot be.

 

How much better it is to follow a God who loves me and who wants to make it as easy as possible for me to be right with Him. That doesn’t mean I choose Christianity because it is easy. It does mean that the true God is vastly different from every false god, because His very means of saving me is an immeasurable display of the depths of His love. He expresses love, invitation, and acceptance, rather than fear, obstacles, and rejection.

May you rejoice in the God of your salvation, and may He bless your labor as you help others to see this same loving God.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA