Are We Back in the Garden? Part 7
October 24, 2004
Dear Friends,
After looking last week at our Saved By Works salvation model and our Once Saved, Always Saved salvation model, let us looked at our Saved by Faith and Grace salvation model. Unlike the previous two models, there is no separation of faith and works.
Saved by Faith and Grace salvation model: This model puts us back in the Garden conditionally. We are reconciled to God by our faith manifested in baptism and by God’s grace (Rom. 4:16, 5:2l 1 Cor. 5:18, Col. 1:20,21,21; 1 Pet 3:21). While the entrance back into the Garden is a free gift purchased by our Savior, it is conditional on us maintaining the faith that saved us in the first place (Rom. 5:15,16; Acts 20:28). Since faith and works are cause and effect, this model incorporates works into it unlike the Once Saved, Always Saved model. However, unlike the Saved by Works model, the works don’t save us since we are already given the gift of salvation (Gal. 2:17-21; 5:1-4). The grace of God through faith in the Gospel saves us, not works (Eph. 2:1-22).
This model embraces and understand the condition of “if” we looked at last week (i.e. We can lose their salvation). However, the people that embrace this model are not consumed with the thought of the potential loss of salvation. They are empowered by the love that has been shown to them in the sacrifice of Christ and are motivated by thankfulness and love rather than trying fix something left undone by Christ (Phil 4:6,7; Col 2:7; Rom 8:15, 2 Tim 1:7; 1 John 4:18). They are not burdened by the yoke of saving themselves since that was accomplished on the cross (Matt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:16). They know and appreciate the grace of God, but do not presume upon it. “For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14 RSV)
If we painted a caricature of these people it might look something like this. They are diligent Bible students who are touched by the message emotionally. They are joyful people content in their position in Christ (Acts 13:52; 15:15; Rom 14:17; 15:13; 2 Cor. 8:1-2; Gal 5:22; Col 1:11; 1 Thess 1:6; 1 Pet 1:8; 1 Tim 6:6-8; Heb 13:5). They search the Scriptures, not out of a sense of obligation or earning proverbial “Kingdom points,” but as people who want to know their Heavenly Father and His Son more intimately (John 17:3, Jer 9:24; Phil 3:7-16). They live Godly lives out of a sense of gratitude for this wonderful position they have been put into in Christ (Col. 3:14-17). They see our Heavenly Father a loving God who gave His son for us and they ask the question “If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31) They manifest love in their life both in gentleness and kindness, but also by speaking directly and confidently about issues of truth and morality (2 Cor 10:1,2; Gal 5:22-23; 2 Tim 2:24-26; Tit 3:2; James 3:13-18).
If we pictured this metaphor visually using Bro. Bughman’s picture as a basis(*), we would suggest that it look something like this. See http://www.inthegarden.homestead.com/. The primary change is that once we come into Christ by being baptized into his name, we are reconciled to God as represented by being back in the Garden. Jesus refers to himself as The Way. He is the Way back into the Garden. By partaking in his death, burial and resurrection, we come into Christ. The cherub that guarded the way found its way onto the top of the mercy seat with its face(s) pointed toward the Mercy Seat. Jesus is represented as the mercy seat. In type, the golden Cherubim of the Most Holy pointed us to the way back in to God’s presence — Jesus. In Christ, we are now are “in heavenly places” in God’s presence (Eph 1:3; 2:6; Phil 3:20). This is not literal, of course, but a representation of the exalted position we have in Christ.
Among other changes, we have superimposed two images on the two trees in the Garden — a brain on the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and our crucified Lord on the Tree of Life. Lord willing, we will elaborate on this next week, but in short it represents the choice of those reconciled to God to either manifest the carnal mind or the mind of Christ. There is an exit just as their was for Adam and Eve. However, for those who crucify the son of God afresh, there is no way back in as described in Heb. 10. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (26,27)
If we start to understand this new and exalted position we have in Christ, many passages of Scripture can come alive. Is not this the picture of Colossians 1? “…be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God…Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is…the firstborn of every creature: …he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. …having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself…And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled…In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: IF ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel…”
Have a great week!
(*) Footnote: We wish to reiterate that we mean no disrespect to Bro. Bughman in changing his chart. As we have said before, although we did not know Bro. Bughman personally as he is asleep in Christ, we believe that Bro. Bughman had no intention of using this chart to teach salvation by works. It was used for teaching many true and vital principles of Scripture for many years. We use it in the spirit of the noble Bereans who were commended for they “searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” We must keep in mind who the Bereans were challenging by checking his material. The Apostle Paul! If men are commended for challenging the inspired with open Bibles, should we not also be able, with open Bibles, to challenge those not blessed with the gift of Divine inspiration?
