Recently, one of my church members raised a concern regarding his fear of dying with unresolved anger or unforgiveness still inside him. He was afraid that if he did not fully forgive everybody just at the moment of his death, he might end up in hell. I believe some of you may be having the same fear. Therefore, in this post, I like to provide some basic clarification of God’s words to shed light on our Christian perspective of salvation and how the grace of God extends beyond our mistakes and sins.
Justification by Faith
For Christians, salvation is not achieved through our own good works or righteousness. As I have shared often from the pulpit it is purely a result of the grace of God demonstrated through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This biblical concept is known as justification. As the apostle Paul explains in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The Gift of Salvation
You and I cannot earn or pay for our eternal life; it is a gift freely given by God. Jesus Christ paid the price for our salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. Acts 4:12 affirms that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ. Therefore, may I emphasize that salvation is provided by Christ and Christ alone.
Our Role in Salvation
What is then our role in this salvation encounter? We know for a fact that we cannot save ourselves through our own efforts or righteousness. We also know that salvation comes alone through our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Savior. As Paul has explained in Romans 10:8-10 that salvation is obtained by confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believing in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead. Salvation is a matter of faith and trust in Christ’s finished work.
The Reality of Sin
Even after accepting Christ and experiencing salvation, we may still struggle with sin and make moral mistakes. However, salvation does not condemn us to hell for every sin we commit. It is important to understand the distinction between living a life of sin and committing individual acts of sin.
Hebrews 10:26 states, “If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.” However, it is important to note that this verse does not imply that a single act of willful sin automatically renders Jesus’ sacrifice ineffective. The emphasis is on a persistent and deliberate lifestyle of sinning without repentance. It highlights the danger of willfully rejecting the grace and forgiveness offered through Jesus’ sacrifice. What must we do? We should therefore live in accordance with the truth we have received and avoid falling back into a pattern of sinful behavior. When there is genuine faith in Christ, it should result in a transformed life characterized by obedience to God’s Words.
Living A Repented Life
What is repentance? Repentance is about acknowledging our sins, feeling remorse for them, and making a genuine effort to turn away from sinful behavior. The Bible is very clear that true repentance demonstrates a sincere desire to follow God’s commandments and seek His forgiveness. So, when we make mistakes or sin, it is essential to go to God and respond humbly with repentance and sincerely seek restoration of fellowship with God again. A repentant heart, like that of Peter after denying Christ, allows us to enjoy the joy of our salvation, and to grow continually in our faith and become more like Jesus.
The Danger of Apostasy
How does one lose his salvation? To understand what apostasy is, we can look at the life, and death of Judas as an example. He was an apostle of Jesus Christ but deliberately turned away from his relationship with Lord, and rejected the foundational truths and principles of the faith. He lost his salvation because he rejected Christ completely. Therefore, to become an apostate, you have to go beyond mere doubts or struggles in your life. You have to reject Christ and His salvation. It is a willful abandonment of the core tenets of Christianity, including the belief in Jesus as the Son of God, the authority of Scripture, and the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
The Sanctifying Process
After salvation, the process of sanctification begins with the leading of the Holy Spirit. When we were saved, God accepted us as who we were but He wanted the very best for us. So, He sent the Holy Spirit to give us sanctification. This process involves an ongoing transformation within us to take on the likeness of Christ. The Holy Spirit will continue to show us which areas of our lives are not pleasing to God, and then guide us towards repentance and spiritual growth. The wonderful result is that soon, people will notice that we are behaving like Christ. In short, we have more and more “Christlikeness”.
The Grace of God
In conclusion, the grace of God is far greater than our mistakes and sins. Salvation is a gift received through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our own works. While believers may still struggle with sin, the conviction of the Holy Spirit guides us toward repentance and transformation. It is important to remember that unresolved anger or mistakes do not condemn us to hell. Instead, they hinder our growth and relationship with God. By seeking forgiveness, restoration, and striving to become more like Christ, we can experience the fullness of God’s grace and live in the assurance of eternal life.
Albert Connect 
Thank you pastor for sharing this truth from His word.