So where can one find lasting truth? Is it hidden in world
religious tradition, the Christian church, worldly pleasures, or is a
purposeful life just an illusion?
World Religions: Shared Desires, Different Paths
Among many world religions, there seems to be a common
thread: they aim for truth, peace, and a
moral way of living, often seeking
connection with something divine. However, their definitions of a "good
life" and their approach to achieving it differ significantly. Just to
name a few:
- Hinduism:
Seeks truth through meditation to achieve moksha (freedom from
rebirth), emphasizing dharma (duty).
- Buddhism:
Pursues peace via the Eightfold Path, like practicing mindfulness to reach
nirvana.
- Islam:
Focuses on submission to Allah, with moral living through the Five
Pillars, such as daily prayers.
As mentioned earlier, the pursuit of enlightenment and a purposeful life often varies greatly in method and belief. Many world religions emphasize human effort, placing the weight of spiritual fulfillment on personal discipline and moral achievement, rather than on receiving divine grace. Yet for many, this path leads to frustration and disappointment. Disillusioned, they turn instead to the world’s substitutes: indulgence in sex, drugs, and material wealth. But rather than satisfaction, they often find themselves on a more destructive path, further from the peace and a purposeful life they desired.
So where can we truly find peace and purpose? Is the search
itself just a mirage? God, in His boundless grace and mercy, has been speaking
to humanity and offering a solution since the beginning of time. Yet mankind
has often been too blind to see, and too deaf to hear. The Bible, in stark
contrast to the world’s ever-shifting beliefs, reveals a liberating truth: a
purposeful life in Jesus. Biblical Salvation is not something to be
earned, worked for, or bought with worldly riches, but it is a gift freely given
by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians
2:8–9).
But what group or denomination is correct? If one searches
for purpose and salvation through religious groups, they could easily end up
like those who seek purpose outside of God: frustrated, disappointed, and disillusioned.
Distinctions Within Christianity: Faith, Works, and Grace
Among groups that identify Christianity as their foundation,
notable distinctions exist between Protestants, Catholics, and Orthodox
traditions regarding salvation.
- Catholic
and Orthodox theology directly integrate works and sacraments into the
process of salvation. They view these sacraments as means of cooperating
with grace rather than merely expressing it. For instance, the Catholic
Catechism (CCC 1129) affirms that the sacraments are necessary for
salvation.
So, what are the basic differences in the
"Christian" groups' understanding of salvation?
- Protestantism:
States that salvation is by God’s grace through faith alone. Works will
not save them; rather, works demonstrate the faith and sanctification
working within them.
- Catholicism:
Teaches that faith and works cooperate, with sacraments serving as
"means" of grace (CCC 1996-2005).
- Orthodox
Christianity: Salvation involves theosis (also called
divinization), where faith, works, and sacraments work synergistically –
meaning they work together to create a greater effect than each could
achieve alone. They believe that by faith, prayer, and holy living, a
person grows closer to God, sharing in His love, goodness, and holiness,
while still remaining human.
While these approaches are honorable, according to the
Bible, man’s works cannot save him.
Can Mankind Become "Moral Enough" to Be Saved?
From a theological standpoint, Biblical Christianity’s claim
is clear: Salvation is not earned, but received. However, in world
religions and even within some Christian traditions, the mechanism of salvation
differs fundamentally.
The Bible teaches us that human effort, no matter how
virtuous, falls short of God’s perfect standard, requiring divine intervention
for salvation. Humans are prone to sin, which prevents them from achieving
moral perfection. Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God” (ESV). Even our best efforts are flawed, as Isaiah 64:6
notes, “All our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.” Moral
perfection cannot save anyone.
Salvation is a gift of God, given by His grace through
faith, and not earned through works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you
have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift
of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (ESV).
The Role of Repentance and Grace
When the Holy Spirit draws people, He reveals their sin and
rebellion against God, leading them to repentance. John 16:8 explains, “And
when he [the Holy Spirit] comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and
righteousness and judgment” (ESV).
Repentance is a changed mind that leads to a change in
direction, turning from sin to God’s forgiveness. Acts 3:19 states, “Repent
therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out.”
(Note: The biblical concept
of repentance literally means “a change of mind.” But it’s not just
intellectual; it is transformational. True repentance involves a change of
heart and mind about sin (e.g., seeing themselves the way that God sees them),
which causes one to turn away from sin and self-centeredness to God, where they
receive His forgiveness and grace for salvation.)
Grace is God’s loving, unmerited favor, providing salvation through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Romans 5:8 emphasizes, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Even faith itself is a gift from God. Romans 10:17 states, “So
faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (ESV).
Salvation is never by human works, as Titus 3:5 affirms, “He saved us, not
because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy”
(ESV).
Conclusion: Having peace and
purpose in life is a gift.
In a world full of competing paths and shifting beliefs, only one offers
lasting truth without demanding perfection: the Gospel of Jesus Christ. True
peace, purpose, and salvation are not found through human striving, but through
receiving God's unearned gift of grace by faith. Jesus does not ask us to climb
our way up to Him. He gloriously came down to meet us where we are. While
denominations within Christianity debate the role of works, the Bible is clear,
human effort cannot bridge the gap between God and mankind. The question is not
whether we can be good enough, but whether we will humbly receive what He
freely offers. Peace is free and with
His peace we will find purpose.
STUDY NOTES / END NOTES
The biblical
concept of repentance (Greek: metanoia) literally means “a change
of mind.” But it’s not just intellectual—it’s transformational. True repentance
involves:
- A change of heart and mind about
sin
- Causing a turning away from sin
and self-centeredness
- And turning toward God, receiving His forgiveness
and grace
References Showing Mankind’s Failure
1.
Romans 3:10-12 – Universal Sinfulness
- “As it is written: ‘None is righteous,
no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned
aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even
one.’"
- Context: Paul quotes Psalm 14 to show
that all people, Jew and Gentile, are under sin’s power. No one naturally
meets God’s standard of righteousness.
- Failure: Even the best human efforts at
goodness are tainted by sin, preventing moral perfection.
2.
Isaiah 64:6 – Imperfect Righteousness
- “We have all become like one who is
unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all
fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
- Context: Isaiah laments Israel’s
sinfulness, acknowledging that even their “righteous deeds” are flawed in
God’s sight.
- Failure: Human attempts at morality are
insufficient, likened to “polluted garments,” unable to earn salvation.
3.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 – No One is Sinless
- “Surely there is not a righteous man on
earth who does good and never sins.”
- Context: The Preacher reflects on human
nature, recognizing that no one achieves moral perfection.
- Failure: Everyone sins, so no one can
claim to be “moral enough” to avoid destruction on their own.
4.
Jeremiah 17:9 – Deceitful Heart
- “The heart is deceitful above all
things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”
- Context: Jeremiah describes the human
heart’s tendency toward sin, which leads to destructive choices.
- Failure: Human nature is inherently
flawed, making self-reliant moral improvement unreliable.
5.
Romans 7:18-19 – Struggle with Sin
- “For I know that nothing good dwells in
me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but
not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the
evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.”
- Context: Paul describes the internal
conflict of wanting to do good but being hindered by sin’s influence.
- Failure: Even with good intentions, humans
struggle to consistently live morally, showing the need for divine help.
Examples of Mankind’s Failure
Here
are simple, relatable examples illustrating human moral shortcomings:
· Personal
Failure: Someone tries to live honestly but lies to avoid embarrassment,
showing how sin creeps into good intentions (Romans 3:10-12).
· Societal
Failure: A community aims to help the poor but ignores systemic injustice,
like unfair wages, reflecting flawed “righteous deeds” (Isaiah 64:6).
· Inner
Struggle: A person wants to forgive a friend but holds a grudge, unable to
fully act on their moral desire (Romans 7:18-19).
· Self-Deception:
Someone thinks they’re kind but gossips behind others’ backs, unaware of their
“deceitful heart” (Jeremiah 17:9).
·
Universal Sin: Even a “good” person snaps
at a loved one in anger, proving no one is sinless (Ecclesiastes 7:20).
Why Mankind Can’t Be “Moral Enough”
The
scriptures above emphasize that sin is universal and persistent, affecting
everyone (Romans 3:23). Human morality, while valuable, is imperfect and cannot
bridge the gap to God’s holiness or undo destructive tendencies (e.g.,
selfishness leading to conflict or spiritual separation). In Christian
theology, salvation requires God’s grace, often through faith in Christ’s
redemptive work, not human merit.
·
Paths of Destruction: These can be
personal (e.g., addiction, broken relationships), societal (e.g., war,
injustice), or spiritual (eternal separation from God). Moral effort might
mitigate some harm but doesn’t address the root issue of sin.
·
Hope Beyond Failure: While mankind fails
morally, Christianity teaches that God’s grace offers salvation. John 3:16
(“For God so loved the world…”) and Titus 3:5 (“He saved us, not because of
works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy”) highlight
that salvation comes through God’s initiative, not human morality.
