Faith Is Truly What Saves Us!

Today, and tomorrow, I am going to broach the topic of salvation!  The possibility of being safe with God!  Some refer to it as being saved!   I prefer safe!

Throughout the New Testament we read about how this being safe with God works.  However I have experienced  a wealth of mis-understanding concerning this concept — this abstract idea of being saved. Being in heaven with God one day. 

In the Apostle Paul's writing we are told that, “We are saved by grace through faith!”  I’ll talk more about that in tomorrows blog.  

Before I go on, I want to paraphrase one person’s astute understanding on being “saved by faith:”  

Salvation is never a matter of faith and!  Faith and something else!

Salvation is not about faith and!  A certain spiritual practice or theological perspective.

Salvation is not about faith and! A particular income level or social status.

Salvation is not about faith and!  A specific denomination!

Salvation is not about faith and!  One political party!

Salvation is not about faith and! And being a good enough and/or right enough!”

The only thing that saves us is faith!  Just faith alone!

So then I have to ask some questions!  Can those who sin, those who in someway disappoint God, have a strong faith?  Or, can "sinners" be saved?    I asked, because in our culture today people spend a whole bunch of time naming sin.  Mostly the sin of someone else! 

In Luke’s Gospel Jesus talks about the condition of sin.  I am referring to in Luke 7:26 - 8:2.  Where we read about a “Woman of the Village.” Who  is  being judged by a proud Pharisee who is appalled by Jesus’ acceptance of such a “sinner.”

The great temptation of the human ego is to judge another’s heart.  And yet Jesus is pretty clear about such temptation.  God is the only one who can judge hearts.  Simon, the Pharisee, was not only judging the woman; but Jesus as well.  Listen to how Jesus handles the situation: 

36 One of the Pharisees asked him over for a meal. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down at the dinner table. 37 Just then a woman of the village, the town harlot, having learned that Jesus was a guest in the home of the Pharisee, came with a bottle of very expensive perfume 38 and stood at his feet, weeping, raining tears on his feet. Letting down her hair, she dried his feet, kissed them, and anointed them with the perfume.

Now we need to keep in mind the time in history and the culture here. And we need to know that Simon was a strong Jewish Pharisee.  A teacher, and preacher, of Mosaic Law. He was also basically an extremist, in the Jewish faith and Law.  Who extended his beliefs and rules beyond the temple.  Applying everything, everything, to his understanding of Jewish Law! 

Simon did not know who Jesus really was. God in human skin!  Simon was judging, the woman and Jesus,  on un-informed and misguided, information.

Simon's judgment is that the woman was an unforgivable “a sinner!”  One who should be stoned by Jewish law.  And he takes the position deciding her worth.  Seeing himself is different.  Better!  Far above her in status and reputation! 

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man was the prophet I thought he was, he would have known what kind of woman this is who is falling all over him." 

When Jesus senses Simon’s thoughts he proceeds to draw a sharp contrast between the righteousness of God and the unrighteousness of human beings. He does this by pointing to Simon’s precious purity codes and his insistence on strict adherence to the Law.

In other words, Jesus hits him right where he live! He does this because Simon had not, himself, followed the hospitality codes of purity.  And Jesus tells one of his parables:

40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." "Teacher," he replied, "speak." 41 "A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon answered, "I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt." And Jesus said to him, "You have judged rightly." 

Simon’s answer was correctly stated!  But I’m sure Jesus knew that Simon had not gotten the point of the parable.  So he calmly turns to the woman and says:

Simon,"Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. 45 You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn't quit kissing my feet. 46 You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. 47 Impressive, isn't it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal." 48 Then he spoke to her: “Your sins are forgiven!”

Jesus was telling Simon how he had failed to offer Jesus the Jewish ritual of the  purity code of hospitality, as well as the love and respect due any guest in a Jewish home.  That is Simon didn’t practice what he so strictly taught and preach.  And, and he loved little!  He not only failed to uphold all of the rules; but he failed to show God’s love to his guest.

Then the narrative continues with what was going on in the minds of Simon’s other self-righteous dinner guest: 

49 That set the dinner guests talking behind his back: "Who does he think he is, forgiving sins!" 50 He ignored them and said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

The one of whom it was proclaimed, I bring you good news of great joy for all people (Lk. 2), is being observed by a small handful of snobbish Pharisees who are much too willing to name other’s sin.  So Jesus calls them up short!  He does this by fulfilling the promise, of good new and great joy, to this immoral woman.

… afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2 as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,(Luke 7:36 - 8:2)

So, can sinners, huge sinners — whatever that means — have a strong faith?   Can they have the love  of God despite their flaws?

Absolutely!  Or we would all be un-save-able!  Unacceptable before God!  Because, We all in some ways fair to live up to God hope for us! 

Each, and everyone one of us, are justified by grace through faith. 

Period!