Justification by Faith may be a False Gospel or Not

I really appreciate Steve Scott. His blog is always interesting. I followed him home (my terminology) from John Armstrong's blog one day and he stuck. If he lived near me we would hang out.

His comment below on the Walking on Water post is great. He said that when the NFL looks more like the scene in heaven described in the book of Revelation than Church does men will stay home from church. He also says Church is for Girls. Provocative? Maybe, but absolutely truthful and honest.

Does the NFL look more like heaven than the Church does? Maybe:

• It's loud in heaven. Very loud. Ditto NFL
• People are up and down and cheer (cry Holy) every time Jesus reveals a little more of his Glory. Ditto NFL
• There is dancing and singing. Ditto NFL
• There is unity in purpose, seeing what will happen next. Ditto NFL
• Heaven is a very colorful place. Ditto NFL
• The focus in Heaven is what is happening and not one another. Ditto NFL
• There is drama and unpredictability in Heaven. Ditto NFL
• AND, the Key player is clothed in very intimidating clothes. John even fell like he was dead when he saw Him. Ditto NFL

Steve might just be right. I won't give you chapter and verse, but if you can find your Bible, you just might look at the book of Revelation and see how much like the NFL heaven really is.

I have attended and do attend a Church which is in fact much like the NFL. Unpredictable, raucous, intense, loud and focused on what was about to happen. We even high five each other. There were times in Fargo when I was certain as the shouts got louder (Oh YES, the worship leader would have us SHOUT and SHOUT to the Lord) that I thought Jesus himself would walk in. In a service in Rockford during a particularly Loud and Raucous time some 15 different men ran to the platform and prayed and shouted to tear down altars of Baal. That was like the NFL.

So, sometimes the Church looks like the NFL. When it does MEN respond. At least this man does. I feel like running a couple laps.

One of the reasons I love what Steve does is his willingness to call a spade a spade. He's fearless. And he asks good questions. He responded to the question of Justification by Faith alone with some clarity. You should read it and ask the question. Even the most Lutheran person I know (that's not always in a good way) Barry Kolb questions if we don't miss it when we quote Ephesians 2:8-9 and don't include 10. We were created for good works. Somehow we just don't do them.

If you really want the truth, Steve and Barry, here it is.

You will get to heaven without doing any works. Justification by faith. The hell or heaven choice is made. Heaven just might seem nearly hell like when you get there if you end up with NO REWARD. Proof text?

2 John 8
If there is a full reward could there be a partial or no reward?

2 Corinth 5:8-10
This was written to people who were bound for heaven. Saved folks. What's that all about.

Heb 6:4
What Judgement is that? Heaven or hell, or is this another.

Phil 3:14
If this is written about Heaven was Paul questioning his salvation? I don't think so. This must be about something more. Something that happens in heaven.

Where the Justification by faith alone theology falls apart is it's emphasis on heaven without the Bema Seat judgement of Christ. We will all stand before the throne of Christ alone and give an account of what we did or didn't do. Wood hay and stubble will make up most of what we did.

Believers will be judged in only two areas:

1. What did you do to build the Kingdom of God on earth while you were alive? Yes this has to do with souls, it also has to do with what it takes to reach souls. I hope that includes the Church but Steve and I are less confident of that all along. Looks like Jesus is going to have to go to another plan.
2. What we did to build and develop our individual lives to serve God. This is not Bible Study although it may include Bible Study. This is finding your gifting and finding a place to exercise your gift. If you aren't using what God gave you he will hold you accountable. If the Pastor of the Church won't allow you to exercise your gift find a different church. Jesus will hold him accountable separately for quenching the Spirit. You are alone accountable for using and developing everything and every opprotunity God gives you. Staying inert and comfortable in your nominal Christianity is wood, hay and stubble. Some people would say that if you don't move on in God you will be judged the most severely and lose all reward.

This is a tough issue and I will write on this more. It's really simple. We are saved by grace and judged by our works. Two different things. Don't miss out. Build the kingdom and build yourself up in your most Holy Faith praying always in the Holy Ghost. Jude 20.