Salvation Is Not By Chance
Ever flipped a coin to make an important decision? What are the odds of making the right decision by doing so? Most folks would say it is 50/50. But research has proven that a coin has a 51 percent chance of landing on the side it started from. So, if heads is up to start with, there's a slightly bigger chance that a coin will land heads rather than tails. This means that the result is not totally random. Some folks seem to be “flipping a coin” regarding their eternal soul. These folks go through life taking a chance by not making proper preparation, gambling with their souls in the process.
Consider a coin with Heaven as heads, and Hell as tails. Are you willing to “flip” this coin to determine your eternity? If such a coin existed with such an outcome, I suspect that some would try it. They would “hope” that the coin at the start of the flip was on heads (Heaven) and that it would land that way at the end of the flip. No coin lands with neither heads nor tails. Of course, no such coin exists, and this was not God’s plan for the determination for the eternal home of the souls of humanity.
Eternity is not a gamble or a “flip of a coin”, as God desires all to be saved as is stated in 1Timothy 2:3-4. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. He has also delivered a plan whereby man can have the salvation of his soul. Romans 10:13 provides the means through which this can occur. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Of course, this is not simply a verbal “calling out” to the Lord. This is to submit to the authority of the Lord. In Acts 11:14, Cornelius was told the Lord was sending Peter “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.” This means that Peter was bringing the Lord’s “instruction” as to how Cornelius and those who heard those Words could be saved. This proves that action is required.
If heads on the coin is “saved” and leads to Heaven, the other side is “lost” and leads to Hell. If action, (Hear, Believe, Repent, Confess Jesus as the Son of God, be Baptized “into Christ”, and then Remain Faithful) leads ultimately to Heaven, we can surely grasp that failure to obey and inactivity (no action) is to be lost. Perhaps this is the idea being conveyed in 1Peter 4:17-18 as those to whom the Spirit had Peter write were being encouraged. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? The ungodly and the sinner will be utterly lost.
Would this not be why Peter and the eleven, on the day of Pentecost were given Words to direct the lost into the kingdom? Acts 2:40 shows this to be the case. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. The following verse shows how those that believed and received the Words responded and what benefit they gained as a result. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. They were, according to verse 47, “added to the church”. They didn’t take a “chance”. They took action according to the Word.
This requirement for action is not just applied to the lost. Those who have been saved by the blood of Christ in baptism, also are required to continue the “work” to remain ready for eternity. The Spirit had Paul remind the folks in Philippians 2:12 of this great need. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Then, the Corinthian brethren in 2Corinthians 5:9 are told this. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. In verse 10 we see why all need an awareness of this. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
In Matthew 18:11, as Jesus was teaching His disciples the parable of the lost sheep, Christ states His purpose for leaving Heaven and coming to live in human flesh. He said: “For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost.” And we are well aware of the great love on the part of God in sending His Son to die on Calvary’s cross from John 3:16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. But some don’t seem to be aware that when Jesus died on that cross, was buried in that borrowed tomb, and when He ascended back to the Father to die no more, no one was saved at that point. But He had indeed provided the means for Salvation.
Jesus told Thomas in John 14:6: I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. In Matthew 11:28 we find the Words of Christ for all the lost. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. No, Salvation is not a coin toss, nor is it a happening of chance. One of two outcomes will occur, and this outcome is up to you. One will be saved if they do what God teaches through His Word. If not, they will be lost for eternity. Make your choice today and do what God requires. The Salvation of your soul is not left to chance.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
