{"id":10436,"date":"2019-07-02T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-07-02T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reasons.org\/why-would-god-save-us\/"},"modified":"2019-07-02T09:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-07-02T09:00:00","slug":"why-would-god-save-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reasons.org\/adam-eve\/sin\/why-would-god-save-us","title":{"rendered":"Why Would God Save Us?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Answering people\u2019s questions is an important task in the apologetics enterprise. But defending the Christian faith often involves first explaining what historic Christianity teaches. This is why today\u2019s Christian apologists need to recognize that the field of apologetics was seen historically as a branch of theology. Thus, skilled apologists must demonstrate a grasp of theology, doctrine, and history.<\/p>\n

Recently I received a question from a Christian who was struggling with an aspect of Christian theology. His question focuses on the heart of Christianity. Many of us have asked this question, so I hope his query and my response will help you also.<\/p>\n

The question: <\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sorry for this simple question, but it really challenges my faith and I can\u2019t find a satisfying answer anywhere. . . .From a Christian perspective: \u201cWhy would God save us just because we believe in Jesus as our Savior?\u201d What makes a believer so special in the eyes of God that he grants them eternal life rather than eternal damnation?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

My response:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I appreciated the reader\u2019s question because it allows us to get to the heart of the gospel. We can begin by examining what the apostle Paul wrote in Titus 3:4-7<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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4<\/sup><\/span>But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, <\/span>5<\/span><\/sup>he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, <\/span>6<\/span><\/sup>whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, <\/span>7<\/span><\/sup>so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The root of the New Testament Greek word for \u201cfaith\u201d (pisteuo<\/em>: verb; pistis<\/em>: <\/em>noun) is \u201ctrust.\u201d A believer in Christ places his or her \u201cconfident trust\u201d in Jesus as Lord and Savior. The nonbeliever has no faith in Christ and thus is not trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Believing in Christ means that the person has been adopted into the family of God. The nonbeliever stands outside of God\u2019s family because of his or her unbelief. The Christian believer is not special in himself or herself but is a sinner just like nonbelievers. The \u201cspecialness\u201d is found in God\u2019s loving grace and mercy extended to the person through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ.<\/p>\n

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What the believer does that the nonbeliever does not is merely to \u201ctrust\u201d in God\u2019s promises concerning the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With faith (trust) comes forgiveness, adoption, and eternal life via God\u2019s amazing love. Without faith (trust) comes divine judgment, separation, and eternal damnation via God\u2019s justice. Love isn\u2019t possible without being conjoined with the attribute of justice.<\/p>\n

So a person is saved by grace (unmerited favor), through faith (trust), in Jesus Christ (his life, death, and resurrection), but not by works (not by their own merit). Nobody earns salvation but instead receives it by trusting God who lovingly provides salvation by his grace and mercy.<\/p>\n

Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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So why would God save us? God saves people who confess their sin and ask for his forgiveness and trust that Jesus Christ\u2019s life, death, and resurrection make them right with God. Salvation comes because of God\u2019s loving grace and mercy and is received through faith (trust) in Jesus Christ. A Christian\u2019s good works are the fruit<\/em>, not the root, of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n