Posts
1. The Conditional understanding of salvation says this: God sent Jesus to us to die for our sins and offer us salvation. If we respond in the right way--repent, believe, trust, etc--we will receive salvation. If we do not respond in the right way, we will be lost.
[The essential requirement of the Conditional view of salvation is in the little word "if." If you believe, repent, etc., you will be saved. God has done his part, now you must do your part.]
2. The Unconditional view says: God sent Jesus to die for our sins. His death was effective; i.e., our sins have been taken away. Therefore, there is nothing we have to do for our salvation; Christ has done it all. We are saved. We are forgiven. Believe it!
[The essential part of this message is: It is finished! There is no "if." God has done his part. There is nothing we can add to it. Our salvation is in God's hands, not ours. And that is Good News! In response to this Good News, we repent (change our minds/hearts) and believe/trust God. Our lives show our gratitude and trust by the way we live.]
The first approach is not really good news (gospel) because the onus is on us. We have to complete the transaction by believing enough or repenting enough or living the right way. That creates a lot of anxiety in us, and we are never sure that we have achieved enough or the right kind of faith. This is not good news.
But the second approach really is good news (gospel). Our salvation is an accomplished fact. It doesn't depend upon us. There is no anxiety about it. This good news sets us free and releases us to actually enjoy our salvation and respond to God with trust and faith. The repentance comes after hearing the good news instead of being a requirement.
Personally, I accept the unconditional love of God and trust in what Christ has done, not in what I might or might not do. This is the good news I believe in. There is no "if" in the good news.
In light of this second approach there is still the opportunity for evangelism. But now the evangelical task is not one of saying to people, "IF you believe and repent, you will be saved (and make sure you believe correctly and repent enough)." Rather, our evangelical message is: "I've got Good News. God loves you unconditionally. Christ died for you. You are saved and forgiven! I invite you to believe this good news and live in the freedom of Christ."
For some reason many church people can't accept this second approach (Unconditional). They don't like the fact that it takes away the 'threat' that the first approach retains. Yet, there is plenty of Scriptural support for the second approach. Many Scripture passages declare the unconditional love of God. Of course the consequence of not believing the good news of unconditional salvation is a tragic consequence. It's a hell of a life if you don't accept the unconditional love of God.
