Ask a Pastor Column

Q: The Bible says we are saved in our spirit, doesn’t that mean that God doesn’t care what I do with my body? 

A:  Hmm, not so much! You see, there are two errors that we can make when it comes to God’s perspective of our daily life. The first is to assume that God expects me to earn His favor by making right choices. This false perspective is corrected by verses such as Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 4:5, which clearly teach salvation by grace alone through faith alone. The opposite error is to assume that God doesn’t care how we live, so long as we ‘believe in Jesus’ or ‘pray a prayer.’ This perspective is also refuted by a myriad of Scriptures: Ephesians 2:10, James 2:17, I Corinthians 6:19-20, Romans 12:1, and so on.

The whole counsel of Scripture reveals to us that we are saved by the grace of God and that He intends His grace to produce godly behavior in our daily lives. We are saved by a transforming faith (II Corinthians 5:17, 21); and by a faith that works (James 2:26). The most obvious evidence of our saving faith is a changed lifestyle.

It is also vital for us to understand that sin is not a set of demerits, nor is salvation a mere technicality to be stamped on our hand so we can go back to enjoying immoral life choices. Sin is a cancer (Romans 7:24), it is the root cause of all misery in the human condition (Romans 1:18-32). Our sin is actively killing us and those we interact with (Romans 6:23). And because God cares about you, He is actively seeking to deliver you from your sins so that you can begin to discover what the good life really is (John 10:10)! That is why the Bible warns us about sin, and that is why it instructs us to reject sin, overcome it through faith in Christ, and be made whole and righteous in Christ.

The questions and answers compiled over the last year are now available in hard-copy and digital format. To request a copy send an email to askapastor [email protected] or by mail to Formoso Church; P.O. Box 66; Formoso, Kan. 66942