Perhaps Satan's most effective lie is to project the idea that since we are not saved meritoriously (by anything we do ), we need do little more than profess.
This leads one to live pretty much just as his carnal heart would desire and yet feel secure in the delusion. An even more effective twist on this is for that person to toss in a few modest SJW good works so as to be credited with salvation. Is that not however, righteousness by works, the very thing some accuse the obedient of?
Many intentionally skew up the topic of salvation so as to fool themselves into feeling good about disobedience. The question may arise " is meat eating " or "is Sabbath keeping" for that matter, a salvation issue ? It certainly is when properly understood. Let's not read into the "salvation issue" more than is there.
Salvation Issue
"Salvation issue" means an issue involved in salvation, nothing more and nothing less. Again, let's not read into those two words what is not there--to do so is the same thing that gets defenders of Sunday worship into so much trouble. "Salvation issue" does not read "salvation by vegetarianism" or "salvation by Sabbath keeping." However these issues ARE INVOLVED in salvation.
I am not saved because I do not drink alcohol. However, if I drink alcohol and my clouded brain leads me to serve the devil instead of God could it be said that drinking booze was a "salvation issue?" Certainly! Abstaining from alcohol, in and of itself does not lead one to Christ but drinking it certainly leads one away from Him and therefore it IS a "salvation issue."
Advantages
It is a tremendous advantage not to drink booze. It is also an advantage not to plug our arteries with fat and cloud our brain for lack of blood and oxygen. It is an advantage, a "salvation issue" to come apart from the distractions of the world for an entire day and focus on our Creator and Redeemer. To come apart from work and spend quality time with our Creator on His appointed time will save us from many harmful things. To purposely refuse to do so when we have light on the subject is a "salvation issue." It affects our salvation in a harmful, negative way. When we cooperate with God we will be saved from an early self-inflicted death due to a poor lifestyle and a forgetfulness of God.
Do not let anyone tell you that these things are not salvation issues. We ought not think they have nothing to do with the salvation process. Christ came to save us from more than just a future hell. He came to save us here and now.
Making Truth a Lie !
Truth is often made to be error. How can this be? How often when discussing "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy "do we hear from those in the world, "But we are not saved by works."
Their statement, however true, is made into error because the implication is that we are permitted to therefore "forget the Sabbath day." They use a statement of truth to suggest that it is perfectly alright to disobey an express commandment of God. What if when someone says "Thou shalt not steal” or “Thou shalt not commit adultery” we replied, "Hah! We are not saved by works!” They would think we had lost our minds.
And yet this is the oft reply to issues regarding obedience. How often we hear these very same sentiments within the church. Jesus said “If ye love Me keep My Commandments” (John 14:15). Obedience to God feathers out and covers every aspect of our lives!
"As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, “Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.” He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it” (Luke 11:28).
Kevin is a veteran Colporter who currently lives in West Virginia with his family.