A Mini-Dialogue on Salvation, the Cross, & the Man's Obligation to the Gospel

A Protestant's Objection:

Man is already reconciled to God because of the finished work of Christ. (Col.1:19-20) But Sin still dwells in our body, (Rom.7:17) And when we sin, we are NOT the one who is doing it, but the sin that still dwells in our body. Aside from that, we have already been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter. Romans 7:6 (NASB95) And if ever we commits sin, God is not counting our sins against us no more. 2 Cor 5:19 (NASB95) But we reap the consequences of what we sow, and being Children of God, He discipline us for our good.

My Answer:

This is a poor theology which looks down on the (serious) implications of sin. 

"Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, PROVIDED YOU CONTINUE in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be CUT OFF." [Romans 11:22] [emphasis mine]

Your theology looks down on the nature of sin which is a FREE & CONSCIOUS or DELIBERATE disobedience to the commandments of God (see Matt. 7:21). The idea of 2 Corinthians 5:19 according to Barne's commentary (see here: http://bible.cc/2_corinthians/5-19.htm) "...that God did not charge on them with inexorable severity and stern justice their offenses, but graciously provided a plan of pardon, and offered to remit their sins on the conditions of the gospel." 

What then are the CONDITIONS OF THE GOSPEL? 

Simple, BELIEVE, REPENT, TURN FROM YOUR WICKED WAYS. Christ saved us, this is a GIFT. However, as a gift, it needs our ACTION & this action is: ACCEPTANCE that is not a ONE TIME EVENT but a LIFE TIME VOW to be in Christ. Hence there is the continual call to REPENTANCE & fighting the good fight in HOPE even after becoming a Christian...

Re-read Rom. 11:22 again & contrast this to what Jesus himself COMMANDED: "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." [John 15:4] & "But IF you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!" [John 15:7].

Take note, an individual's conscious adherence to or detachment from Christ is not disregarded & will affect one's salvation.

Therefore, there is no contradiction that Christ's redemptive work/sacrifice in the cross is finished but our continued (conscious) allegiance to Him & conversion of heart is continuous & ongoing until the time we die & face Him in judgment. Hence, Christians are told to wait in HOPE (Titus 2:13) & to KEEP themselves in God's love while waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring them to eternal life. [Jude 1:21]... There is no shortcut to eternal life. Suffering & the possibility of falling from grace is present hence the gospel warns us from false teachers & in REMAINING faithful.

The consequence of easy "believism" (an offspring of protestantism) are theologies that cater to individual tastes. An "individualized Christianity" so to speak where everything is easy when you just believe & read the Bible. Forget Apostolic & Historic evidence & continuity & authority just listen to your own interpretation anyway it is just "Jesus & me".

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires" [2 Timothy 4:3]

"But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation" [2 Peter 1:20]

Another Objection:

When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Col 2:13-14)

Another Answer:

This does not say that when you SIN (for the sake of argument you already repented) you are automatically excused. This speaks of the source of grace & forgiveness being made available to us when we repent & turn to Him. Again, your problem still stands in ROMANS 11:22.

Still Another Objection:

Isn't it that all our sins has been forgiven on the cross? past, present and future?

My Answer:

Sins are forgiven indeed if you BELIEVE, REPENT, PERSEVERE. The passage you presented does not say that "you're already saved & comfortable even if you CONTINUE to sin AFTER". The passage talks about the SACRIFICE in the cross FOR the forgiveness of sins. But you can only attain this forgiveness PROVIDED again that you CONFESS/BELIEVE in Christ (John 3:16), REPENT, & PERSEVERE in your faith.

The phrase "ONCE & FOR ALL" also talks about the sacrifice of Christ & of which it will be the primary power that will GIVE EFFECT TO OUR ASKING OF FORGIVENESS. Hence I presented you the verses above of which you do not seem to read.

My sins today are future from the point of the cross indeed, but this has nothing to do with the passage being "forgiven in ADVANCE" thereby ERASING my possibility of PRAYING FOR REPENTANCE. I am in the future from the cross & the passage tells us of that the effectivity of the SACRIFICE (provided we REPENT & BELIEVE in the future).

For the sake of a single passage taken OUT OF CONTEXT by virtue of your OWN INTERPRETATION you have indeed bastardized the whole message of the Bible. BELIEVE- "IF you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" [Rom. 10:9] & contrast this to John 3:16.

REPENT- From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." [Matt. 4:17] OBEY His precept because- "...He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation" [Heb. 5:9]

PERSEVERE because- "'He who overcomes will thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels." [Rev. 3:5].

The effectivity therefore of a man's asking for repentance & faith is taken from the passage you quoted. It is here that the reasonable application of Col. 2:13-14 can be applied. Because if we take your passage in itself without reconciling it with the whole scriptures it will show that HELL is nonexistent because EVERYONE already is singing and are already saved NO MATTER IF THEY REPENTED OR NOT OR ARE STILL DOING EVIL THINGS OR NOT.