The following "Question" was asked by a member of the congregation at Grace Community Church in Panorama City, California, and "Answered" by their pastor, John MacArthur Jr. It was transcribed from the tape, GC 45-21, titled "Bible Questions and Answers." A copy of the tape can be obtained by writing, Word of Grace, P.O. Box 4000, Panorama City, CA 91412 or by dialing toll free 1-800-55-GRACE.
Question
"I am a Japanese national and my country is atheistic
and materialistic. Most of our population has very little understanding of
Jesus. After World War II Japan was in great need, there were many children
without parents. Fortunately some very caring people arose to start homes
for these children. One woman I knew of was very selfless, giving, and
loving--she spent her whole life caring for these children. Many people
didn't respect her for doing this, but because of the love in her heart she
continued helping. I don't believe she was a Christian. Here's my
question:"
"There are many Christians who don't ever spend their life as she did. If
one looked at their deeds, this woman would look like the Christian! They simply had the opportunity to hear the message of Christ and she didn't. How
will God judge her? And how will God judge these 'Christians'? This deeply
concerns me."
Answer
Well, I don't blame him, that concerns me--doesn't it you? It is true that
some of the philanthropy and the selflessness, and the generosity, and the
sacrifice, of the unregenerate outstrips Christians. There is no question
about that. Some of the most caring people in the world aren't Christians.
Some people who have totally given themselves to assist the hurting and the
needful people of this world are not Christians. On the other hand, some
Christians do not manifest that kind of care at all.
But listen, the basis of salvation is not how you treat children, it is
whether you believe in Jesus Christ or not, and that is the substance of the
gospel. You will be saved not on the basis of your philanthropy or on the
basis of your good deeds, and you will not commend yourself to God with those
either, because whatsoever is not of faith towards God is sin no matter what
it is. But the basis of salvation is faith in Jesus Christ, that's why Acts
4:12 is the key verse, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is
none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." The
plan of salvation says, "It is not your good deeds, it is not your good works
that save you." Now, keep that in your mind, because I think some of you
misunderstood what I have been saying.
Your works do not save you and that is basic, "For by the deeds of the law
there shall no flesh be justified." "Not of works, lest any man should. . . ."
what? "boast!" Then, if salvation is by works we have reason to boast and
God cannot get the glory, its us--we did it! But salvation is by faith in
Jesus Christ. That is why the most wretched individual, the most gross life
can come to Jesus Christ, put his faith in Jesus Christ, spend forever in
eternity. Whereas, the most philanthropic, charitable person in the world,
who turned their back on Jesus Christ will spend forever in Hell.
It is wrong to assume in the case of this woman, that she did not have the
opportunity to hear the message of Christ, because if there is anything that
we have learned in Romans 1 and 2, it is that she did. Right? She did! She
held the truth in unrighteousness. It was there as evidenced by her conduct.
Her very conduct towards these little children spoke of a law within her,
didn't it? It was there. She was doing by nature the things that God would
have wanted her to do. Her conscience, her thoughts, all reveal the inward
law of God written in her heart. She just did not accept that as from God
and live up to the light that she had.
Now let me take you a step further. There are Christians who do not manifest
the same level of human goodness, at least outwardly and visibly, that some
of these philanthropic, caring people have manifest. But listen carefully,
while it is true that there are people in the world who do deeds of human
goodness, it is not true that you can be a Christian and never do those
deeds! If you are a Christian there will be some manifestation in your good
deeds. Now listen to me, there will be some manifestation in your good
deeds. On the outside they may not look as magnanimous as the charities of
an individual like this, but they do truly manifest the work of God in your
life. That has to be the case, for "faith without works is. . . ." what?
"dead." Maybe, if God were to be the judge, even though the world might not think your works were as significant, the most significant work of all is to
glorify God and to praise Him, and that is something that woman could not do
at all. I hope you understand.
Yes, there are human beings who show good (relatively speaking human good)
and that's commendable, but it can't save them. Yes, there are Christians
(all of us) who don't do everything that we ought to do, but there is going
to be something there to give evidence that we are truly regenerate--that is
without question the case.
Added to Bible Bulletin Board's "MacArthur’s Questions and Answers" by:
Tony Capoccia
Bible Bulletin Board
Box 119
Columbus, New Jersey, USA, 08022
Websites: www.biblebb.com and www.gospelgems.com
Email: tony@biblebb.com
Online since 1986