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Category: Religion and Philosophy
Believe Be Good, Lest Ye be Damned
A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties and needs; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.
Albert Einstein, New York Times Magazine, 09/11/1930
A Christian takes objection with this statement, of course. We believe that morality flows from God himself, so naturally a religious basis is necessary. However, that man should not "be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death" fits in perfectly with Christian theology. The Christian agrees entirely with the second half of Einstein's statement.
There is a theme in the New Testament from its beginning to its end that salvation is faith-based. It cannot be secured by works, only by faith and that through the grace of God. We are saved not because of what we do but because of what Christ did. We know that we are helpless, and by putting our hope in Christ we know that eternal life is ours.
However, that also means that if we do not gain our salvation by works that we do not lose it by works. The claim that we lose our salvation by works is also a common theme, but one certainly not found in scripture. I'm not sure if I've heard this idea more often from nonbelievers, as implied in Einstein's words, or from my brothers, but I'm sure I've heard it far too often.
Paul spends the first three chapters of Romans showing that we are all sinful. Showing that we cannot be good, he instead offers the example of Abraham in chapter four—Abraham who was saved by faith. Chapter five contrasts the example of Christ—salvation by faith—and the example of Adam—lost in works. With chapter six we are shown what our response to salvation is:
Well then, since God's grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not! Don't you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living. Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you wholeheartedly obey this teaching we have given you. Now you are free from your slavery to sin, and you have become slaves to righteous living.
Romans 6.15-18 NLT We do not do our good works so that we can get into heaven. Works have nothing to do with becoming saved and it has nothing to do with remaining in that state. It is very, very important that we be like Christ in every manner, but that is not of salvation. It is because we have been saved, because we belong to God, that we find we cannot help but follow him. As Jesus said, "Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit." (John 15.5b NRSV) Good works follow from salvation. The situation is never reversed. We do not do good works because we are afraid of losing our salvation, we do good works because it is our delight to be about our father's business. Surely, "Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death."
2:37 AM
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