Expert: Phillip Senn - 4/22/2004

Question
What does it mean to be saved and have a personal realtionship with God? I am doing a paper on salvation and I don't think that it is right to judge someone who asked the Lord to be in there life and is not living the way that many expect them to. What do you think that the bible says about that? I know that the bible says that no one is perfect.

Answer
Your question is one that has caused much turmoil in recent years among those that name the name of Christ. There are certainly many Scriptures that deal with "salvation". Apparently you are speaking concerning receiving Eternal Life from God, as you mentioned having a personal relationship with God.

Everyone that comes to Jesus Christ, trusting (believes in his/her heart) that God's wrath was satisfied through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross at Calvary, and that He was buried and three days later was raised from the dead, receives Eternal Life.

As a small child, I asked Jesus to "come into my heart and save me". There was a problem though... I was trusting in the fact that I had prayed that prayer, rather than trusting in the Atoning work of Christ Jesus. I was very sincere in my belief that since I had prayed that prayer, and really meant it in my heart, that God heard me and saved me. It wasn't until many years later that I came to understand that I had misplaced my confidence, and then I trusted Christ for my "salvation".

No one actually lives their life the way God wants them to. Not even believers are completely surrendered to God's perfect will in their life 100% of the time. That is why we need to trust Jesus' sacrifice as our means of being "right with God".

The Scriptures speak of 2 different righteousnesses. One is our righteousness (which Isaiah 64:6 says are as filthy rags). The other is the righteousness of God. "our righteousness" is a term the Scripture says comes when we have obeyed ALL the commandments of God. The righteousness of God, though, is manifested without the law (Romans 3:21-22). It is unto ALL that have faith in Jesus Christ.

Those that name the name of Christ are called upon to "take heed how" they build upon that foundation...Not for the sake of getting to Heaven, but that they might glorify the one that died for their sins.

I hope this has been helpful to you. If I can be of any further assistance, please don't hesitate to use the question board.

With Love in Christ,
Phillip Senn