Fire insurance Christian

I’m sure you are wondering what do these three words have to do with theology? Well, there are many “professing Christians” who believe in Jesus only to escape the fires and tortures of hell. They do not have a desire to change their wicked lifestyle or to live holy which the Bible demands we do once we are born again (Lev 11:44, 45; 19:2; 20:7; I Pet 1:16). It is what some have called easy believe-ism or cheap grace.

A person who only wants a “fire-insurance-salvation”, does not have true salvation, but on the way to the hell they think they are avoiding. Shame on anyone who would cheapen the atonement of Christ as common, and not the single most solitary expression of love ever committed in history (Heb 10:29).

Let us think about this for a moment, since God was willing to send the very best He had, His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to come and die a sinner’s death for us, wouldn’t one think that the least we could do as believers in Christ is live holy lives that would glorify our Lord?

            It makes sense to me.

Ephesians 2:10 says this, for we are His workmanship (the Greek is the word poiema) created in Christ Jesus for good works (italics mine), which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (i.e. the good works).

II Corinthians 5:17-18 reads, therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold all things have become knew. Now all things are of God (emphasis added).

II Timothy 2:19b, the Lord knows those who are His, and let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity (or lawlessness).

Romans 6:1, what shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not or may it never be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

Jesus said in John 14:15, if you love me, keep my commandments

Hebrews 12:14, pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.

John 14:21a, He who has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

These passages and many more demand that we live a life of obedience to our God. If one is truly in Christ,  have their life hidden In His, then holiness HAS to be a present reality, and a lifelong pursuit.

We must understand that we cannot accept Jesus as savior only. He MUST also be our Lord. This means He is our Master. We do not have any rights our of own. We are slaves to Jesus Christ; not a popular word to use.

We were not born again to do whatever we want. We were redeemed so that we can freely serve God in Christ.

The reality is that we will serve (worship) someone or something no matter what.

The writer of Hebrews gives a most sober warning in the tenth chapter regarding Christ’s sacrifice and one’s mistreatment of it. After citing the verses, I will provide commentary on them:

For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remain a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment do you suppose will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “vengeance is mine, I will repay” says the Lord (Deut 32:35), and again, “the Lord will judge His people”(Deut 32:36). It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb 10:26-31).

There are multitudes of people who fall into these categories:

a.      Sin willfully after receiving the truth (vs 26)

b.      Trampling the Son of God underfoot (vs 29)

c.       Counted the blood of covenant as common (vs 29)

d.      Insulted the Spirit of grace (vs 29)

The most sanctifying, liberating message anyone can ever hear is the gospel message. Why? For the gospel message is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes (Rom 1:16). It is the message of the cross. How God Almighty in eternity past decided to send His only begotten Son to die for wretched, unworthy sinners like you and I.  It is a timeless message that never grows old. Anyone who claims to be a Christian that is tired of this most glorious message really need to do some soul searching to see if they are really a Christian at all. The more I hear and teach the message, the more in love I fall in with my Savior.

The writer of Hebrews makes it clear to his audience who are primarily Jewish, that to reject the gospel, and to keep on sinning willfully proves that a person decided to stand against the Triune God and side with His enemies. There is no alternative message that can save man so therefore there is no redemption for the person who turns their back on God. The only thing left for the person is judgment –the wrath of God abides on him and rightfully so (John 3:36).

It is extraordinarily diabolical that someone would be so foolish, and obstinate to refuse to come to Christ when He is right there in front of them. In what way you may ask? Through the revelation of His word.

So, a fire-insurance-christian is a self deceived individual who the writer believes has perhaps heard the true gospel, but will not submit it’s demands. The parts about living holy, and obedience cramps their style. It’s too much work to do all of that; it would mean one would need to change their entire way of living. They are probably also ashamed of the gospel unless it is only convenient to profess it. This is a person who is only interested in Jesus as Savior, but not as their Lord. They are satisfied with a cheap grace, an imitation salvation which is really no salvation at all.

The other scenario is that they are a victim of a poor theology. The preacher(s) they are listening to our inept expositors of the word. They teach a user-friendly-gospel. They say things like, “God loves you, and wants you happy, healed, and healthy, and rich!” There is no gospel that preaches about sin, and repentance; how we have violated God’s law and our under God’s holy wrath unless we truly repent.

As a result of your limited knowledge of the truth, the God of the Bible is small and insignificant to you. He is user friendly just like the paltry pulpit message(s) you receive. God is merely an escape hatch to release you from hell fire – nothing more!

Think about it, the more revelation you get about your awful sinful condition, the greater your love and appreciation you will have for the cross of Christ. The more fervent you will be in your witness for Christ. As I stated when I started this blog over three years ago, if you do not realize you are sick, you are not going to seek any cure for your sickness. If one knows they are sin sick and a cure is available, and they desire to be well, they will beg for the cure.

That is what the gospel is; the curative for the spiritually terminal ill patient of this world.

Jesus said it this way, “those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…For I did not come to call the righteous (i.e. self righteous), but sinners to repentance (Matt 9:12-13b).

We cannot pick and choose how Jesus will affect our lives. If Jesus is Savior then He is Lord as well. If Jesus is not your Lord, then He is not your Savior either.

If you confess with your mouth the Lord (italics mine) Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you be saved (Rom 10:9).

Jesus has to be both Lord and Savior of our lives. Accepting this truth will grant us real fire insurance and assurance.