The Burr in the Burgh

Not long ago, I was reading a book by Daniel Preus,Why I Am a Lutheran: Jesus at the Center. And he said that one thing that always challenges or frustrates him as a pastor is when you ask your flock, "Are you going to go to heaven?" and they answer "I hope so." He makes the point that we can know; we can be certain. And that's not because we have perfect faith that never wavers, but because God's promises are sure.

There is another side to this coin too, similarly related. When you ask Christians if they are going to go to heaven, many will say "Yes, definitely." But then ask them, "Why?" Some will say things like, "Because I love Jesus and gave my heart to him." That's great. I'm glad YOU did that. But is that the reason why you are saved? Because YOU love Jesus and YOU gave yourself to him? Isn't the reason really because HE loves you and HE gave himself for you on the cross?

We are saved BY grace, THROUGH faith. Not BY our faith. In other words, salvation is God's gift to you through Christ. That's by grace alone. Martin Luther described faith as the open hand that receives the gift of God. We don't have faith in our faith. We have faith in Christ and him crucified.