17 May 2012
II Peter 1:1
II Peter 1:1: “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”
The message is clear, concise, and consistent: the way we obtain saving faith is through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is through His good works (along with His crucifixion and resurrection) that we are saved – not through our own works, or anything like that. We are saved by grace through faith – not of works, lest any man should boast.
This is one of the key distinguishing features of cults: they all tend to say that you are saved by your works, or your good deeds, or your obedience to the Law, or something like that. Catholicism and Mormonism both fall into this category. Christianity, however, has a very different message: you are saved by grace through faith, and nothing else. It is Christ’s righteousness that saves us. His good deeds are the only ones that have saving power. The only way we can ever enter Heaven is if we are clothed in His righteousness. Our righteousness will simply not cut it.