During the centuries, ignorance of the Scriptures has resulted in the rise of many cults and “isms.” There were heretical groups during the days of the apostles. There are many such groups today. Any teaching contrary to the revealed Word of God is false and must always be rejected (2 John 1:10-11). We must be on guard against false teaching. Let us consider some false hopes of salvation in which people trust for entrance into heaven.
Education
There are many people who believe that education is salvation. The first century Gnostics, a divergent group, believed in salvation through knowledge. One may have a very good education and still be lost. Education has never saved anybody, and it never will. The words, “natural man,” in I Corinthians 2:14 reference an educated person. The educated man was the noblest of men. The word was coined by Aristotle and was used to designate the man commended by philosophy, “the man who is actuated by the higher thoughts and aims of the natural life.” Notice what the Bible has to say about such a person. “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned “ (I Cor. 2:14). “For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world” (I Cor. 1:19-20).
Education, then, is not the answer for the eternal need of the soul. We must have personal faith in the Lord Jesus, who died that we might have eternal life and know the true wisdom of God. “In whom (Jesus) are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3).
Family Name
There are those who believe firmly that their family name will get them to heaven. In answer to this false hope, John 1:13 declares that the new birth is not inherited through one's parents: “Which were born, not of blood....” (Greek, plural, “bloods”).
Salvation is now, and always has been, an individual matter, and each person must receive Christ for himself. It is true that “a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches....” (Prov. 22:1). If a person comes from a respectable family, with honest and good name, he ought to thank God for it. One should not, however, trust in his family name for salvation, because having an exemplary family name does not guarantee salvation.
Good Works
Salvation is not merited by one's good works. Salvation is not “of the will of the flesh” (John 1:13), not effected by self-attainment. Self-salvation is an utter impossibility. Many are the people who are relying upon their good works. The faithful minister of the Gospel cannot warn people too much about the danger of relying upon good works for salvation. One cannot save himself by what he does. Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher of London, England, once said, “It would be easier to climb a sand rope to heaven than to get there by your good works.”
R. G. Lee said in a sermon, “It would be easier to cross the Pacific Ocean in a laundry basket than to save yourself by your good works.” Good works are mentioned at least fourteen times in the New Testament, but not once is is stated that salvation is the result of one's works. The contrary is true. Salvation produces works. Salvation is, always, first. Good works are, always, second.
Keeping the Law
Righteousness in the law would be possible only to a sinless person. Since no one is sinless, salvation by observing the law is impossible. “For Moses describes the righteousness which is of the law. That the man which does those things shall live by them” (Romans 10:5). “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
The righteousness of God offered to the sinner in answer to his God-given faith, is infinitely more precious than any righteousness which a sinless person might accrue to himself by a perfect obedience to the law, even if such were possible. The Lord Jesus Christ is the end of the law. “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believes” (Romans 10:4).
The sinner is not justified by observing the law. “Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Romans 3:28). “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The Just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11).The law reveals to us that we are sinners and need to trust the Lord to save us from sins.
May we stand strong in the truth of the gospel and point people to the only hope for salvation.
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