Mennonites believe through "the life, death, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, God offers salvation from sin and a new way of
life to all people." When we accept
Jesus Christ as our Lord, Master, and Savior, and we repent of our sin, we are
saved by grace through faith. God worked
with grace and mercy through redeeming Israel through wonders and
signs, giving Jesus Christ for the healing and forgiveness of our sins, dying
on a cross to pave the way for salvation, rising from the dead to conquer sin
and death for us, living to show us the way, saving through grace. The Holy Spirit works in us through this
process, to move us to accept salvation, to partner with us in repentance, to
share grace and forgiveness in the midst of our sin.
In today's culture, there tends to be some polarized
tendencies regarding salvation. We are
either saved by the blood of the cross (no more need be done than say, "I
believe and accept Jesus as my Lord and savior!") or that we are saved
through being "good people" using Jesus as a moral template for life,
but denying the power of the cross and resurrection.
We declare instead that Jesus is indeed savior and Lord
through the cross and resurrection, completing the work of conquering
sin and death. However, Jesus also taught
a specific way to live, one that requires us to repent (or turn away from)
our sins and live instead for God (if we declare Jesus Lord then
obedience is implied...we are no longer our own, but Jesus'. We may have a history as U.S. Americans with
the concept, but following Jesus is not a democracy, but a monarchy with Jesus
as King and Lord). When we fail
we receive mercy and grace; yet we strive for living like God. We are transformed by the Holy Spirit to
become more like Jesus through discipleship, a journey that is a process, not a
moment; and so we rely on God's grace and forgiveness.
It's the best sort of tension and paradox: salvation is
being saved by grace through faith, and the fruits of salvation appear as we strive
for the Kingdom of God and rely on Jesus' works forgiveness, mercy, and
grace. Salvation is the work of God, yet we work out
our salvation with fear and trembling..."for it is God who is at work in
you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure"
(Philippians 2:12-13).
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