Wayne in Maine wrote:I'm going to toss a monkey wrench into this discussion since the idea has cropped up that anything Jesus told us to do (like foot washing) might very well be a salvation issue.
Jesus told a rich man to sell his possessions and give to the poor as a condition for his salvation ("to obtain the kingdom of heaven). What say ye? Are all rich people supposed to sell their possessions? How rich do you have to be to obey that command?
It's an old issue that I have dropped into discussions before, but it's a good question in the context of this topic.
I knew it would come up again. Like my pet one on lifting up holy hands in prayer. Again it goes back to whether something is meant for the immediate audience only or for all followers for all time ? Is it a literal command or is there a meaning to apply that is not to act out in the stated literal sense ?
I believe what Jesus told the rich man has to do with holding unto things that are of more value than following Christ. In other words idolatry which is a salvation issue. No repentance. The foot washing thing is obvious to me a practise of that era not required today but the spirit of humility toward each other still remains and we should find ways to act out that in our current culture.
If we can only be saved by perfect obedience to everything Jesus commanded then we are depending on our own works to save us and not the finished work of Christ. And since none of us are perfectly obedient to everything Jesus said and somethings we disobey willfully, none of us will be saved. I would like to meet any Christian who thinks they are living all the commands of Jesus perfectly. Obedience is important but we can't take a few scriptures regarding obedience and ignore others that say we are still flawed humans.
4th verse on My Hope is Built on Nothing Less -
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh, may I then in Him be found,
Clothed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
I am saved because God looks at me through Jesus as faultless. Wow, love so amazing !!!!