Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)

The two statements, one by Paul and one by James, appear to be contradictory. Yet we know that both are true.

There are seeming contradictions in the Scriptures. A notable one is the concept of predestination versus the concept of God's willingness that all be saved.

Another has to do with the overwhelming love of God that does not seem compatible with the idea of people incarcerated for eternity in a lake of fire and sulfur.

A third is the exhortation that we must endure to the end to be saved. Yet the Bible says he who believes and is baptized shall be saved.

It appears that current theology chooses the most appealing emphasis and neglects or discards the other.

Today we are emphasizing that God is willing that all be saved and discarding the tremendous New Testament emphasis on election.

We are stressing the love of God but not His severity. His severity is as great as His love!

We press people to "make a decision for Christ." Do we then tell them that they have committed themselves to a lifetime of cross- carrying obedience?—that they will gain the crown only if they hold fast their confidence to the end of their pilgrimage?

We submit that historically the present emphases are new. In time past there were excesses in the teaching of predestination, God's anger, and the extraordinary asceticism required of the saints—just the opposite of today.

We would submit also that these new emphases are a product of the philosophy of humanism, that man's welfare, rights, and happiness must be the first consideration of every endeavor, religious or otherwise.

Philosophers tell us that when there is a thesis and an antithesis truth is found in the synthesis. If the thesis and the antithesis are both God-given, then it undoubtedly is a fact that truth is found in the synthesis.

Are we justified by faith in Christ? Absolutely!

Are we justified by works of obedience to God? Absolutely!

Does God desire that every individual be saved? Absolutely!

Does God work in terms of election and foreknowledge? Absolutely!

Are we saved the moment we believe and are baptized? Absolutely!

Are we saved by enduring to the end? Absolutely!

Please note we are not speaking of balance. Balance tends to remove the power of the exhortation so we are left with jelly. God's love is not balanced by His wrath. The joy of the Kingdom is not balanced by the torment of the Lake of Fire. Christ's fierceness as a king is not balanced by His gentleness as a shepherd. Both are totally true, neither one modifying the other.

Christ's warnings to us are not negated by His love! True, edifying balance is attained when we tell people the whole truth about God and His salvation.

We arrive at truth by serving Him who is the Truth. We find then that we are saved both by faith and works. We are free to choose whom we will serve and yet we were called out from the world by election. We were saved, are being saved, and shall be saved in the future. Salvation is always today.

How could a loving God let a child die of cancer?

The problem is our pride—we have trouble letting God be God. If we do not understand how the seeming contradictions resolve we refuse to play.

Time to leave the sandbox and come in from recess!