When a mother cat wants to move one of her kittens, she will pick it up by the back of its neck and carry it to a new location. When a mother monkey wants to move one of her young, she stands over it. The baby monkey jumps up and hangs on to its mother, who will then carry it to a new location.

How does salvation work? Does Christ save us the way a mother cat moves her kittens, or does Christ save us the way a mother monkey moves her young?

In the sixth chapter of Romans Paul says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NRSV) This makes it sound like salvation does not cost us anything. It makes it sound like no effort on our part is required. It makes it sound like Christ picks us up by the back of the neck and carries us into salvation. People who believe that salvation is a free gift are cat theologians.

Others say “yes but, you have to believe”, or “yes but you have to commit your life to Christ”, or “yes but good works or church membership is required.” These are people who believe that some effort is required on our part. We must jump up and hang on in some fashioned in order for Jesus to carry us into salvation.

I am a cat theologian. I do believe, but belief is not something I did that I get rewarded for. I believe because God gave me the ability to believe. Belief is also a free gift from God. Martin Luther put it this way when he wrote the meaning to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed. “I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him”. In other words, believing is something we cannot do on our own. If we are able to believe it is because God has given us the ability to believe.

Shouldn’t we have to commit our lives to Christ? It is a good thing for a person to make a commitment to Christ. However, sinful human beings cannot keep commitments. Even humans with the best of intentions fall away from Christ each time they sin. It happens quite often. It is far more important that Christ makes a commitment to us.

In the sixth chapter of John Jesus says, “This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” (NRSV) In that passage, as in other passages, Christ makes a commitment to us. Christ will keep that commitment.

How about good works and church membership? Both of these are good things. I believe both of them are necessary things. But I do not believe they are necessary for salvation.

Consider the thief on the cross. He turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The thief didn’t leave that cross until he died. There was no opportunity for a baptism, joining a congregation, or doing any good works. Jesus was able to save that person.

That person could not jump up and hang on in a literal sense because his hands and feet were nailed to a cross. That person could not jump up and hang on in a figurative sense either because his life was very close to being over. Christ gave him salvation anyway. He did not earn any part of it, and he did not merit it, it was a free gift.

I’m not earning my own salvation either. I am not worthy of it. I have done nothing to deserve it. Christ gives it to me as a free gift. There is no other way to get it.

May you always believe and trust in the promises that Jesus makes to us in the scriptures. May Christ grant you the promise of life everlasting. God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Pastor Birk