Living in Hope, By New York

By Jeremiah Z

June 28, 2017

Greetings in the name of Jesus. I have for a while had questions about getting your little magazine called The Amish Voice. The story by Emanuel Schrock and now the last issue had one from Moses Schrock, both have a ring of gevis der seligkeit (knowing you are saved). That is contrary to what we were taught, and we believe that the Bible supports that teaching of living in der Hoffrung (in hope). Nix fur ungute.

— New York

Jeremiah Z responds:

Thank you for writing to us with your concern. I, at one time, had the same thought, believing we can only hope to go to heaven. I believed this because I thought my salvation was based on whether or not I lived good enough life. Since then, the Lord, through Scripture, showed me how vain my thinking was.

If my salvation is based on how good a life I lived, then I am surely doomed to hell – because I miserably fail the good-person test. But (and this is very important) Jesus said the only way to the father is through Him (John 14:6), and I now know that I am not saved by works.

Since I’ve placed my faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ, and because I know God keeps His promises, I know I’ll indeed be saved, though not of works lest I should boast. This is not a bold claim, but it is a biblical, faith-based claim.

Also (this, too, is very important), we are to live clean lives for the Lord. But this is only our reasonable service (Romans 12:1) and does nothing to add or subtract from this most important biblical truth of salvation by faith.

Good works are what saved-by-faith Christians do because they love God. And if I only hope to have salvation, it means I do not really believe in Jesus Christ as my savior, as He clearly promises salvation to those who believe (John 3:15); and I believe the Bible to be true.

This is a very important topic, and I’m very glad you wrote in.

—Jeremiah Z