Monday, August 17, 2009

Nicaragua 2009: Yo Estoy Libre (I am Free)


One day in Nicaragua, while at feeding program, the Lord led us to a house nearby where we visited with a local woman. The first thing that struck me was how hospitable she was, she set out chairs for us and made certain that the chairs were set in the shade and remained in the shade throughout our visit.

We began a cordial conversation about Christ and what He has done for us, she too expressed her faith in Christ. However, throughout our conversation with her we began to understand that she was in bondage to a works theology. She believed that her salvation came from Jesus plus her good works and that without her good works she would lose her salvation.

We agreed that our works show the fruit of our faith in Jesus, but insisted that our works are not required for our salvation. We are free from the bondage of works because Jesus death on the Cross was a gift. We have freedom in Christ Jesus, and we invited her to also experience that freedom.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (New King James)

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

We talked at great length with the woman about her salvation, her works, and her security. She knew and trusted the Bible as the word of God but continued to return to her works mentality. She was obviously thinking about James:

James 2:14-18 (New King James)

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
This is potentially another theological debate in itself, but James was referring to our living faith not our saving faith. He was referring to the fruit, the outward evidence of our faith in Jesus. We continued our conversation showing evidence from the Bible that we have no hope of working our way to heaven. We cannot elevate our position by ourselves, it is elevated by Jesus through His Death on the Cross and our faith in Him.

Galatians 2:16 (New King James)

16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.
We followed the conversation to it's logical conclusion and decided to say goodbye, with seemingly no change in the woman's thoughts. Billy (Carried on Eagles Wings Ministry) expressed that before we left he wanted to leave her with one more word, and that the word of God will not return void. He then simply quoted John 3:16 and started praying. During the prayer she began to cry and afterward gave each of us a hug. As we walked away back to the feeding program she leaned out the window of her home with tears streaming down her face and yelled, "Yo estoy libre!" (I am free!).

She got it, it clicked! God's word did not return void, she was free from the bondage of a works theology. God does not want to put us under this type of bondage, our works are like filthy rags to Him. We can never work our way to heaven, the debt is too great. That is why He sent His son Jesus, to cover the debt that we cannot pay. God wants us to be free.

1 comment:

Meghann said...

this story always brings tears to my eyes. If only we could know the joy and freedom that woman found! I want my clarion call to be "I am FREE!!"