Archived Notes

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No Substitutions Allowed

©Chad Sychtysz

 

         Some restaurant menus will not allow patrons to order something differently than how it is printed on the menu—“No substitutions allowed.” In a similar (but not exactly the same) way, the gospel also does not allow us to choose how we are going to live or believe to our liking, but we must conform to its instructions as they are written. We do not have the option to change or amend the gospel to accommodate our own tastes or preferences. God has the right to impose the terms and conditions of salvation; we do not have the right to tamper with or substitute these with our own terms.

          In Gal 1:6-7, Paul admonished those who were substituting their own brand of justification for that which only Christ could provide. Theirs was a “different” gospel—i.e., it was not what Paul had preached to them. Their gospel was “not another” gospel of heaven—i.e., it could not be equally substituted for what had been preached. Man-made religion and God’s divinely-revealed gospel are not comparable, compatible or interchangeable. We have no authority to substitute the one for the other (Gal 1:8). By interjecting our personal preferences into what has already been revealed from heaven, we compromise the purity and integrity of that message. By following the Holy Spirit, we automatically relinquish any self-determined religion or self-imposed terms and conditions regarding our salvation (Gal 5:16-17). While people may insist on personal preferences, even when this requires a departure from divine truth (2 Tim 4:2-4), the gospel has no room for private interpretations or arbitrary substitutions of human will for God’s.

          People who “customize” the gospel to their own liking actually express doubt in the Author of the gospel. The gospel ought to be regarded as “the power of God for salvation,” thus implying that it needs no changing or modifying (Rom 1:16). By trying to change the gospel, a person implies that his salvation is as good as (or better than) God’s. That person may agree that he needs salvation, but he does not respect the power of the gospel’s salvation. For example, a Christian may believe that his baptism is necessary for salvation, but living in holiness is not. This is a direct challenge to God, who decrees that both are required (Rom 6:3-7, 2 Cor 7:1). The person says, in essence, “I can be saved differently than what You have said; I can substitute my own stipulations for Yours.” Jesus, however, said that anyone who does not accept the Father’s words does not have salvation, but judgment instead (John 12:47-50). Other illustrations include:

     Church attendance is no substitute for fellowship with God. A person’s weekly appearance cannot possibly replace his spiritual, intimate fellowship with the Lord. God determines our “walk,” not us (1 John 1:6-7); we have no right or permission to arbitrarily substitute our religion for His salvation.

     Church functions, formalities, fixtures, etc. are no substitute for Christian love. A congregation’s collective activity (sermons, potlucks, singings, etc.) is no replacement for individual godly love that must be shown from one member to the other. The Pharisees practiced the features of their religion well, but were condemned for having substituted that for expressions of love to their fellow man (Mt 23:23, John 5:42).

     Your “feelings” are no substitution for doctrine. God will not accept a person’s worship if he deliberately violates His doctrine, for worship is predicated upon doctrine. One’s personal feelings cannot replace God’s objective truths. We are to hold ourselves up to the light of God, to examine ourselves in that light, before engaging in acts of worship (1 Cor 11:27ff): that is doctrine.

     Your personal circumstances are no substitute for your responsibility to God’s people. People sometimes think that, because they have endured a difficult or unfair situation, they are exempted from having to forgive and cooperate with the brethren. Yet in 1 Pet 2:18-20. for example, one cannot “find favor with God” by avoiding his responsibility to God, as expressed through service toward his brethren.

     Good works are no substitute for divine grace. No amount of good deeds, charity, churchgoing or anything else will ever replace the body and blood of Christ, the source of God’s grace toward sinners (Eph 1:7, 2:8).

          The gospel is not like a restaurant menu, where you can have things fixed according to your own liking. The gospel is designed to save us, not to enable us to make more of the same selfish choices that made us sinners in the first place. Jesus wants to give us abundant life (John 10:10), but on His terms, not ours. Our only real choice in the matter is to either accept or decline the terms and conditions of God’s generous offer for salvation. We must be conformed to the image of Christ, not try to conform Him to our image.

 

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