And personally I have yet to hear a single person in the Stone Campbell movement say that it is.
Even so, although I believe those in the Churches of Christ grossly misunderstand
the doctrine of justification by faith, may I say I do believe that there are those within the
Restoration Movement who are, nevertheless, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone and not in their own
moral piety or religious performance to keep and follow a New Testament pattern
in order to be saved.
Former
Church of Christ pastor, teacher and Christian author Max Lucado writes about this in his book No Wonder They Call Him The Savior. And although I am personally unaware
if Mr. Lucado has ever given a systematic presentation of the doctrine of justification by faith, he does
nevertheless teach it through examples like the Tale of the Crucified Crook, found
in chapter 4.
In this particular story, Mr. Lucado draws our attention to the verbal exchange that took place between the two thieves at the crucifixion.
Here, after receiving the same death sentence as the Lord Jesus, one of them says "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself- and us!" And note, this man wasn't
giving a profession of faith as he was taunting and demanding that the Lord move
on his behalf.
But Luke continues this account and tells how the other thief rebukes him saying, "Don't you fear God? We are getting what our deeds deserve, but this man has done nothing wrong." And then he turns to the Lord and says, "Remember me when you come into your kingdom."
Now one reason I appreciate what Mr. Lucado writes is that he causes us to stop and think for a moment of just how profound that statement really is.
Because humanly speaking
- any hopes or dreams that this was the long awaited promised Messiah, who was destined to liberate Israel from all her enemies, were about to be dashed and shattered
like pottery.
And yet, even with the Savior nailed to a cross, this man gives this incredible statement of faith "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom."
"Remember me
when you come into your kingdom" ?
It was only by faith that this man would have known
the Lord Jesus would indeed come into His kingdom, for faith is the evidence
of the things not seen with human eyes. And it was at this very point that the Lord
Jesus said,
"I tell you the truth. Today, you will be with me in paradise."
Ask this man if he knew anything about
a "5 step plan of salvation" and I believe he would tell you that he just knew the Savior.
A case study of the doctrine of justification by faith. And this by a Church of Christ minister.
Author's note:
"No one else would have given him a prayer. But in the end that is all he had. And in the end, that is all it took. No wonder they call him the Savior."
Max Lucado