"Will Worship"
Colossians 2:23
I can think of nothing in all the world more foolish, more debasing to humanity, more
dishonoring to God and more assuredly damning to the souls of men than
idolatry. It is pathetic to see men and women worship- ping gods that other men
have made, dumb gods made by the hands of ignorant men! Idolatry is hideously
evil! "Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have
mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they,but they
see not:They have ears,but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:
They that make them are like unto them; so is everyone that trusteth in
them" (Psa. 115:4-8). I have seen poor people in
Those who attribute salvation, in whole or
in part, to the will, the work, or the worth of man are the most abominably
evil idolaters in the world, for they worship themselves. Free-willism is the
worship of yourself. Legalism is the worship of yourself. Free-will, works religion makes man his own
savior, for it makes the will, the work, and the worth of man to be the
determining factor in salvation.
If your salvation, in whole or in part, is
looked upon by you as something that is dependent upon, or determined by, your
will or your works, you are lost, a Christless, graceless soul, an idolater
(Gal. 5:1-4). You may talk about God and grace, Christ and redemption, the Holy
Spirit and regeneration, but you really worship yourself. Your trust is in your
decision. Your confidence is in your goodness. Your peace is derived not from
what Christ has done, but from what you have done. In your opinion the thing
that separates you from the damned is not the will of God, the work of Christ
and the grace of the Spirit, but your own will, your own work, and your own
worth.
I urge you to flee from your idolatry.
Smash to pieces the gods of free-will, good works and human worth. And trust
the Lord Jesus Christ alone as your Savior. Seek salvation on the basis of
grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone!
Don Fortner