KFLCC / New Age Bible Versions - Gail Riplinger

FIFTEEN

Striving or Saved? But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Romans 4:5 W orketh not, but believeth.. ." is a manifesto which marks a MAJOR distinction between Christianity and those religionists who take the first step of initiation/or baptism and then spend the remainder of their lives laboring on the ladder, hoping each 'good work' will lift them closer to God's blue vaulted landing. Clouds of unbelief conceal from their view the Son of God descending Jacob's ladder to reach mankind. Jesus said, he that "climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief. . ." (John 10:1). Robbers in the West like Aristotle, and later Aquinas attempted the ascent, erecting a staircase for scholars. The East has its highwayman, the Hindu, who, "considers himself alone to be responsible for his salvation," a feat similar to scaling the Himalayas.6o Buddhists boost themselves up the steep bank traveling their 'Eightfold Path': (1) right views (2) aspiration (3) speech (4) conduct (5) livelihood (6) endeavor (7) mindfulness (8) meditation. Airports full of American Krishnas coax passersby, "Salvation must be earned by performing a series of works." Mediums like Edgar Cayce agree saying, "Salvation is something man does on his own. It