Chemistry and Bread
Chemistry and Bread
A Christian worker spoke of the narrowness of some believers who were not willing to consider others as worthy of Christian fellowship. "They are so bad," said our friend, "that according to them there would be only about five hundred people who are saved." This statement, though an exaggeration, makes us to think about the essential elements of our salvation.
What is necessary in order to be saved? What is necessary in order to eat bread? At first the two questions, side by side, may seem irrelevant, but there is a closer connection than appears on the surface. Imagine three hungry men sitting before a table with a plate of sandwiches. One of these men is a noted chemist, another is a famed anatomist, and the third is an illiterate farmer. The bread is passed. The chemist turns to the doctor and tells him of the latest experiments in biochemistry. Science is now convinced that it is on the track of real knowledge in this field. Experiments have shown that the energy that is to be found in electrons may be life itself. The air is thick with big words, of which the illiterate knows the meaning of none. The doctor tells the chemist of the latest research in the field of endocrinology. Scientists now believe that they know how food is transmitted into blood, muscle, and bone, how the cells are broken down and built up, and how the various glands function in their marvelous work of rehabilitating the human body.
While the two scientists are talking they become engrossed in their conversation, and they are somewhat annoyed upon finishing their first sandwich, to find that the farmer has quietly eaten all of the remaining sandwiches. The scientists know all about the chemistry of the bread he has eaten and all about his body which is assimilating the food; he, on the contrary, knows nothing of these things. But they are still hungry and he goes from the table satisfied.
There are faults in our analogy, but there is sufficient force in it to show the great principle of salvation. There are some people who will talk in theological terms that only a few can understand. Others will hedge Christianity around with all sorts of obstacles, making it hard for souls to come to Christ, when God has made it easy. In the meantime, there are simple souls who are turning away from self and are looking to Christ alone for salvation. They are being satisfied with the living Bread from Heaven. It is this simplicity of trusting Christ that God honors by implanting within the believer eternal life.
Some people might say, "Why do you go into theological argument and accuse some men of being unsaved, just because they do not happen to believe exactly as you do about some of these doctrines? Can we not leave the theological terms aside and go in the simplicity of Christianity? The definite answer is, yes, you can go on in the simplicity of the Christian faith, providing you truly know that faith. If I present a loaf of bread to a scientist and he examines it from afar, insisting it is made of papier-mâché and that it is not bread at all, then I have every right to believe that the man has not profited by the bread, even though he may contend that he greatly admires the loaf as a work of art.
Believing that Christ is just a good man, or merely a great teacher, is admiring the loaf without feeding upon it. True faith turns away from any thought of providing its own food. It turns to the cross of Jesus Christ where it accepts God's verdict that the death of His Son eternally satisfies every claim that divine justice could ever have against the trusting sinner. The Lord Jesus is God's Bread for a lost world.
1. Can someone not believe in essential doctrines of the Christian faith and still be saved? Why or why not?
2. Is it possible for the Christian to survive and not feast on the person of Christ?
3. Why is knowing our faith so vital to proper salvation?
