The beast within

I think one of the most fundemental reasons for false doctrine in regard to soteriology is the failure to understand and identify the beast within every human being.

For example, do you consider yourself to have the same evil potential as Hitler or Stalin or any mass murderer or rapist? If not, then you fail to understand the Biblical teaching concerning "the flesh" (Rom. 3:10-17) and live in denial in regard to its presence within even the saved person (Rom. 7:18) and the potential for the child of God to "walk after the flesh" at any time on any given day of his/life as long as he lives in an unglorified state.

Also, understanding this internal beast promotes humility and greater dependency upon the Lord and is vital to Christian growth in grace and mercy.

"know thyself" was the great philosophical maxim and yet many live in denial of the very basic truth that within you resides an unredeemable beast which must die.

 

In this life people NEVER get what they truly deserve. In heaven they NEVER get what they truly deserve instead they get consequences of God's grace and mercy. Even in Hell people NEVER get what they truly deserve and that is why hell is FOREVER.

Salvation is for those who see themselves in that light while seeing Christ's Person and redemptive substitutionary work as God's only provision, and thus only hope for deserving entrance into heaven and exit from hell.