Paradox of salvation

May 01, 2026

We Are of His House

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But Christ is faithful as a son over God’s house. We are of his house, if in fact we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope we take pride in.

Hebrews 3:6 (NET)

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So, there are a lot of “tension texts” in the Bible.

Here’s one dealing with salvation:

We have a responsibility to hold firmly to our confidence & hope.

Who is our confidence & hope?

Christ, of course.

The work of salvation is the work that He did on the cross and the work the Holy Spirit does through us. Our work could never be good enough for salvation.

And yet our work is important for salvation.

See, tension.

It’s overly simplistic -- in my opinion -- to limit the work of salvation exclusively to God or us. There’s some sort of harmony (that I can’t see in my limited human mind) that God does to bring both works together.

I also happen to think that’s cool.

That somehow God works in us, despite us, through us, around us, and with us to work out salvation.

The end result being we are now adopted children of God -- co-heirs with Christ.

I’m actually okay living in that tension.

I don’t need it resolved in my mind in order to do my day-to-day living.

I can just accept that this paradox exists and perhaps in the fullness of time (i.e., when I move into eternity with God) He’ll reveal more of it to me.

Or, God can keep a mystery for all time.

He’s the one in charge of the house.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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