Did Zacheus Buy His Salvation?

No. Zacchaeus responded to God's call to forgiveness in the way Jesus taught: Not just sorrow, which can just be emotion. Not just repentance, which does not correct an unjust situation.

Zacchaeus did penance for his sin. He recognized the damage his sins had done, and he committed himself to repair that damage.

We can't expect God's forgiveness without sorrow, repentance, and penance. These are the necessary steps in reconciliation with God. Jesus held up Zacchaeus as the perfect exemplar of reconciliation.

Many evangelicals teach an easy believism that claims you only need to be sorry and say a sinner's prayer. They may even say you can't actually change your behavior and give up the sins that are destroying you. This is not only not Christian teaching; it is against Christianity. It is saying you can't be set free from sin.

But Zacchaeus was set free--by sorrow, repentance, and penance.

Cheers,

Bruce

As Jesus passes through Jericho, the crowds are tremendous. Everyone wants to see the one who has healed the blind men. The people press in upon Jesus from every direction, and as a result, some cannot even get a glimpse of him. Among these is Zacchaeus, the chief over the tax collectors in and around Jericho. He is too short to see what is going on.

So Zacchaeus runs ahead and climbs a fig-mulberry tree along the route that Jesus is taking. From this vantage point, he can get a good view of everything. As the crowds approach, Jesus calls up into the tree: “Zacchaeus, hurry and get down, for today I must stay in your house.”

Zacchaeus climbs down with rejoicing and hurries home to get things prepared for his distinguished visitor. But when people see what is happening, they all begin grumbling. They consider it improper for Jesus to be the guest of such a man. You see, Zacchaeus became rich by dishonestly extorting money in his tax-collecting business.

Many people follow, and when Jesus enters into the home of Zacchaeus, they complain: “With a man that is a sinner he went in to lodge.” Yet Jesus sees in Zacchaeus the potential for repentance. And Jesus is not disappointed, for Zacchaeus stands up and announces: “Look! The half of my belongings, Lord, I am giving to the poor, and whatever I extorted from anyone by false accusation I am restoring fourfold.”

Zacchaeus proves that his repentance is genuine by giving half of his belongings to the poor and by using the other half to pay back those he cheated. Apparently he can calculate from his tax records just how much he owes these persons. So he vows to make a fourfold restoration, in keeping with God’s law that says: ‘In case a man should steal a sheep, he is to compensate with four of the flock for the sheep.’

Jesus is pleased with the way that Zacchaeus promises to dispense his belongings, for He says: “This day salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save what was lost.”

Recently, Jesus had illustrated the situation of ‘the lost’ with his story about the prodigal son. Now we have a real-life example of a lost one who has been found. Even though the religious leaders and those who follow them mutter and complain about Jesus’ attention to persons like Zacchaeus, Jesus continues to look for and restore these lost sons of Abraham.

(Lu 19:3-10)

Of course not. Zacheus merely demonstrated the fruit of repentance that goes along with saving faith.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.