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Salvation
1.
Biblical Christianity. By grace through faith
Repent. Dont be an embarrassment to the good name of Jesus the Christ. Anyway, if youre not dedicated to God can you really be saved?
2.
Grace + 0 = Salvation?
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In an editorial one minister declared, "There is nothing that can be added to bring salvation to a soul. "Grace," he wrote, "wrought salvation with no strings attached." Another minister stated. "Grace plus nothing equal salvation."
Is this biblical? Have these ministers gone farther than the Scriptures go? Must not the recipient of salvation take some corresponding action in response to grace? If there is nothing that one can do, or if no response is necessary, what about the scriptural passages that call for action?
When guilty sinners asked, "Men and brethren what shall we do?" the Apostle Peter replied, "Repent . . ." (Acts 2:37-38). When Saul of Tarsus inquired, "Lord, what wilt thou have me do?" the Lord answered, "Go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do" (Acts 9:6). After a devastating earthquake, while springing into the crumbled ruins of the prison in an attempt to take his own life, the Philippian jailer heard the voice of Paul call out, "Do thyself no harm, for we are all here." He was sure his prisoners would be gone. When he discovered them yet present, he turned to Paul and Silas and cried out, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" Their answer was, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house" (Acts 16:25-31).
In each of these scriptural incidents, action was demanded of the inquirer. The first was, "Repent"; the second, "Go; the third, "Believe." All three called for action of the will. A command was issued in each instance. It was not Grace plus nothing equals salvation." It was grace plus faith plus obedience equals salvation"! Or "Grace plus obedient faith equals salvation."
Grace is God's Act
Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God bestowed on a person through the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is the source of salvation. Grace means that God initiates salvation. It includes every act on God's part that brought salvation to mankind. God's grace caused Him to manifest Himself in flesh as Jesus Christ, assume limitations, freely give Himself on Calvary and arise on the third day for our justification.
God Alone is the Source of Salvation
Savation was inititiated in heaven as God's plan. Man was not counselled concerning it. In fact, man
3.
Grace, Faith and Works
Part 3: Christian Basics
Grace, Faith and Works
Many strongly believe that God, through grace, will not let any soul be lost. As a result, they feel no need to seek salvation. It is true that God has offered salvation to all as a gift. When an offer is made, however, it must be accepted. Those who fail to accept this gift will not receive the saving grace of God.
Salvation is not an automatic result of having been born on earth. Through what process, then, can people take advantage of God's offer? The answer to this question is found only in the Word of God, the Bible. It tells us of His purpose in our lives and His desire about our eternal destiny. It tells us of our need to believe and obey the commands of the Father.
Although sinful man did not deserve it, God extended the gift of grace to all mankind. By definition, grace is unearned favor. The Holy Spirit expressed this in the words of the Book of John, Chapter 3, Verse 16:
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
Thus, man has access to the grace of God through our savior, Jesus Christ. In the Book of Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 1 and 2, the writer said:
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
To receive the grace of God, we must have faith that Jesus is our Savior. A good reference about faith is found in the eleventh chapter of the book of Hebrews, Verse 1 says:
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
The Apostle Paul says in Romans, Chapter 10, verse 17:
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
Some teach that works are unneeded for one to be saved from past sins. The Bible clearly teaches that the works of the Law of Moses do not save. But we are saved through grace and not by our works. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from your selves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no one can boast.
In his letter to the Romans, Paul clarifies the foregoing verse:
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. Romans 3: 28.
The Apostle Paul has written in many verses the relationship of grace, faith and works. The writer tells us, in Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 7, how Noah, for example, moved through faith to build the ark. We see from Noah's example and the examples of many others that faith is active.
The Bible is consistent. Faith and works go hand-in-hand as one trusts and responds, through faith, to the wishes of God. Thus, we can see that works and obedience are both of faith. In the Book of Mark, Chapter 16, Verse 16, we read:
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
It is obvious that if one does not believe that Jesus is the Christ he will not obey the command to be baptized and will not be saved from his sins. Faith is not passive. Galatians, Chapter 3, Verses 26 and 27 read:
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
Baptism is not a work. It is a necessary act of obedience to God. Faith, working in obedience, is a very needed prerequisite to obtain the Grace of God.
When we accept God's offer of grace we must accept it through obedient faith. Those who fail to be obedient to the will of God, the Bible, will not reap the benefits that God has offered.
Through our obedient faith, we receive God's gift of grace.
4.
Life equals Jesus, Today! Launch Page grace faith
What is Grace? What is Faith?
How are they related?
Is this how the relationship between God and us works?
"Come now, let us reason together, saith the LORD." (Isaiah 1:18)
L=JToday!
Grace and Faith?
A Visual Commentary on Grace and Faith
"For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." (Ephesians 2:8, KJ2000*)
L=JToday!
Life equals Jesus eBooks
Grace and Faith? L=JToday!
5.
Qohelet Web Ministry @ epreacher.org, . . . Sermons, Bible Study, Preaching, by John Telgren
In addition to information about the John Telgren, this site also has Bible Study material, Sermons, and links to other sites. SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
By John Telgren
We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-10 and Romans 3:21-31). Countless Christians and preachers believe that this is a distinct New Testament teaching. In other words, the Old Testament was based on salvation by law keeping, and the New Testament is based on salvation by grace through faith. Is this true?
Notice this passage concerning Abraham, "Then he believed in the LORD, and He reckoned it to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6)." This "Old Testament" verse is used in Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, and James 2:23 to demonstrate that God justifies by faith, not by the law. Indeed, this was hundreds of years before the Mosaic code was given to the people of Israel at Mount Sinai.
Now let's jump forward to the book of Exodus. On what basis did God save the children of Israel? Was it because they kept the law? No, the law is not given until they arrive at Sinai in Exodus 19. Maybe it was because of their faith. Exodus 4:31 says that the children of Israel believed. However, this faith was short lived (Exodus 6:9; 14:11-12). But their faith returns again when the cross the Sea of Reeds and they "believe" in and "fear" the Lord (Exo. 14:31). However, their faith is not consistent. Later, while they were at the base of Mount Sinai, they began to worship an idol after the Lord had commanded them not to. God was ready to destroy them but Moses pleads with God and manages to get God to relent (Exo 32:7-14). Now the people are both the redeemed and "forgiven" people of God. On what basis did God forgive them? It wasn't because of their obedience to the law. It was by God's grace.
So salvation by God's grace is not a doctrine unique to the New Testament. As a matter in fact, at Sinai God he says he will visit "the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands…(Exo 20:5-6)". Notice that God visits the iniquity to the third and fourth generation, but lovingkindness to the thousandth. The idea that God was a God of wrath in the Old Testament and a God of Love in the New Testament is simply not true. The Psalmist remarks, "The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindess toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:8-12)."
Did the people perform works of the law to remove their transgression from them? No, the Psalmist declares that it was God himself. Salvation by grace is an Old Testament doctrine. People are saved by grace every bit as much in the Old Testament as they are in the New Testament. God is the one who ALWAYS does the saving, not the people.
Let's jump forward to the period of the divided monarchy. In Isaiah 7, two small time kings come up against Judah. King Ahaz and the people were terrified. God commissions Isaiah to go meet Ahaz to tell him not to worry and trust God. Verse 7:9 literally says something like, "If your faith does not stand, you will not stand." God is calling on Ahaz to trust him. God even invites him to ask for a sign to try and strengthen his faith! Ahaz pretends to be religious and refuses the sign. 2 Kings 16:5-9 tells us the real reason Ahaz refuses the sign. Ahaz did not want to believe in God. He chose instead to make an alliance with Assyria (and later with Egypt) in order to get their "protection." What is the result of Ahaz's faith in foreign treaties? Their protectors will become their oppressors (Isa. 7:17-20; 8:7-8)!
Isaiah delivers an oracle against foreign treaties in Isaiah 28:14-16. Isaiah tells them that the rulers have not made a covenant with Assyria, but with death! They have not made an agreement with Egypt, but with Sheol! Their trust in foreign military power will backfire on them. They will become a "trampling place" (Isa. 28:18). In the midst of this situation God says he is laying in Zion a tested, precious, firm cornerstone. He is telling them not to turn to house of Assyria or Egypt, but to Yahweh's house in Zion. Only by turning to God can they be saved. "He who believes will not be disturbed (Isa. 28:16)." This is the "tested" stone. God has already proven that he can save his people even from the likes of Pharaoh
