Salvation By Grace

[Deborah_R]

In the beginning there was a word...

[Nonson]

Originally posted by Deborah_R
In the beginning there was a word...

No. That is a gross mis-interpretation of the Gnostic idea of logos. St John is not to be blamed for the incorrect usage by those who would later revise the Scriptures to suit their own perceived needs. For as is clearly shown by his gospel he fully understood the ancient Greek idea of beginnings and endings.


Nonson

[Deborah_R]

Okay... Let's get back to your statement "salvation through a belief in a Living God".

I believe that salvaiton is through Faith in Jesus Christ. Are we talking about the same thing?

[Nonson]

Originally posted by Deborah_R
Okay... Let's get back to your statement "salvation through a belief in a Living God".

I believe that salvaiton is through Faith in Jesus Christ. Are we talking about the same thing?

Deborah,

No statement was made by me that I believe that salvation comes through belief in a Living God. That is not my belief.

Salvation does not come through faith in Jesus Christ. Nor did the Christ ever give any indication that that was the way.

We are not talking about the same thing.


Nonson

[Deborah_R]

but what I was leading to is
FAITH IN WHOME?

-Rather than using the word faith here, it is my choice to use the term belief as being a better label. We must believe in the Living God who is ever present in our lives.

(We'll get back to mystatement of salvation thorugh faith in Jesus Christ).

[Nonson]

Deborah,

Again, no statement was made that salvation is through faith. It is not, and it is not according to scripture.

"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God'3:3...and...'Except a man be born of water and of Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.'" 3John3&5


Nonson

[Deborah_R]

BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THOUGH FAITH

It is written, Eph 2:8-FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED (or delivered) THROUGH FAITH (or trusting); AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES (this is not your accomplishment-JNT): IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD:

Eph 2:9-NOT (as a result) OF WORKS (or your own actions), LEST ANY MAN (therefore) SHOULD BOAST.

Eph 2:10-FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP (or making), CREATED IN (union with) CHRIST JESUS UNTO (or to do) GOOD WORKS (or actions), WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE (or in advance) ORDAINED (or prepared) THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN (or do) THEM.

Let us again look at Eph 2:8-10.
FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED (or delivered). A person is delivered from the darkness to the light. He is saved from eternal death to eternal life. He is delivered from the shackles of the law of sin and death, to the freedom of the law of liberty and the eternal life. He is delivered from the power of the devil, to the GRACE of God. He is delivered from the second death. He is delivered from the old man and becomes a new man. The list could go on and on.

THROUGH FAITH. The faith that saves has to be centered in the person of Jesus Christ, God▓s only begotten Son, Who came in the flesh; Who is the middle Person of the Trinity. Jesus Christ is to be a person▓s ONLY hope of salvation. As it is written, THERE IS NONE OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN GIVEN AMONG MEN, WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED-Acts 4:12.

AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES (this is not your accomplishment-JNT). There is absolutely nothing any person can do to earn his way into heaven. GRACE is totally dependent upon the work that Jesus Christ did at the cross. It is Jesus that gave His life, a ransom for many.

IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD. GRACE through faith is a gift given to us by God. It is the greatest gift there is.
NOT (as a result) OF WORKS (or your own actions). No works or actions that a person can do can earn them the gift of GRACE. There is an absolute requirement, however. That requirement is true faith which produces good fruit.

LEST ANY MAN (therefore) SHOULD BOAST. If a person could earn their way into heaven, then great boasting could take place. However, all are under sin. All have sinned. There is none righteous, no not one. Thus, it is by GRACE. It is a gift. Salvation is dependent upon the work that Jesus did. If a person is misled into thinking they can earn their way into heaven by being a good person; then the question is asked, "Why the cross?"

FOR WE ARE HIS WORKMANSHIP (or making). We are the workmanship of Jesus.

CREATED IN (union with) CHRIST JESUS UNTO (or to do) GOOD WORKS (or actions), WHICH GOD HATH BEFORE (or in advance) ORDAINED (or prepared) THAT WE SHOULD WALK IN (or do) THEM. We are created to do the will of God. We were created to do the works that God has ordained for us, before we were even born. God sets up circumstances and determines where we will live; all in accordance with His will. He then puts us in circumstances in which the works He has ordained for us to do become evident. We are to walk in the works God gives us to do.

The number one work all Christians should be involved in, is study, and study, and study the Word of God.

2 Tim 2:15-STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH. Mt 11:29-TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU, AND LEARN OF ME; FOR I AM MEEK AND LOWLY IN HEART: AND YE SHALL FIND REST UNTO YOUR SOULS.