GracePeace
Well-Known Member
The confusion between salvation by faith or salvation by works seems, to me, to be resolved in the statementsDichotomy: a division into two especially mutually exclusive or contradictory groups.
False dichotomy in salvation is the belief that it must be by Grace or it must be by works.
This is a false dichotomy because the two do not contradict!!
They both harmonize perfectly with one another.
The faith only to obtain salvation gospel advocates teach a false gospel of saving faith apart from works.
Likewise faith onlyist teach if works are involved then salvation cannot be by Grace for grace is a free gift.
This is a logical fallacy!
Grace is a free gift but grace is not unconditionally given.
Gods grace is conditional, therefore Gods grace comes with terms.
Must meet Gods terms to receive His gift of unmerited grace,
Titus 2:11-12,
- for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age
Grace teaches us we must do good works. Paul taught Titus that grace and works go together. They harmonize!
You will hear the faith onlyist use Ephesians 2:8-9 as a "proof text" we are saved without any involvement of works.
First, if salvation is apart from ALL works then we are saved without the work Christ did on the cross,
John 17:4,
- I have glorified You on earth I have finished the work which You have given Me
Second Paul does teach in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are not saved by works.
But what must be understood is the gospel teaches there are different kinds of works.
To lump ALL works into meritorious works like for instance the commandment to be baptized, turns Jesus' gospel
in Mark 16:15-16 into a gospel that teaches we earn our salvation through a work of baptism.
The kind of works Paul condemns in Ephesians 2:8-9 is works of merit.
Paul also teaches that saving faith is a faith that works,
Galatians 5:6,
- for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision profits anything but faith working through love
1Corinthians 7:19,
- circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but keeping the commandments of God is what matters
God requires a faith with action/obedience to His commandments in Jesus' gospel.
Only faith that works to meet Gods conditions can receive His grace!!!
When one believes in His gospel 1Corinthians 15:1-4
And obeys the commandments in His gospel,
Can one qualify to receive His unmerited favor.
Hebrews 5:8-9,
- and having been perfected, Jesus became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him
Jesus' gospel is by grace through faith when faith is rightly defined.
It is a working/obedient faith that justifies the alien sinner,
James 2:24,
- you see then that a man is justified by works and NOT by faith alone
This faith is the only faith that is acceptable unto God,
Acts 10:35,
- but in every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him
God made it very clear that anyone who teaches no obedience/works to God to be saved is not a servant of of God but of the devil, Gen. 3:3-4.
1John 2:2-5,
- and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins and not ours only but also for the whole world, now by this we know we know Him if we keep His commandments, he who says I know Him and does not keep His commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him
Last we get INTO Christ by baptism,
Galatians 3:26-27,
- for you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ
No spiritual blessings outside of Christ,
Ephesians 1:3,
- blessed be the God and Father of our Lord and Savior who has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places IN Christ
If not why not?
1. "God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17),
2. "let every man be fully convinced in his own mind" (Ro 14:5)
3. "whatever is not of faith is sin" (Ro 14:23)
"Works" we are not saved by are "a righteousness of my own", deeds that proceed from the sinful flesh (Ro 8:3; Gal 3:3), but, under Grace (Ro 6:14), works we do by "faith" are God's own working in us (Php 2:12,13), which is "God's righteousness" (Php 3:9), whereby we are justified (Ro 2:6-16), which is why it says the one who does not walk by faith sins and is "condemned" (Ro 14:23), whereas the one who is "in Christ" has "no condemnation" (Ro 8:1): to "abide in Him" (1 Jn 2:28), where the eternal life is located (1 Jn 5:11), requires walking by faith, or to "love one another" (1 Jn 3:23, 24), and those who are not "found in Him" (Php 3:9), bc of not working works of faith, not loving others, are "condemned" (opposite of "justified"--bc they're not abiding in Christ, "God Is Our Righteousness" (Jer 23:6)) both now and in the future.
This conclusion is in keeping with ancient forms of Christianity, and offends all of the Johnny-Come-Latelies who can't make Scripture say anything coherent.
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