Saved by grace

[Jo Smith]

as told by Carol:
From: Carol5667 (Original Message) Sent: 8/10/2002 10:57 PM
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; {it is} the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
What kind of faith?

OBEDIENT FAITH

James 2:26, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

A Faith without works is a dead faith, it cannot save

Ex: The Demons, (James 2:19), "You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe; and tremble!"

Acts 2:36-37, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." {37} Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?"


1. Notice Peter's answer in verse 38
2. They had to DO something to be saved, they had to "Repent and Be Baptized, for the remission of sins."

B. Biblical examples in Acts reveal what is required

1. What does God require?
Hearing produces Faith


Romans 10:17, "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Romans 10:9-10, "that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
REPENTANCE:

Luke 13:3, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."


Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."

BAPTISM:
Mark 16:16, "He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned."


Acts 2:38, "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."


Gal 3:26-27, "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. {27} For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
Romans 6:3-4, "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? {4} Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."
1 Peter 3:21, The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us ; baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,"
When a person has done these, he has accomplished the pre-requisites to citizenship in the kingdom

[Jo Smith]

From: starlight Sent: 8/13/2002 6:47 PM
It is clear tht false teachers isolate one verse and try to make a whole truthful doctrine on it. You have to put all the words on one subject together to have the full truth of it.

After one has done all this, then they must also be filled with the Holy Ghost and then endure until the end to be saved. It is very deceiving to say all one must do is believe and they are saved. This leads many to believe they will make it in to heaven, no matter how much they sin after they believe just because they did say they believed at one time.

Jesus said to Peter, AFTER you are converted, strengthen your brothern. Peter was not converted at that time. He had to receive the Holy Ghost and then endure until the end.

starlight

[Jo Smith]

From: Carol5667 (Original Message) Sent: 8/15/2002 8:10 AM
The doctrine is commonly taught in the world that a person is saved the very moment he believes in Jesus Christ, that he is saved without any further acts of obedience. The New Testament book called James has much to say on the subject of faith and works. For example: "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone" James 2: 17.

Misunderstood possibly as much as any other part of the Bible doctrine is the essentiality of good works to salvation. People confuse the good works of the gospel which the Bible clearly defines as essential, with the works of the law of Moses, or the meritorious works of men in an effort to earn salvation.

The Bible does not teach that people are saved by works of the Old Testament law of Moses, for we read in Romans Chapter 3, verse 20, that "by the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified in his sight". From Colossians Chapter 2, verse 14, we learn that the law of Moses was nailed to the cross of Christ and is no longer bound upon anyone. We know that the only hope for salvation for lost humanity today is through the gospel of Christ. We do not propose to be saved by the works of the law, but through the works of faith and the labor of love in obedience to Christ.

While the Bible says: "By the deeds of the law shall no flesh be justified", it also says in James Chapter 2, verse 24: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith only." 'These works then must not be the works of the law, but are the works of faith revealed in the gospel of Christ. The law of Moses is dead and its works mean nothing today, but the works of the gospel mean much.

A person is saved by the blood of Christ, through the grace of God. He is not saved by faith alone, but through obedience to the commandments of Christ. Jesus became "the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him" Hebrews 5: 9. This does not mean that the obedient soul earns, merits, or deserves salvation, but that he qualifies for the mercy and the grace of the Lord, who according to his mercy saves us .

There are many Bible passages that show the essentiality of faith, that we are saved by faith, justified by it, and so on. Every one of these passages is to be believed and accepted. But there is one similar thing about all these passages on faith, not one single passage ever says we are saved by faith only. There are not such passages in the Bible.

Here is a great point to remember: Never in any age or dispensation in human history has God saved man by faith alone. God has always required faith and obedience. No other formula for salvation has ever worked. None ever will. Jesus said: "'He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved" Mark 16: 16. It is faith plus obedience. This is the embodiment of the principle under which God has always worked in saving man. It is utter folly to expect him to make an exception to the rule now and save anyone by faith only and without obedience.

[Jo Smith]

From: joie Sent: 8/15/2002 10:07 AM



Hello Carol,

This is one of the clearest messages on this topic I have seen. You surely have a good understanding of the truth of this. I have a tape message saying exactly the same thing.

Yes, this is one of the main places of confusion --- people cannot rightly divide the 'works' of the old law, from the Christian works.

The main thing which needs to made clear is this: When James said faith without works is dead, he is not saying we work to have faith; he is saying that IF we do have the faith, it WILL produce the WORKS of the faith.

Now this is saying IF we believe what God said, we WILL obey what he said. If God said we must be baptized in order to have our sins remitted, IF we believe that --- we will go be baptized according to how He said do it. If I disobey this then I am saying I do not believe God's word means what it said. For IF God said I have to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ in order to have my sins remitted, or done away with, then IF I believe what He said, I will know I must go be baptized that way for Him to remit my sins; for this is what He said. So If I do not obey this, it is very clear that I do not believe I must do it; then I would be calling God a lie to say He will remit my sins some other way.

If He said I must receive the Holy Ghost to be an overcomer, then If I try to overcome some other way, I am calling God a lie. If I believe, or have faith in what He said, I will seek for the Holy Ghost until I am filled. If I do not do this, then it proves I do not believe it. To believe what God said is FAITH.

Christian works of giving to any who ask me, and ask it not again; to give a drink of water in his name, to go twain when asked to go a mile, to speak truth to my neighbor, all these things , to give cloths to those in need, to feed those in need, to give lodging to those in need, these are works for which God gives us rewards; they are not works to receive salvation with. They are a result of my having His salvation, which is having His Spirit living in me producing the same works in me that the Spirit produced in Jesus.

Great teaching.

Joie

[Jo Smith]

Colossians 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
It takes more to be a Christian, than running to some church service.
New age humanism has taken such a strong hold on many folks today, that true Christian living is actually mocked and had in ridicule. I used to wonder who new age stuff worked and how it could trick folks up.
Now I see it crystal clear. We who still hold to goodness ONLY BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD, are held in ridicule when we say only through Jesus Christ are there any 'good ones'.
See, this think of , see the good in everyone, has sounded out as being so good, but it comes from satan.
Love me as I am, without my having to change a thing, but not me loving you the same, has consumed the minds of almost everyone.
being so tolerant of everyone and every religion, sounds so good to the carnal mind, but it comes from satan. We are called to believe in the one true God/religion and hate all else.
We are told to Love God with all our heart, soul, body strength and mind and to hate idols. Yet churches today partake of every idol holiday that comes along, along with all the worldly things. and still claim, I am so good.
It does not sound like anything I ever read in the Word of God.
So now I see how new age HUMANISM had taken over and true Christianity has been kicked to the sideline.
Mix this humanism up with a bit of 'church-anity' and you have a good looking cake, but made with many poisons.
Sure, it may look good, but take a bite. the poison will soon have you so sick, you cannot find the bed to lay down on.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.