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By grace or… not by Grace It amazes me to hear Christians defend their works and obedience as part of their receiving salvation. The Bible makes it explicit, in no uncertain terms if one is relying on their works, they are condemned. Their works will then measure their punishment, you cannot be given salvation by anything you do, only be believing in what Christ did for you. For a believer their works done in Christ are rewarded later (not now). It is God’s work through his only begotten Son who was crucified for our sins. He only asks for us to respond by trusting in his son and his crucifixion (work) by believing in him. Which the Bible calls faith. But faith can only save if it is placed in the correct object; that is Christ and what He did. If it is placed on our baptism, if it is placed on our work of any kind (baptism is a physical work) than it is counted as a debt not as grace. Rom 4:4-5 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, If one does not have this basic core doctrine for salvation correct than anything else they say or do is meaningless, it is in vain. Believers are rewarded for their work and accomplishments in Christ. God rewards them after they are in heaven. And only God knows and remembers everything that was done for him. A mixture of grace and works nullifies grace. It is all by grace through faith or there is no salvation as a result no matter how obedient one is Rom. 11:6-7 And if by grace , then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work . The reason God set up the way is to make it simple and prevent confusion Eph. 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. Notice the points not of yourselves- work. And Not of works to prevent one from thinking they had anything to do with their salvation. All we are asked to do is trust in the one who did the work for us. Eph. 1:13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise , The gospel is about God who became man- Jesus Christ- died for our sins and rose again physically from the dead. Here Paul tells what he preached as the gospel. 1 Cor. 15:1-5 “ Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures ” We are to stand in it, what we heard that saves, and not be persuaded to something different otherwise we come under the condemnation Paul spoke to the Galatian church in Gal.1:8-9. |
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