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- "BY GRACE, THROUGH FAITH"
- SALVATION
We submit the following in hopes readers will sharpen their understanding of what the Bible clearly teaches regarding this topic, and thus will avoid deception--the subtle humanistic deception that is widespread in today's evangelicalism.
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THE CAUSE OF SALVATION |
The CAUSE of salvation is grace, not faith.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. Ephesians 1:3-6. (NKJV)
"...being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Romans 3:24.
"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. Ephesians 2:8,9.
"So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy." Romans 9:16.
Clearly, the CAUSE of our salvation is God, His sovereign choice. God's choice (election) reflects His nature of Love and Mercy. This is the central theme of much of the New Testament -- the Gospel (Good News) of Christ. Contrary to widespread misunderstanding, grace is NOT some magical force which flows through a particular Church, bishop, priest, or religious sacrament--all false claims. GRACE is Love, Mercy, and Kindness in action; it is undeserved favor.
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THE MEANS OF SALVATION |
The MEANS of salvation is faith, not grace.
"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. Ephesians 2:8,9.
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Romans 10:17.
"For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Hebrews 4:12.
"For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13, Joel 2:32.
Salvation, and all things attendant, are gifts from God. It is not something which can be worked for, earned, or in any fashion merited. It is not upon the basis of whether someone is "good" or "bad." The Holy Spirit sovereignly uses the message of Jesus Christ's life, death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, to enable an otherwise spiritually blind and deaf sinner to believe the Word in order to accept the Savior and thereby be regenerated--born again. It's supernatural; it's a miracle.
According to Romans 10:17 and other portions of the Word, neither the faith necessary to believe the gospel nor the ability to hear the message are pre-existent with any individual, nor has this faith or hearing been universally imparted to all mankind at any point following the Fall. If this were the case, human pride could, and most certainly would, gain a place in the process. Rather, this faith comes via a chain of divine and sovereign events and results in the conversion (new-creation birth) of the lost sinner.
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