Cobus, I believe in Grace through Faith., its scriptural. The typical text book definition of Grace is --the unmerited favor of God, and---- faith is believing--- in that the Grace God, has extended to us as sinners, will save us. Grace through faith,which I totally agree, is a wonderful thing.
Never the less, grace through faith, doesn't exempted Christians from their responsibility of being completely obedient to Gods word. WHAT EVER God commands us to DO in his word cannot be IGNORED. Some Christian have the insane notion, because they have "accepted Christ" their salvation is a done deal. NOT scriptural. Christians/sinners cannot be disobedient to Gods word and be saved---period. Believing and confessing---IS NOT-- the whole ball of wax as far as salvation is concerned.
Please, please, spare me "scriptures" that prove your OPINIONS--there are done. Gods commandments are not optional. Naturally folks will "twist" the scripture to fit their own agenda.
Romans 10:3 "....they being ignorant of God's righteousness go about to establish their own righteousness,..." they just ignore His Word. .They say things like, THAT is not for us, or the scripture doesn't mean that.
Romans 10 cannot be used as directions for salvation because its an Epistle/letter to saved folks.
NONE of the Epistles can be used. Confessing and believing--ONLY-- doesn't save. Salvation is by TOTAL Obedience to God word. Mainstream Christianity has totally ignored the OBEDIANCE to God word by saying any thing we DO is a work. They say we can't be saved by works. WELL what is repentance, prayer, fasting, OBEDIEANCE--- IF NOT A WORK???? Mainstream Christianity cannot tell the difference between DOING the WORKS of God and the self righteous works of man.
It is good that you uphold obedience as mandatory but this "book definition" of "grace" is very inaccurate simply because it leaves so much out. Men have chosen to redefine grace as "unmerited favour" within the context that "God does all the work with man doing nothing." Thus "saved by grace through faith" IS TWISTED into meaning "accepting a package or provision" and then "waiting on God to do the work."
Here is what grace really means...
Eph 2:8 For
by grace are ye saved through faith; and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
STRONGS
Grace - G5485 - charis
From
G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
G5463 - chairō
A primary verb; to be full of “cheer”, that is, calmly happy or well off; impersonal especially as a salutation (on meeting or parting), be well: - farewell, be glad, God speed, greeting, hail, joy (-fully), rejoice.
THAYERS
- grace
- that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
- good will, loving-kindness, favour
- of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
- what is due to grace
- the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
- the token or proof of grace, benefit
- a gift of grace
- benefit, bounty
- thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
The Bible also says this...
Tit 2:11 For
the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
The grace of God that brings salvation TEACHES (note:- divine influence on the heart/holy influence on souls).
Thus when you combine Tit 2:11-12 with the dictionary definition clearly grace is God's "influence/empowerment given to man due His mercy/love."
Paul wrote associated the QUICKENING with being SAVED BY GRACE.
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath
quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved
Paul mentioned the QUICKENING in his letter to the Colossians...
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh,
hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Quickened - G4806 -suzōopoieō
From G4862 and G2227; to reanimate conjointly with (figuratively): - quicken together with.
In verse 12 of Colossians Paul states "ye are risen with him through FAITH in the
OPERATION of God."
Operation - G1753 - energeia
From G1756; efficiency (“energy”): - operation, strong, (effectual) working.
Thus clearly it is the power of God which
raises us up/quickens WITH HIM whereby our sins are forgiven.
Another parallel...
Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when
the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Refreshing - G403 - anapsuxis
From G404; properly a recovery of breath, that is, (figuratively) revival: - revival.
Thus with the all the above in mind how is it that people preach grace as simpy "unmerited favour" WITHOUT ever referencing the quickening or that "grace teachess"? It is because in their mind the death of Christ was a "substitutionary legal transaction" made by which "God credits Christ's righteousness to them and having credited their sin to Christ [who took the full punishment in their place]" thus "saved by grace through faith" means to these people "trusting in a legal provision made on their behalf" where ANY WORK (not of works) would mean ADDING TO THE PROVISION. It is in this mindset that Satan's deception works convincing people that salvation is PURELY FORENSIC and thus they are SAVED IN THEIR SINS.
Read the above paragraph again and try and let it sink in. I know it is a mouthfull and there is a lot attached to it so initially it may not make much sense (especially if you view the death of Christ as a SUBSTITIONARY EXCHANGE which changes STATUS
apart from a HEART CHANGE).
Paul taught that "we are saved by grace
THROUGH faith" and the
THROUGH so important.
Through - G1223 - dia
A primary preposition denoting
the channel of an act; through (in very wide applications, local, causal or occasional). In composition it retains the same general import: - after, always, among, at, to avoid, because of (that), briefly, by, for (cause) . . . fore, from, in, by occasion of, of, by reason of, for sake, that, thereby, therefore, X though, through (-out), to, wherefore, with (-in). In composition it retains the same general import.
Paul wrote this...
Rom 5:2 By whom also
we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Paul also wrote this...
Rom 1:5 By whom
we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Grace is ACCESSED by faith and we receive grace for OBEDIENCE.
Paul also wrote that grace can be recieved in vain.
2Co 6:1 We then,
as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
The above is the dynamic MISSING from modern preaching. Satan has been able to eliminate the dynamic of WORKING TOGETHER with God as an ESSENTIAL ASPECT of genuine salvation taking place.
Workers Together with him - G4903 -sunergeō
From G4904; to be a fellow worker, that is, co-operate: - help (work) with, work (-er) together.
There is no possiblity of salvation taking place without this aspect of "working together with God." This is why if there is no "working together" grace is received in vain (not effectual to the saving of the soul).
If we look at Hebrews 11 the FAITH CHAPTER we see in every instance that FAITH is a FAITHFULNESS by which an individual RESPONDS to God and is a DOER of His will.
Hence in Hebrews 11 it says about Abraham and Noah...
Heb 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Noah responded to God's grace (warning him about what was to take place and what he had to do about it) and Noah responded to that warning and obeyed God in building the ark. See how Noah was "saved by grace THROUGH faith." Noah's salvation (in the physical) was not a "done deal," rather Noah has to be an ACTIVE PARTICIPANT in his salvation. This does not mean Noah saved Himself (in the sense that he went at it alone) as many would accuse those who preach mandatory obedience, it simply means that God conditions that people YIELD.
In other words God does not save and ACTIVE REBEL. Rather God saved repentant FORMER rebels.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Abraham when called of God obeyed God. He trusted in God and thus submitted his well being to God and walked in the steps of this faith (Rom 4:12) for he was fully persuaded in his mind that what God said was true (Rom 4:21) and this is the KIND OF FAITH that God reckons as righteousness (Rom 4:5).
Is it any wonder that the Bible says...
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect,
he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Rom 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But
unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Rom 8:13 For
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but
if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
Rom 8:14 For
as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for
whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8 For
he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but
he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Gal 6:9 And
let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
Thus when the Bible says...
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but t
he gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The context is that of...
1Jn 2:3 And
hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jn 2:5 But
whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jn 2:6
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Joh 15:4
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
Joh 15:5
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
Joh 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
Joh 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Joh 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
Joh 15:10
If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
In conclusion when the Bible teaches that we are "saved by grace through faith, and not of ourselves, not of works lest any man should boast" it is simply teaching that salvation is wrought in being PLUGGED INTO GOD as opposed to salvation being wrought in anything else we do APART from being plugged into God.
Remember Satan is a MASTER THEOLOGIAN and he wields the scriptures masterfully to deceive. Multitudes of theologians today simply pass on that which they have been taught by other theologians without ever having truly examined the root of what they believe. They their minds are govererned by various strongholds of error which serve to keep them in a pen unable to see and hear that which is plainly in front of them.
