Saved by faith alone?

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Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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I would like to think that is true, but I am afraid that many people are taught that faith and belief are all that it takes. Then, you are "in".
This is the whole point James is making in James chapter 2. There is no faith if it is not evidenced by works.
One preacher put it something like this...faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone...
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
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Unfortunately, over the past 7+ years on this site, I have witnessed MANY people stating that they had not been baptized, and had no plans to be, because it "wasn't important".... that's what they were taught. I was saved by grace/faith/belief alone, and do not need to do any "works".... it's not necessary.
 

Niki7

Well-known member
Feb 21, 2023
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And YOU people should stop putting words in my mouth. I never said "water saves" ..... that's YOUR deliberate mis-interpretation....
So, go on down the road, if you don't want to have a discussion. No loss....
What a double standard. You put words in my mouth, and posted nonsense I never said or believed.

Like so many, you seem to think you know everything about others but completely miss what you do yourself

No...you go down the road. Why would someone want to discuss with a person who states they think they know what someone else believes, then the person denies what is stated but then the other person insists they know even when they are told that is not so

That is what you did and I won't be meeting you as you go down the road that you have paved with your own words no one said but you try to insist they did
 

Lamar

Active member
May 21, 2023
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remission of sin comes through blood.. not water

our sins are through the washing of the HS. not being immersed in water
Tell that to Peter.

Peter answered, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38)

Baptism is like that. It saves you now—not because it removes dirt from your body but because it is the mark of a good conscience toward God. Your salvation comes through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1st Peter 3:21)

Or tell that to Ananias.

And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name! (Acts 22;16)

Your reasoning is but human conjecture. Theirs is scripture. I believe them.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
6,655
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What a double standard. You put words in my mouth, and posted nonsense I never said or believed.

Like so many, you seem to think you know everything about others but completely miss what you do yourself

No...you go down the road. Why would someone want to discuss with a person who states they think they know what someone else believes, then the person denies what is stated but then the other person insists they know even when they are told that is not so

That is what you did and I won't be meeting you as you go down the road that you have paved with your own words no one said but you try to insist they did
Save the drama for someone that is interested in playing those games.
If we can't discuss it in a civil manner, just let it go. I have.
 

Radius

Senior Member
Feb 11, 2013
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Well, thank you for your opinion..... and you know what opinions are like, don't you?

My statements are fully backed, scripturally.... not by some kum-ba-ya "this is the way I feel, by picking the verses I want..."
they're backed by your faulty interpretation. A deadly one at that.
 

Radius

Senior Member
Feb 11, 2013
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Hornet and Lamar are children of Cain. Abel brought blood to be offered and Cain brought the works of his hands which the Lord shunned.

Good luck at the Great White Throne Judgment. I don't know if God will forgive this sin, because you are adding to the cross, if He does, you are very lucky.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
6,655
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Hornet and Lamar are children of Cain. Abel brought blood to be offered and Cain brought the works of his hands which the Lord shunned.

Good luck at the Great White Throne Judgment. I don't know if God will forgive this sin, because you are adding to the cross, if He does, you are very lucky.
Your sweeping pharisaical accusations are childish at best... please go away and let the grownups continue with the discussion, if they wish. Go condemn somewhere else
 

Cameron143

Well-known member
Mar 1, 2022
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Your sweeping pharisaical accusations are childish at best... please go away and let the grownups continue with the discussion, if they wish. Go condemn somewhere else
Come on....admit it....it was worth it just to get to write pharisaical.
 

Lamar

Active member
May 21, 2023
470
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No its not the purpose.

The purpose is a good conscious towards Jesus Christ. as an open testimony of a professed faith and a teaching tool to those outside the church.
Acts 2:37-39
Young's Literal Translation

37 And having heard, they were pricked to the heart; they say also to Peter, and to the rest of the apostles, `What shall we do, men, brethren?'
38 and Peter said unto them, `Reform, and be baptized each of you on the name of Jesus Christ, to remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit,

Sounds like remission of sins is the purpose.

1st Peter 3:21
The water of baptism is like that. It saves you. It does not save you because it washes dirt from your bodies. But it saves you because you bring yourselves to God with a clean heart. It saves you because Jesus Christ has been raised from death.

I trust Peter over your human conjecture.
 

Lamar

Active member
May 21, 2023
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I suspect that when Scripture says we are made holy/sanctified, cleansed by the washing with water through
the word, it does not mean H2O at all.
John 1:17 clarifies this: Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.

Washing dishes and taking a bath in the normative do not require qualifiers, silly man.

Do you overlook the fact that God calls Himself the spring of living water?

Jesus makes a clear distinction between earthly H2O and the water He gives unto life.

The significance of this is apparently overlooked and/or misunderstand by many.

Water baptism is so important that Jesus personally baptized a grand total of zero people in water.

So important that the greatest apostle of them all was glad he water baptized so few.

Does this mean it is not important at all? No! But salvation does not depend on it.


Jesus' words from John 7:37-38 and John 4:14

Titus 3:4-5
2 Peter 3:17b plus Titus 1:10-11:)
I suspect that when Scripture says we are made holy/sanctified, cleansed by the washing with water through
the word, it does not mean H2O at all. John 1:17 clarifies this: Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.
The qualifier is "through the word". Did you not notice that?

Washing dishes and taking a bath in the normative do not require qualifiers, silly man. And baptism does not require a qualifier, water is the normative.

Do you overlook the fact that God calls Himself the spring of living water? Okay...and this means we can ignore His commands???

Jesus makes a clear distinction between earthly H2O and the water He gives unto life. Okay....but even the woman at the well understood that He was using a metaphor.

The significance of this is apparently overlooked and/or misunderstand by many. We are not overlooking it, we just understand that its a metaphor.

Water baptism is so important that Jesus personally baptized a grand total of zero people in water. Water baptism is so important that Jesus was personally baptized....with H2O.

So important that the greatest apostle of them all was glad he water baptized so few. Are you aware that those words were directed to the shame of those whom it applied?

Does this mean it is not important at all? No! But salvation does not depend on it. I disagree. Salvation does depend on the remission of sins.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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if it is part of the process of salvation.

is that not again a work being done to gain something (in this case salvation)
Salvation by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9) is an event and not a process. Salvation by works would be a process. These folks cannot have it both ways and they need to place their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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This is the whole point James is making in James chapter 2. There is no faith if it is not evidenced by works. One preacher put it something like this...faith alone saves, but the faith that saves is never alone...
Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-24)

*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works.*

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24-28; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-24) *Perfect Harmony*

Man is saved through faith in Christ alone (apart from the merit of works) yet authentic faith does not remain alone (apart from the presence of works). This is not hard to understand. It's just hard for people who embrace salvation by faith + works to ACCEPT.