Ephesians 2 is not preaching faith alone.
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I don't need a prerequisite. I thought your point was that you said it is a free gift, but that it first has to be accepted, making the requirement to accept it, a prerequisite, and therefore, the gift not truly free. My point was just that for it to be truly free as we are told it is, there could be no prerequisite of any kind associated to it (even accepting it) - that its intended recipient would be placed in direct possession of it - or more correctly, of them being placed into its possession - with no involvement or actions from them being either required or possible, thus making it truly and completely free and by grace.
(haven't had coffee yet, hope that makes sense)
What Paul means by saved is, sealed with the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:9 Romans 8:13-14 Ephesians 1:13
Having the Spirit one is then equipped to live worthy of heaven. One not living worthy of heaven makes evident that they do not have the Spirit or are resisting the leading of the Spirit.
Because as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the ones born of God. Romans 8:14 In other words they are the ones born again.
The good news from the Messiah is that the main rule we need to keep is love. Matthew 7:12 His apostles explaining specifically that love is the fulfilling of the law. The Messiah command His apostles to teach His commands, His commands of love (Luke chapter 6) and to baptize Matthew 28:19-20.
And that is what they did, Acts 16:31-33
They spoke the word of the Lord, Jesus' words, to the jailer, they wanted him to believe the teachings of Jesus, not just believe about Jesus, but believe Jesus Himself, that is the requirement for 'salvation' believing Jesus completely, for example Jesus said;
Give and it will be given to you....
The teachings of Jesus, are to be believed. One sincerely believing Jesus would therefore live a certain way, the way of love and giving. (John 3:36)
He that has my (Jesus's commands, not all the commands in the Bible) commands and keeps them, he it is that loves me. He that does not keep my teachings does not love me. John 14:21-24
If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let that person be Anathema! Oh Lord come. 1 Corinthians 16:22 (1 Corinthians 1:13 for context)
Having the Spirit one is then equipped to live worthy of heaven. One not living worthy of heaven makes evident that they do not have the Spirit or are resisting the leading of the Spirit.
Because as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the ones born of God. Romans 8:14 In other words they are the ones born again.
The good news from the Messiah is that the main rule we need to keep is love. Matthew 7:12 His apostles explaining specifically that love is the fulfilling of the law. The Messiah command His apostles to teach His commands, His commands of love (Luke chapter 6) and to baptize Matthew 28:19-20.
And that is what they did, Acts 16:31-33
They spoke the word of the Lord, Jesus' words, to the jailer, they wanted him to believe the teachings of Jesus, not just believe about Jesus, but believe Jesus Himself, that is the requirement for 'salvation' believing Jesus completely, for example Jesus said;
Give and it will be given to you....
The teachings of Jesus, are to be believed. One sincerely believing Jesus would therefore live a certain way, the way of love and giving. (John 3:36)
He that has my (Jesus's commands, not all the commands in the Bible) commands and keeps them, he it is that loves me. He that does not keep my teachings does not love me. John 14:21-24
If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let that person be Anathema! Oh Lord come. 1 Corinthians 16:22 (1 Corinthians 1:13 for context)
Cute. About sums it up.
They don't like any other answer given to them, so they'll just have to settle with this one.
Now this is exactly true. How many times have they been challenged to quote one Scripture of being saved by 'faith alone', and all they quote is being saved by faith. Not by faith alone.
Yes. Touched with 'alone' on the brain. In every Scripture for salvation and justification by faith, they see 'alone' lurking nearby. They're so sold on alone, that faith is not faith, except it be faith alone. Or faith without alone is not faith made perfect:
James{2:21}
Was not Abraham our father justified by faith alone, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his faith, and by being alone was faith made perfect?
Well Duh. I wholly reject your pseudo free-gift salvation, with your faith-alone justification.
I only believe Scripture of truth.
True. Nothing about salvation being the free gift. Grace and faith, yes.
Eph{2:8}
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Rom 5:15
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
I'll no longer correct you on the Lamb's atonement made by death and resurrection.
You can keep your pagan shedding of blood alone.
Faith alone is the great corckscrewing of Scripture. By faith alone, every Scripture is twisted into a lie.
1 Peter {1:15}
But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
The fear of the Lord is twisted into terror. And the judgment against evil works is twisted into judging works good enough.
The fear of the Lord is that He judges our works equally, whether believer or stranger. And evil works are never good enough.
Faith alone is that old screw, that ruptures the heart and mind, that it can no longer think straight, and comprehend sound doctrine.
Jhn 1:2
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
Spoken like a true sinner. Good works are not good to do, but are a burden to cast off for free salvation with evil doing.
"We don't need no good works! We got free salvation!"
And repentance from evil doing, in order to believe the gospel of grace in the first place:
Mark{1:15}
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
If given salvation it is a free to its recipients; however, it wasn't free to Christ
[Rom 5:15 KJV] 15 But[G235] not[G3756] as[G5613] the[G3588] offence,[G3900] so[G3779] also[G2532] [is] the[G3588] free gift.[G5486] For[G1063] if[G1487] through the[G3588] offence[G3900] of one[G1520] many[G4183] be dead,[G599] much[G4183] more[G3123] the[G3588] grace[G5485] of God,[G2316] and[G2532] the[G3588] gift[G1431] by[G1722] grace,[G5485] [which is][G3588] by one[G1520] man,[G444] Jesus[G2424] Christ,[G5547] hath abounded[G4052] unto[G1519] many.[G4183]
free gift.
g5486
- a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own
- the gift of divine grace
- the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue
- the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith
- grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit
Not by faith alone. Faith alone is alone. No repentance, nor works, no nothing with it.
Well, it is with free salvation. But nothing else is with faith alone. Well, it's with grace too, but that's it!
How can faith be alone, if it is with grace and salvation? For faith to truly be alone, isn't it faith alone without grace, salvation, and works?
If faith alone is with grace and salvation, then faith is not alone. Or, is faith only alone without repentance and good works? It's only partially alone?
We are saved by grace through faith partly alone...
@ATG
Sorry meant to include this verse too
[Rom 5:16 KJV] 16 And[G2532] not[G3756] as[G5613] [it was] by[G1223] one[G1520] that sinned,[G264] [so is] the[G3588] gift:[G1434] for[G1063] the[G3588] judgment[G2917] [was] by[G1537] one[G1520] to[G1519] condemnation,[G2631] but[G1161] the[G3588]
free gift[G5486] [is] of[G1537] many[G4183] offences[G3900] unto[G1519] justification.[G1345]
Not sure that I follow you, but I think the faith of Eph 2:8 is the faith of Christ not man's faith - the faith that Christ exhibited in achieving the Father's plan of salvation. The Father's grace through Christ's faith, made salvation a completely free gift to its recipients - hence the "and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God"
And this is the lying heart of the matter: When they say their salvation is free, they cannot be speaking of Jesus Christ, which cost Him His life on a cross.
So they are not speaking of the Giver, but of themselves alone: They claim a free salvation without costing them anything. A free pass without costing their life:
Mar 8:34
And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
And so, you are exactly correct. There is nothing free about the Lord Jesus' Christ's salvation. It was not free to Him by His cross, nor is it free to sinful man that crucified Christ on a cross.
Acts{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; And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
Cor {7:10}
For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of:
Mat 1:21
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Jesus Christ's salvation is from sins, which therefore costs sinners their sinning. Jesus Christ died for our sins to be repented of.
Which is why the free-loaders claim a salvation with sins, without repentance necessary to be saved, but only faith-alone. (Rather faith partly alone...)
Exactly correct again. Eph 2 is not anything for faith 'alone', which never appears in any Scripture for salvation and justification.
Eph 2 is for recieving the gift of the faith of Jesus Christ, which He Himself lived by as the Son on earth, yet without ins, and died by as the Lamb of God, and for sins.
Man's own faith has works to be proud of. But only by Jesus' faith can any man do works honoured by God.
Matthew{23:5}
But all their works they do for to be seen of men:
Jhn 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?
Grace and faith of God are the free gift by repentance from our own proud works.
Salvation is not freely won by Jesus' death on His cross, nor freely given without repentance on our own cross.
The gospel of Jesus Christ dying for our sins, is the good news of free grace and faith by repentance of our sins for Jesus' sake.
The gospel of free salvation without repentance by faith-alone, is a gospel of man's own salvation, grace, and faith-alone.
Gal 1:6
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. Which is not another;
The new creation will do good works.
We are SAVED BY GRACE through faith and that is not of ourselves but a gift of God.
Your works theology is not listed in saved by grace through faith.
You misunderstand that salvation is a free gift and not earned by our good behavior.
Your not alone.