SacreD AgentS TRUTH Base

By Grace Through Faith

2006-06-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

In the light of James 2:20 and Philippians 2:12

We Are Saved By Grace Through Faith

Are we saved by the good works that we do? The Bible gives an explicit answer to this question,

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8,9)

In this scripture we will learn that:

1. Without the initiative of God to save us through his grace and without our faith in that initiative of His, we cannot be saved; once we are saved only then can we...
2. Do the good works God prepared in advance for us to do as an acknowledgment for that gift of salvation.

Despite the light of the Scriptures many of today’s people argue that you must do this and do in order to be saved, eat this and not that, observe this day and not that day, be baptized and be discipled, or be part of the “true” church to be saved. Do they know the consequence of this type of mentality? Apostle Paul put it this way:

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” (Galatians 2:16-21).

That is:
Christ died for nothing, if salvation is gain through the Law.
Christ died for nothing, if salvation is gained through baptism.
Christ died for nothing, if salvation can be gained by observing certain days.
Christ died for nothing, if one can join an organization (or a church for that matter) in order to be saved.

Yes, Christ died for nothing if salvation can be attained through good works.

If salvation is not gained through good works why do we do good works in the first place?

James gave the answer:

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?… Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James.2:14-17)

It would appear that James is contradicting the writing of Apostle Paul to the Ephesians. Here, James said,

“faith, if it hath not works, is dead”

It seems contradictory until we understand further. The answer is in verse 18,

“Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.”

We must remember that James was writing to the scattered Jewish Christians(James 1:1). He addressed his epistle to those already “believers” (not to those who would-be believers.) He wrote his epistle to those who profess Christ in words but not in action. They failed to show their faith in the commands of the Lord Jesus. Philippians 2:12 will help me elaborate further:

“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Now you might say, “ I thought it would help me understand, but why does it says, ‘work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” It seems like salvation is attained through good works; but as you continue to read the following verse (v.13):

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

That is, as Oswald Chambers put it,

“You did not do anything to achieve your salvation but you must do something to exhibit it. You must ‘work out’ your salvation which God has worked in you already.” (Oswald Chambers. My Utmost for His Highest.)

For example, let me ask you these questions:

1. “When did Abraham received the promise of God, before or after circumcision?” Didn’t he receive the promise first and then circumcision was commanded by God to seal their covenant.
2. “When did the Israelites received their salvation from Egyptian bondage, before or after receiving the Law from Sinai?” They received the Law after God saved them from the hardened Pharaoh.

In both examples, Law and circumcision alike are the seals or signs that perpetuated or reminded them of their redemption. So do the good works of the Christians of today--He gets born again (saved) first and then baptism symbolically seals the union with what Christ did and then good works demonstrates that salvation. Whenever a person receives the Lord Jesus, he does not receive only His name but also he acknowledges His titles--Savior and Lord!
We receive Him as the Savior because apart from what He did, we can never be bought from the slavery of sin and darkness.
We receive Him as Lord because He is the Sovereign One in our life. What He says counts more than any what other people say, His commands take precedence over our emotions, prejudices, temperaments or belief.

Now dear friend are you saved by being a member of your congregation or by regularly attending your church?
Are you saved by the good works that you do? If you answered “yes,” to any of the above questions, shame on you because you proclaim that the Christ died for nothing. But if you said “no,” be assured that:

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10).

You and I are saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, faith in what the Lord did for you, faith in His life, death and resurrection.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23).

Now I'm Born Again, What Next?

2006-06-10T06:16:00.001-07:00

If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, as a Christian you should:

I. Read your Bible every day to get to know Christ better.
"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." (Psalms 119:105)

II. Talk to God in prayer every day.
"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." (Matthew 21:22)
"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." (Philippians 4:6)

III. Be baptized, worship, fellowship, and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached and the Bible is the final authority.
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:" (Matthew 28:19)
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." (Hebrews 10:25)
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:" (2 Timothy 3:16)

IV. Tell others about Christ.
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)
"For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!" (1 Corinthians 9:16)
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16)

God's Plan of Salvation

2006-06-09T09:32:00.000-07:00

The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven

Jesus said:

"I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me." (John 14:6)

Good works cannot save you.

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Trust Jesus Christ today!

Here's what you must do:

I. Admit you are a sinner.

"For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23)

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:" (Romans 5:12)

"If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us." (1 John 1:10)

II. Be willing to turn from sin (repent).

Jesus said:

"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)

"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" (Acts 17:30)

III. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you, was buried, and rose from the dead.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners. Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." (Romans 10:9)

III. Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal Saviour.

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:10)

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:13)

What to pray:
Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Saviour."But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:" (John 1:12)

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17)