The Doctrine of Salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone (Gospel, messages)
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Many people reject the Biblical teaching of eternal salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. They reject the fact that we accept God's gift of eternal life by simply accepting His Son's payment for us. In this thread I'm presenting the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, and not by works, as given by Pastor Robert McLaughlin of Grace Bible Church in Somerset, MA. As stated on the website, 'Grace Bible Church is non-denominational, and dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.'
The doctrine of salvation by grace through faith in Christ Jesus does not deny the importance of works as a part of the believer's spiritual life in time. But works as a part of the believer's spiritual life are not being addressed here. Whether the believer will have good works is not being addressed here. These are not the topic. The topic, and the doctrine that is being presented here is simply the teaching that we are eternally saved by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, and not by works.
The Doctrine of Salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone
Ironically . . . in a strange way having faith that salvation comes from Christ is true. But not for the reasons you believe, Mike. It has NOTHING to do with what we do or do not do, believe or do not believe. In fact we have absolutely NOTHING to do with our salvation, period. Christ accomplished it for us. He is our "designated hitter." All the "precepts and doctrines of men" that support the existence and perpetuation of the churches are man-made additions to Christ's simple Gospel of love. HE never said believe all these things ABOUT me. HE said follow me. Love God and each other as I have loved you. Do the things I have done. It had nothing to do with what to believe ABOUT Him. It had to do with "believing ON" Him.
Ironically . . . in a strange way having faith that salvation comes from Christ is true. But not for the reasons you believe, Mike. It has NOTHING to do with what we do or do not do, believe or do not believe. In fact we have absolutely NOTHING to do with our salvation, period. Christ accomplished it for us. He is our "designated hitter." All the "precepts and doctrines of men" that support the existence and perpetuation of the churches are man-made additions to Christ's simple Gospel of love. HE never said believe all these things ABOUT me. HE said follow me. Love God and each other as I have loved you. Do the things I have done. It had nothing to do with what to believe ABOUT Him. It had to do with "believing ON" Him.
No, no, Mystic, We have everything to do with our salvation __following Jesus is the main one! Redemption is what you are speaking of because the cross of Jesus worked that all out for us by His physical death. NOW it is up to us, who claim His Name, to work it out in our spiritual life __but set apart unto God as His was can be the only way. . . .
No, no, Mystic, We have everything to do with our salvation __following Jesus is the main one! Redemption is what you are speaking of because the cross of Jesus worked that all out for us by His physical death. NOW it is up to us, who claim His Name, to work it out in our spiritual life __but set apart unto God as His was can be the only way. . . .
Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23; Rev. 22:17) which is received by grace through faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not something which is earned by following Christ. Following Christ has to do with discipleship. Not with eternal salvation.
Working out our salvation has nothing to do with our eternal salvation. It refers to the process of experiential sanctification which is related to the believer's spiritual growth in time.
I suspect that most of the people who believe in works based salvation and who decide to post on this thread probably will not make an effort to objectively read and listen to the studies that are provided in the original post. But they are there for whoever will make the effort.
Eternal life is a free gift (Romans 6:23; Rev. 22:17) which is received by grace through faith in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not something which is earned by following Christ. Following Christ has to do with discipleship. Not with eternal salvation.
Working out our salvation has nothing to do with our eternal salvation. It refers to the process of experiential sanctification which is related to the believer's spiritual growth in time.
I suspect that most of the people who believe in works based salvation and who decide to post on this thread probably will not make an effort to objectively read and listen to the studies that are provided in the original post. But they are there for whoever will make the effort.
To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ __nothing less.
To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus Christ __nothing less.
A Christian is anyone who has received Christ as Savior and has therefore been given eternal life. Whether he picks up his cross and follows Jesus or not has no bearing on the fact that he has and always will have eternal life.
Avail yourself of the studies provided in the OP. Eternal life is a free gift and is not earned by anything that we can do.
No, no, Mystic, We have everything to do with our salvation __following Jesus is the main one! Redemption is what you are speaking of because the cross of Jesus worked that all out for us by His physical death. NOW it is up to us, who claim His Name, to work it out in our spiritual life __but set apart unto God as His was can be the only way. . . .
Good post Croref! -- As a relatively new poster on the CD Christian forum, you may not have realized yet that 'you have just entered the Twilight Zone of UR'. In this 'zone', not only has Christ alone done it all; ... BUT, many hold the notion that no response, faith, belief (and certainly no action or words) have any part in one's Salvation -- (and they inject this view into almost every post.)
Don't worry, there is a much larger contingent of folks on CD who are 'still willing to endure sound doctrine;' --- folks who rely on God's Word as God's 'truth standard.' (Mike555 and I are two of these, plus there are many others.
As long as one believes in and recognizes Christ alone as their Savior, one's belief that believers in Christ alone (or that all people, by virtue of their existence) - will be saved, may not influence who is ultimately 'saved' or 'not saved'. My concern is that the proliferation of this belief could ultimately lead some to ignore or reject even the foundational belief and trust in Christ (since the UR message so often seems to infer that one's creation and existence alone are sufficient).
I think that all who receive Christ being born again will realize in time that the only place of peace in life is at the cross of Christ.. Self denial.. suffering for Christ's name. Living for God and others to be living witnesses of His goodness.
Because the new creation in Christ reacts differently to the sin in their life than one that is unregenerate.. instead of being hardened.. they are repentant.. instead of enjoying sin.. they are miserable living in sin.. They might think they enjoy sin through deception.. but they will realize quickly what the Bible says is true.. it's end is as bitter as wormwood.. obedience to sin is death.. separation from fellowship with God. the place of true peace..
There is only one place to find peace in life.. and that is in self denial at the cross.. submitting to Christ through His Spirit.. which then bears fruit in the lives of the believers as He works in them. It's something that happens in time..
Only the blood of JESUS cleanses guilty sinful Man before a Holy God. Prideful Man finds this message offensive.. We want to have merit to stand before God with our own goodness.. but the Bible completely shatters this concept.. Every day we all fall short of God's Glory.. therefore .. everyday we prove we are deserving of death and separation from Him. Our thoughts condemn us..
Praise God that He has been so kind to people so unthankful and rebellious.
Avail yourself to studying the scriptures without a denomination bent.Begin here:
"And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent."John 17:3 (KJV)
No strings attached __ just obedience to the commands of God.
There are no strings attached to eternal salvation. Including obedience to the commands of God. The only command which the unbeliever can obey is the command to believe on Jesus Christ (Acts 16:31).
The moment a person believes that Jesus died for his sins with the result that he trusts in Christ alone for his salvation he has eternal life and can never lose it.
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by works.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you aresaved (Perfect Tense) through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9] not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
The word 'saved' - sózó, is in the Greek perfect tense - sesōsmenoi; and refers to action completed in the past with continuing results.
Perfect Tense
The basic thought of the perfect tense is that the progress of an action has been completed and the results of the action are continuing on, in full effect. In other words, the progress of the action has reached its culmination and the finished results are now in existence. Unlike the English perfect, which indicates a completed past action, the Greek perfect tense indicates the continuation and present state of a completed past action. Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions)
In Ephesians 2:5 it is stated;
Eph. 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions,made us alive (Aorist Indicative) together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
'Made us alive' is in the Greek Aorist Indicative which denotes action that occurred in past time.
Aorist Tense
The aorist is said to be "simple occurrence" or "summary occurrence", without regard for the amount of time taken to accomplish the action. This tense is also often referred to as the 'punctiliar' tense. 'Punctiliar' in this sense means 'viewed as a single, collective whole,' a "one-point-in-time" action, although it may actually take place over a period of time. In the indicative mood the aorist tense denotes action that occurred in the past time, often translated like the English simple past tense. Greek Verbs (Shorter Definitions)
At the moment of faith in Christ the one who has believed is made alive. He is given eternal life before he can do any works of any kind.
While every believer should have a desire to pick up his cross and follow Jesus, (he may or may not) he has been given eternal life at the moment he first accepted as true the fact that Jesus died for his sins and therefore simply trusted in Christ's finished work.
Again, avail yourself of the studies provided in the OP.
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The Doctrine of Salvation by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone
