Quote:
Originally Posted by justamere10
Here's a link to an interesting site with a detailed historical timeline of how the doctrine of salvation by faith alone developed from Marcionite teachings long after the Lord's Apostles were killed off.
http://jesuswordsonly.com/images/stories/Salvation/Conclusion%20-%20Chronolgy%20Table%20for%20online.pdf
A brief extract:
"160-325 A.D. Church leaders such as Polycarp, Barnabas, Hermas, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, Hippolytus, Cyprian and Lanctatius speak out on correct salvation doctrine which Marcionites falsify. “The early Christians universally believed that works or obedience play an essential role in our salvation....Early Christians...believed that a ‘saved’ person could still end up being lost.”
|
Salvation by faith alone is taught by the Bible. It is not something that was invented by the church. Many of the church leaders listed above, such as Origen and Clement of Alexandria were heretics who taught false doctrine.
What does the Word of God itself say about the matter?
Eph. 2:8-9 'For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9) NOT of works, that no one should boast.'
Just as you are not saved by works as Eph. 2:8-9 states, you do not maintain your salvation by works.
Romans 11:6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Titus 3:5 says, 'He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.'
The books of Romans and Galatians are about salvation by grace and not by works.
Now, regarding sin, Jesus Christ paid for every single sin in the history of the human race. It is impossible to commit a sin for which Christ did not die. Since Christ paid the penalty for all sin, how then can anyone think that they can commit a sin that could cause them to lose their salvation?
The sacrifice of Christ was once for all.
Hebrews 10:10 'By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 12) But He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.
The Scriptures declare that works are not an issue in salvation and that all sins were paid for by the once and for all sacrifice of Christ. This means that there is absolutely nothing that any believer can do to lose his salvation. Period.
But the legalists will not accept this. They don't want to believe it. They want to believe they are important enough to be able to impress God with their efforts and their righteousness. They can't. God utterly rejects any effort on the part of man to earn salvation. God did all the work and man simply receives the benefit through faith expressed in Christ based on His work on the Cross.
To the legalists, the above verses mean nothing. The legalists are offended by the truth. The legalists are proud of their righeousness. But here is what God thinks of human righteousness.
Isa. 64:6 'For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. (Literally, a used Menstrual rag) That is what God thinks of mans relative righteousness.
The Bible makes it absolutely clear that the believers salvation is secure and cannot be lost. Since the legalists are depending on their works and on their rightousness to maintain their salvation, they probably depended on their rightousness and works to become saved by adding them to their faith. And in that case they are not even saved. After all their attempts to earn their salvation, they will the moment after their death find themselves in Torments in Hades awaiting their final sentencing to the eternal lake of fire. All because they would not simply trust in Christ alone for salvation.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Mike it looks like your thread is being over-run by legalists.
