Posted on 10/28/2024 7:23:47 PM PDT by ducttape45
For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. —Romans 5:10
I am not saved by believing; I realise I am saved by believing. It is not repentance that saves me; repentance is the sign that I realise what God has done in Christ Jesus. The danger is to put the emphasis on the effect instead of on the cause — “It is my obedience that puts me right with God, my consecration.” Never! I am put right with God because prior to all, Christ died. When I turn to God and by belief accept what God reveals I can accept, instantly the stupendous Atonement of Jesus Christ rushes me into a right relationship with God, and by the supernatural miracle of God’s grace I stand justified, not because I am sorry for my sin, not because I have repented, but because of what Jesus has done. The spirit of God brings it with a breaking, all-over light, and I know, though I do not know how, that I am saved.
The salvation of God does not stand on human logic, it stands on the sacrificial Death of Jesus. We can be born again because of the Atonement of Our Lord. Sinful men and women can be changed into new creatures, not by their repentance or their belief, but by the marvellous work of God in Christ Jesus which is prior to all experience. The impregnable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself. We have not to work out these things ourselves; they have been worked out by the Atonement: The supernatural becomes natural by the miracle of God; there is the realisation of what Jesus Christ has already done — “It is finished.”
[[“It is my obedience that puts me right with God, my consecration.” Never!]]
Exactly- We obey (At least we try to but fail many times) BECAUSE —He— saves us- Obeyance is Not as a prerequisite for salvation- Repentance simply means a change of mind about HOW we find salvation- we find it through Christ alone- not our works or our ‘promise to obey’ before salvation can come-
Good devotional
Well put!
Us Protestants should never make the mistake we made centuries ago. We should never work so hard to make the argument that works doesn't bring salvation, that we take works out of the picture altogether. We are saved by grace -- and we're called to live it like we mean it.
That was (and is) my standard response when asked by evangelicals if I was “saved”. That I am “justified by faith”. The number of blank looks I got was pretty high.
CC
Part of believing is doing ...
But there are two kinds of Faith - a saving Faith and a Dead Faith. Faith without works is (a) dead (Faith)
Ephesians 2:10 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.
“My Utmost for His Highest”
We started to read that during our devotions about 25 years ago. We had heard so many good things about it. After a week we agreed that we had had enough. To me, it seemed poorly written. FWIW...
PM
‘The impregnable safety of justification and sanctification is God Himself.’
well. i’ve thought about this view long and hard, and i’ve determined from God’s Word that my small disagreement with it doesn’t impact my destination in Jesus. the unfortunate thing about this theology is that i think it is possibly a stumbling block for some and may lead to a belief in what’s called ‘cheap grace’ for some misguided individuals.
nonetheless, it’s a nice and comforting theology, but the devil certainly doesn’t believe it. the devil continues to attack believers and the brethren with effect. i hate the devil, but i respect him as God’s greatest creation. anyway reason (which is the organ of truth invented by God) implies that an individual’s faith is thus not completely ‘impregnable’ and therefore is not completely up to ‘God Himself,’ for God must have a perfect faith or existence would wink out.
anyway, my two cents on this teaching/theology.
Which is a muddled explanation of justification by imputed righteousness. A true believer is not saved by works, but by spiritually born of the Spirit (Jn. 3:2-7) by effectual penitent, heart-purifying, regenerating faith in the Divine Son of God and Lord of all, (John 1:1-3,14; Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9) sent be the Father to be the Savior of the world, (1 Jn. 4:14) who saves sinners by His sinless shed blood.
And which faith is imputed for righteousness, (Romans 4:5) and is shown in baptism and following the Lord, (Acts 2:38-47; Jn. 10:27, 28) whom they shall go to be with or His return (Phil 1:23; 2Cor. 5:8 [“we”]; Heb, 12:22,23; 1Cor. 15:51ff'; 1Thess. 4:17)
In contrast to those who were never born of the Spirit or who terminally fall away. (Gal. 5:1-4; Heb. 3:12; 10:25-39) Glory and thanks be to God.
Salvation by faith is thus not abstract from who and what the object of faith is, being Lord and savior. And as true faith and works go together as cause and effect (all we choose to do is a result of what we truly believe - at least at the moment), thus one who believes and confesses as per Romans 10:9,10, is engaging in an act of repentance - faith in the heart justifying, and confession of Jesus as Lord being confirmatory regarding it (thus denying Caesar as being Lord/God).
There is no merit that saves a person as eternal life is a free gift. However, works of faith by the Spirit will be rewarded, (1 Cor. 3:8ff, Heb. 10:34) though God deserves all the credit.
Moreover, as forgiveness and healing went together as cause and effect in the case of the palsied man, so that the Lord could ask, "Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?," (Mark 2:9) then Peter could tell seeking souls "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
Not because baptism saves, (Acts 10:43-47; 15:7-9) but since baptism requires and expresses faith, as walking manifested healing for the palsied man, so Peter promised that if they would repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus - thereby confirming they believed - then they would receive the promise of the Spirit.
There is no more merit in moving one's tongue or brain cells) in repeating a sinner's prayer in confessing the Lord, then there is in moving one's legs to be baptized, though the latter is a stronger confession.
Sola Gratia, Sola Fides, Solus Christus
Ephesians 2:8-10.
This concept has been on my homepage for what? Decades??
Yeah - you’ve been around for a long time.
Serving.
MUFHH - been reading since 1967 - 57 years.
One of the best and deepest of all devotionals. He died at 43 (I think) and his wife put this together after his passing.
A must at some time in life of every serious Christian. Heavenly, spiritual, showing that reason and common sense are opposed to faith and revelation are by the Holy Spirit.
One of most Christ-centered writers ever......often divides soul and spirit......
May I suggest a third kind of faith, a *serving* faith.
In Revelation 20, there is only one thing against which we will be judged: Our deeds (works.) We will not be asked whether we understood what being ‘baptized for the dead” means nor what our philosophy of Hades was, just our deeds.
The last parable in Matthew 24 and the three in Matthew 25 highlight this matter. They all portray Christians and their works as two groups: One is rewarded, the other condemned. They differ somewhat.
Christians in righteous service to their master versus Christians in unrighteous service to their master.
Christians who are righteous versus Christians who lack enough righteousness.
Christians who serve their king according to their ability versus those who choose to not serve their king.
Christians who serve their brethren’s needs versus those who do not serve their brethren.
There is no denying that the ‘line in the sand’ is whether maturing faith led to works.
It is interesting to do a high resolution analysis of James 2. Every sentence teaches about faith and works.
The most interesting part to me is the example of Abraham. When he was 75 and Sarah was 65, God began his relationship with Abraham. Abraham believed God — moved from his ancestral home, was patient for Isaac to be born 25 years later, etc. — this initial faith was counted as righteousness. (Our counterpart as a Christian is a ‘babe in Christ.’)
Then the day came when Abraham offered Isaac, when Abraham was about 140ish. To this obedience, God responds, “Now, I know you are faithful...” James writes that Abraham’s works COMPLETED his faith (ESV)” If we don’t COMPLETE our faith with works, our faith is DEAD.
One key understanding is that the evolution from righteousness of faith takes time (knowledge, understanding, practice) to mature to a righteousness of serving faith.
I was never a fan of Oswald Chambers. I don’t understand why so many people quote him. He did admirable work for the Lord, what is theology was flimsy. I despise his treatment of Luke chapter 9.
I was never a fan of Oswald Chambers. I don’t understand why so many people quote him. He did admirable work for the Lord, what is theology was flimsy. I despise his treatment of Luke chapter 9.
I was never a fan of Oswald Chambers. I don’t understand why so many people quote him. He did admirable work for the Lord, what is theology was flimsy. I despise his treatment of Luke chapter 9.
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