[LearsFool]

The answer to both questions is F. But I'll bet you knew that already. Why you dodge that is another question altogether.

In God's mercy, He accepted the Son's sacrifice on our behalf. Is that all there is to it? (Ak! Another question! But rather than wait for an answer, I'll press on.)

No, that's not all there is to it. Did the ark save everyone from the flood? Or only those with faith? Why, only those with faith, of course. Likewise, God tells us we must either turn to Him in faith or else be lost.

Noah preached for 100 years and could only find 7 people with enough faith to join him on the ark. Did their faith save them? Yes. Did the ark save them? Yes. Did God save them? Yes. Did water save them? Yes. Did their getting in the ark save them? Yes.

The false teacher who wrote the OP's article would eliminate some of the things which saved Noah and his family. If he had been around back then, he wouldn't have gotten into the ark, let alone help build it. He doesn't have enough faith in God. Instead, he'd have spent his time trying to dissuade Noah's family from getting into the ark.

Those who likewise persist in propagating this false "faith-only" gospel are just like him. Not only do they not understand how faith works in baptism to receive God's grace, they lack the faith to simply do whatever God commands. Instead, they come up with elaborate explanations for NOT doing what God says. And not only do they lack faith, like the pied piper they lead others down the same road to perdition.

"For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." - II Timothy 3:6-7

Whether their false teaching springs from a zeal and vehemence against the false religion of Catholicism, or whether it has some other originating source, is beside the point. They preach a false gospel, and spew lying promises of salvation.

If you've fallen prey to their seductive lies, I hope you'll turn back to the Scriptures of God and seek out the truth.

[boatbums]

The answer to both questions is F. But I'll bet you knew that already. Why you dodge that is another question altogether. In God's mercy, He accepted the Son's sacrifice on our behalf. Is that all there is to it? (Ak! Another question! But rather than wait for an answer, I'll press on.)

I don't know why you seem to think we owe you an answer to the questions you ask or imagine I don't know what the Bible teaches and you have to educate me. What this whole exercise has been about is what saves us, grace or works. If there had been a law that could make us righteous, then righteousness would have come by Moses' law, says Galatians 3 - and that was considered the epitome of law.

No one here has said "that's all there is" to living as a Christian. But to attain the righteousness required to be in heaven with God, who cannot look upon sin, we can ONLY turn to Christ, whose shed blood makes atonement for all our sins. It is AFTER we have been born again through faith that the Holy Spirit works in us to will to do those works Gods has created for us to do (Eph. 2:10). Are good works important for us to do in God's plan and purpose? Of course, I already said that multiple times. I don't know why you keep reverting to the idea that I've not acknowledged that.

Noah preached for 100 years and could only find 7 people with enough faith to join him on the ark. Did their faith save them? Yes. Did the ark save them? Yes. Did God save them? Yes. Did water save them? Yes. Did their getting in the ark save them? Yes.

Really? GOD saved those who had faith. Water didn't save them, they were saved FROM the water BY God's mercy and grace. Their getting into the ark was how they acted on their faith, it showed they had genuine faith. What makes you think I don't believe that?

The false teacher who wrote the OP's article would eliminate some of the things which saved Noah and his family. If he had been around back then, he wouldn't have gotten into the ark, let alone help build it. He doesn't have enough faith in God. Instead, he'd have spent his time trying to dissuade Noah's family from getting into the ark.

The author isn't teaching anything false, but for those who are counting on all the good works they do for God to save them, they probably HAVE to think he is. If you had been around back then, would you have gotten into the ark? Would you be boasting to your shipmates about how good you were to get on board or would you be thanking God for rescuing you from the judgment raining down? The boarding of the ark was an act of faith, but it was God USING the ark that saved them. Trusting in Jesus Christ is boarding the ark. It is what God requires to save us from the penalty of our sins.

The "false" gospel is coming from those who insist - in the face of ALL the Scripture to the contrary - that it is by their works they are justified. Sure, they slip in a little "faith" so as not to totally deny God's word, but it takes a distant second to their OWN works of righteousness. They have fallen from grace, Paul says, because works nullify grace. They are spewing lies from the pit of hell that deny the redemption which is in Christ alone. If Abraham - or us - are justified by our works, we would have something to boast about - but not before God. Don't be like those who at the judgment come before Christ saying , "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?", because Jesus will tell them, "I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS."

Our works do not save us. Only Jesus saves us by grace THROUGH faith and not by works, lest anyone should boast.