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To: Mrs. Don-o
A somewhat obscure verse like 2 Tim 2:2 that can be taken a number of ways does not outweigh in importance the tonnage of scripture that tells us we are saved by grace. Much confusion is generated by confusing the requirements of salvation with how God works in our lives.

Galatians gives stern warning and a double curse to anyone including an angel from heaven who preaches "another gospel" than the gospel of grace (Gal 1:6-9). The whole book of Galatians revolves around correction and re-iterating justification by grace through faith, not by our works.

The very heart of the New Covenant and the gospel is the book of Romans which is a detailed explanation of the gospel of grace:

But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describes the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered (Rom 4:5-7).

If you want to add conditions of salvation to yourself, then in the sense of God's FREE GIFT (x3) (Rom 5:15-18) to you, you are denying the eternal efficacy of the blood of perfect sacrifice of his Son for you on the cross. When we insist on our own self efforts for salvation, God can't do much for us, which is as much as anything what 2 Tim 2:2 means. But as the next verse says, if we do not believe, he remains faithful, he cannot deny himself. His Son's sacrifice still works eternal salvation in our lives.

If you have received Jesus but live in fear because of some obscure demand you've put on yourself, you are still saved. God cannot undo the perfect and eternal sacrifice of his Son that you have received. You're just living short of the freedom and joy of the salvation which is yours.

Everyone in Egypt who put blood on their doorposts and lintels were saved, but not all were without fear and trepidation. Same is true today for Christians. We have the fulness of his promise of salvation by grace, not works, and the angel of (eternal) death will pass over us. But some who do not believe, even though they have the blood of Jesus protecting them, needlessly live in fear through unbelief. They are still saved, but haven't yet learned they are not subject to requirements of the law or their own works.

133 posted on 04/26/2015 6:01:35 PM PDT by PapaNew (The grace of God & freedom always win the debate in the forum of ideas over unjust law & government)
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To: PapaNew

Salvation refers to two things: justification and sanctification. Those who are justified will be sanctified. Justification is by grace. Sanctification is done by God acting with us.

But those who have truly been justified by the cleansing of Jesus WILL desire sanctification. They will not rejoice in their sin. If sin does not bother you, then the Spirit is not in you.

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.”


135 posted on 04/26/2015 6:26:19 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Can you remember what America was like in 2004?)
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To: PapaNew
I don't think it's obscure.

Grace? Yes. All is grace. Faith, yes: but what kind of faith is a faith that saves? A living faith or a dead faith?

James says, "Do you see that by works a man is justified; and not by faith alone?" (James 2:22) Does Paul give "a stern warning and a double curse" to James? No, he agrees:

"And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing."

We even love, and do good works, by grace. So there you go.

136 posted on 04/26/2015 6:44:32 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o (Faith with love is the faith of Christians. Without love, it is the faith of demons. -Venerable Bede)
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