SALVATION
By mlmpeople
@mlmpeople (777)
India
3 responses
@goldenboy20 (555)
• Philippines
14 Feb 07
Salvation is by grace trough faith my friend. Here is some article that i've researced:
The chuch at ephesus was established while paul briefly passed by that way journeying to Jerusalem at the end of the second tour (Acts 18:19-21).
NO mention of specific converts is made until those found in Acts 19:1-5. Paul did in Ephesus as he always did; he preaced the word in the synagogue seeking to convert the jews first. Later, he turned to the Gentile population (Acts 19:8-9). Ephesus became Paul's third center of evangelism. In the beginning, it was Antioch in Syria. Later, it was Philippi in Macedonia. NOw it was Ephesus. Paul's work in the schoold of Tyrannus allowed him to spread the Word throughout all Asia (Acts 19:10). During the two years at Ephesus, churces of Christ were established in Laodicea, heirapolis, sardis, pergamos, thyatira, smyrna, philadelphia, colosse and troas.
The conversions at Ephesus are sometimes misused by those who hold the false doctrine that salvation occurs at the point of faith before and without water baptism. A favorite passage of these people is Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast." Let us consider the evidence which the Scriptures reveal concerning their redemption. Specifically, let us see what the New Testament says about their baptism.
@goldenboy20 (555)
• Philippines
14 Feb 07
Salvation my friend is not of our own works, but of God's grace.
There is no debating about whether or not salvation is a matter of grace--it is (Ephesians 2:8). We are not asved by works of our own righteousness but according to God's mercy. The question is whether or not there are works of another class included within the realm of grace? Does the Bible teach ther are "works" which exclude boasting consistent with divine grace?
The bible says that abraham was saved by "works" (james 2:21-23). Theses were works of faith, that is, obedience to God which was rooted in and sprang forth from faith (Heb. 11:8, 17-19). There is no sense in which the works which abraham did can be said to have been "his own works." He did not appoint the journey. He did not originate the sacrifice of his only son. God asked for these thisngs and Abraham with implicit trust abeyed God.
Thus, we are urged to walk in the steps of Abraham's faith (Rom 4:12). How can we so walk, if "doing" nullifies grace?
Peter clearly declares salvation is promised to him that fears God and works righteousness (Acts 10:34-35). Paul affirms that he preaced in order to secure from others the "obedience of faith" (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). Such obedience is not inconsistent with grace, but establishes grace (Rom. 6:15-18). So faith is coming by hearing the word of God. Paul speaks very favorably of the Ephesians in his letter to them. He writes of their exalted positionin Jesus Christ in heavenly places (Eph. 1:3, 20; 2:6) and of the Church which is the bride of Christ, and the fact that they are that church which is the visible expression of the "manifold wisdom of God" (Eph. 3:10).
@goldenboy20 (555)
• Philippines
14 Feb 07
NOw, ephesians were the inheritors of all the spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3) when they trusted in Christ. HOwever, that fiath could not exist aparat from "the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation." Their faith existed after they hear. saving faith is always the reslut of hearing the gospel.
Baptism is justification by grace trough faith. My friend, the ephesians were most certainly baptized (Acts 19:1-5). With respect to their baptism paul said, "Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word." What did christ sanctify and cleanse? It was the church with what did Jesus sanctifya and cleanse the Church? Jesus used two things in settingthe church apart in holiness: baptism and the Gospel.
NOtice that it is "the washing of water," baptism, throug the word, the gospel baptism is efficacious to our sanctification because God has revealed it (Mark 16:16). Our faith is not in ourselves and what we have done, but rather it is in his mercy and what he has promised. The baptized believer is not trusting in himself so that he can boast and demand a reward as a matter of debt. Similarly, Peter affirmed that baptism saves us "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God. Clearly the saving power is not ourselves but the ressurected redeemer who has all power in heaven and in earth. We are justified by grace trough faith when we believe and obey the gospel.
@goldenboy20 (555)
• Philippines
22 Jan 07
Salvation by friend is by grace through Faith, and not of yourselves, it is the Gift of God, not of your goodworks lest anyone should boast..You cannot be save because of your own goodworks because we are born and by nature sinful..there is nothing good in man that he can be proud of because even the very good works of man is evil in the sight of God because all have sinned and comes short of the glory of God. Yes even are goodworks are considered to be evil because we usually do it by our ownselves and for our ownselves, and not for the glory of God. by nature man hates God and so we cannot love God apart from Him. Without His workings in ourlives, we are nothing and can do nothing. So myfriend if you ask more questions about what i've told you, just reply me back and lets have some discussions regarding salvation. You know theology and doctrines are my favorite topics so it is my pleasure to have a friend like you. Let us help one another here at mylot. Godbless.
