Saturday, October 1, 2016

Salvation is By Faith apart from Works

Many people believe we are saved in part by good works.  This is not true:

Salvation is not earned:
 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 
5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness
--Romans 4:4-5

This is the only person in the Bible who received assurance of salvation while alive:
42 And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 
43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.”
--Luke 23:42-43

Paul calls the law "the ministry of condemnation".  It was given to show man they are lost, sinners.
9 For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.
--2 Cor 3:9

By the Law no flesh will be justified:
16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
--Gal 2:16

Christ did not die needlessly:
21“I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.
--Gal 2:21

The law was never intended to bring salvation.
19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made.
--Gal 3:19-20

A mirror reveals the problem, but it does not fix the problem.
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
--Gal 3:24

Jesus compared a pharisee to a tax collector, who is "Justified"
11 The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people:
...
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
--Luke 18:13,16

The allegory of Isaac and Hagar
29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say?

“Cast out the bondwoman and her son,
For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.”
31 So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.
--Gal 4:29-31

Saved by grace through faith:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
--Eph 2:8-9
(NASB)


J Vernon McGee: Faith plus nothing equals salvation


Many people people ask:Why can't God simpy forgive sin? God had Jeus pay our penalty...
...that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus
--Rom 3:26