Saved By Grace And Grace Alone

[Jude]

Justified Freely by God’s Grace

Grace, how sweet the sound to our sinful hearts!



The Bible teaches that we are saved by the free sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ. Neither will the grace of God ever be withheld, nor will it be lessened because of anything we have done, or will do.
There is no more majestic word than "grace." It means unmerited favor or kindness shown to a person who is utterly undeserving. In fact, it is a free gift given to us who deserve the exact opposite. It is given to us sinners who are without hope and without God in the world.



Grace is never set in the context of any supposed merit of our own, but always on the basis of Romans 1:18-3:20 which describes our utter ruin in sin. Grace must always be approached with that reality of personal sin in mind. Without the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit we do not understand our need for God’s saving grace.



The Amplified Bible on Romans 3:20 reads, “For no person will be justified—made righteous, acquitted and judged acceptable—in His sight by observing the words prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith and holy character].”



We are saved by unmerited grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Saving grace of God is a gift that is received only through faith in Jesus, apart from any human merit. We do not deserve grace, for if we did it would not be grace. The only thing we deserve is the full outpouring of God’s just wrath upon us for eternity. If it is not apart from good works and human merit, it is not saving grace because God does not owe us anything.



Grace has a marvelous way of humbling us, and as sinners we hate being humbled.
God cannot offer to do less in grace for one who is sinful than He would have done had that one been less sinful. Because we are all sinners that puts us all on the same level morally. Grace is never an exercise by God used to make up what may be lacking in the life and character of a sinner. There is nothing that can be made up. If salvation was based on legalism, much sinfulness would call for much grace, and little sinfulness would call for little grace.


However, because of the atoning death of Christ the sin question has been set aside forever and an equal exercise of grace is extended to all sinners who believe. It never falls short of being the matchless measureless marvelous saving grace of God. The grace of God could never be increased because it is the expression of His infinite love. He is infinitely holy in character. All His attributes are perfect. Therefore, it could not be diminished because every limitation that human sin might impose on the action of a righteous God has, through the propitiation of the cross, been turned away forever.



Grace is found in God through the saving work of Christ on the cross. That is why John Newton could express it so beautifully, “Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me!” Anything else is not grace.



Saving grace teaches us that salvation is apart from any human merit of any kind.
Have you opened your heart and responded to God’s free grace? There is no sin you have ever committed too great to cause God to turn away from you, or too lessen the abundance of the grace He freely gives to sinners who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.



The apostle Paul was a great sinner who experienced the grace of God and declared, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).

Selah!

http://www.abideinchrist.com/selah/dec31.html

Jude

[theBelovedDisciple]

Justified Freely by God’s Grace

Grace, how sweet the sound to our sinful hearts!



The Bible teaches that we are saved by the free sovereign grace of God in Jesus Christ. Neither will the grace of God ever be withheld, nor will it be lessened because of anything we have done, or will do.
There is no more majestic word than "grace." It means unmerited favor or kindness shown to a person who is utterly undeserving. In fact, it is a free gift given to us who deserve the exact opposite. It is given to us sinners who are without hope and without God in the world.



Grace is never set in the context of any supposed merit of our own, but always on the basis of Romans 1:18-3:20 which describes our utter ruin in sin. Grace must always be approached with that reality of personal sin in mind. Without the deep conviction of the Holy Spirit we do not understand our need for God’s saving grace.



The Amplified Bible on Romans 3:20 reads, “For no person will be justified—made righteous, acquitted and judged acceptable—in His sight by observing the words prescribed by the Law. For [the real function of] the Law is to make men recognize and be conscious of sin [not mere perception, but an acquaintance with sin which works toward repentance, faith and holy character].”



We are saved by unmerited grace (Eph. 2:8-9). Saving grace of God is a gift that is received only through faith in Jesus, apart from any human merit. We do not deserve grace, for if we did it would not be grace. The only thing we deserve is the full outpouring of God’s just wrath upon us for eternity. If it is not apart from good works and human merit, it is not saving grace because God does not owe us anything.



Grace has a marvelous way of humbling us, and as sinners we hate being humbled.
God cannot offer to do less in grace for one who is sinful than He would have done had that one been less sinful. Because we are all sinners that puts us all on the same level morally. Grace is never an exercise by God used to make up what may be lacking in the life and character of a sinner. There is nothing that can be made up. If salvation was based on legalism, much sinfulness would call for much grace, and little sinfulness would call for little grace.


However, because of the atoning death of Christ the sin question has been set aside forever and an equal exercise of grace is extended to all sinners who believe. It never falls short of being the matchless measureless marvelous saving grace of God. The grace of God could never be increased because it is the expression of His infinite love. He is infinitely holy in character. All His attributes are perfect. Therefore, it could not be diminished because every limitation that human sin might impose on the action of a righteous God has, through the propitiation of the cross, been turned away forever.



Grace is found in God through the saving work of Christ on the cross. That is why John Newton could express it so beautifully, “Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me!” Anything else is not grace.



Saving grace teaches us that salvation is apart from any human merit of any kind.
Have you opened your heart and responded to God’s free grace? There is no sin you have ever committed too great to cause God to turn away from you, or too lessen the abundance of the grace He freely gives to sinners who will trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior.



The apostle Paul was a great sinner who experienced the grace of God and declared, “But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20).

Selah!

http://www.abideinchrist.com/selah/dec31.html

Jude

Amen and amen.... Justified and Made Righteous by God Himself thru Faith in Jesus the Christ and what He has already accompllished on that Bloody tRee... not thru thw works of the law or any so called 'good deed' we may have done to 'merit' God's Grace or HIm turning His Head because we were so Good...

Saved by Grace... Justified and Made Righteous thru Faith in Christ and what He has done.. for you.. not any of our works .. let any of us 'should boast'....

God sees and 'knows' the Heart... and what and 'WHO' .......you place your Faith and Trust in.. He sees and knows...

It is Finished.... three words that are most offensive to many.. and the Cross from where they were spoken from...


Man says ' Yes I can do it'.. I can save myself.. and be good enough... in his/her religious pride...

God Himself says.. 'no you can't'... but I'll provide a Way.. its thru What My Son had done for you.. on a Bloody tRee...

thus the Offensive of the Cross.. and its preaching..

but to us who believe.. it is the Power of God..

When the Son of Man Returns in Power and Glory.. will He find Faith on this earth??

[IsItLove?]

By grace alone; No!
Salvation by grace requires faith.

Faith is perfected by works.

Not the works of the law, but the works of faith.

So the grace of God's salvation comes through the works of Faith to all who believe and act on that belief.

Because those who are not doers are deluded.

[HisLeast]

By grace alone; No!
Salvation by grace requires faith.

Faith is perfected by works.

Not the works of the law, but the works of faith.

So the grace of God's salvation comes through the works of Faith to all who believe and act on that belief.

Because those who are not doers are deluded.

What are works of faith?

[IsItLove?]

One example would be baptism.

Another would be Abraham's works of faith.
believing God was counted to Abraham after offering his son.

[JWayne]

By grace alone; No!
Salvation by grace requires faith.

Faith is perfected by works.

Not the works of the law, but the works of faith.

So the grace of God's salvation comes through the works of Faith to all who believe and act on that belief.

Because those who are not doers are deluded.

Where is this said in the bible? It says we are saved by grace through faith, not by works, least any man should boast. How much plainer can it be?

[BroRog]

By grace alone; No!
Salvation by grace requires faith.

Faith is perfected by works.

Not the works of the law, but the works of faith.

So the grace of God's salvation comes through the works of Faith to all who believe and act on that belief.

Because those who are not doers are deluded.

Does salvation require faith, or is faith indicative of a salvation in progress?

[IsItLove?]

Our understanding of works needs to be qualified.

It is either the works of the law, by which no man shall be justified Ga 2:16
Or it is the works of faith that do justify us. Ja 2:24

So we see there are works that justify and works that do not justify.

James 2:24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

[BroRog]

What are works of faith?

"Works" of faith are actions we take in response to tests of faith. If a prophet of God, for instance, told me that an Airforce plane would accidently drop a bomb on my neighborhood tomorrow, I would call all my neighbors, and then I would drive to the next town tonight. Calling my neighbors and leaving town are acts of faith, because these actions come in response to a word of God that compells me to trust him.

[IsItLove?]

Does salvation require faith, or is faith indicative of a salvation in progress?

Uh, yes. .

[IsItLove?]

"Works" of faith are actions we take in response to tests of faith. If a prophet of God, for instance, told me that an Airforce plane would accidently drop a bomb on my neighborhood tomorrow, I would call all my neighbors, and then I would drive to the next town tonight. Calling my neighbors and leaving town are acts of faith, because these actions come in response to a word of God that compells me to trust him.

Thats good stuff.
But I think what compels us is hope in the nature of God that the word has revealed.
We in hope act and in action we experience God, which causes us to trust in Him and hope in Him all the more and act accordingly.

[BroRog]

Uh, yes. .

What I meant to ask was, "Is faith a prerequisite to salvaiton, or is faith evidence that salvation is taking place?"

[IsItLove?]

Yes again .

[HisLeast]

"Works" of faith are actions we take in response to tests of faith. If a prophet of God, for instance, told me that an Airforce plane would accidently drop a bomb on my neighborhood tomorrow, I would call all my neighbors, and then I would drive to the next town tonight. Calling my neighbors and leaving town are acts of faith, because these actions come in response to a word of God that compells me to trust him.

What would be a more practical "every day" example? How would that be different from a "work of the law"?

[BroRog]

What would be a more practical "every day" example? How would that be different from a "work of the law"?

I was trying to avoid using every-day examples because tests of faith are tailor made for each individual. What tests my faith isn't what will necessarily test yours. James uses the testing of Abraham, perhaps because most people know the story of Abraham. God promises Abraham an heir from his own body, and that of Sarah. This makes Isaac the child of promise. When God asks Abraham to sacrifice his son, this command ran counter to God's earlier promise that Isaac would be his heir. God didn't reveal why he wanted Abraham to kill the boy. This left Abraham with a dilemma: If he kills the boy, he will lose the son of promise. If he doesn't kill the boy, he will anger God and risk his inheritance anyway. All he could do was put his trust in God's word.

Now, even though Abraham is an example to us, we shouldn't be tempted to generalize and make application from this example. God is not asking us to kill our sons. And neither did he promise us a son. Abraham's test of faith was specific and unique to his situation. Our personal tests of faith will be specific and unique to us.

We could talk about universal promises God has made to all Christians as Christians. What about Paul's word to the Hebrews?

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, "I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you . . ." Hebrews 13:5

At the moment, I'm guessing that many Christians are experiencing loss of income, or even loss of a job. Some of them have probably lived without income for more than 6 months. Some of them have probably run out of unemployment insurance and don't know where to turn next. Yet, we are being asked to be content with what we have, even as what we have is being taken from us. This situation can test a Christian's faith in God. How far will God allow the believer to fall into poverty? Is Paul saying that God won't allow us to starve to death? Of if God allowed a believer to starve to death, does this mean he forsook him?