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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Saved without faith? | Eph 2:8 | WalkingTalkingBible | 120827 | ||
I was asked by one of our forum members, "Faith keeps us saved? Where does scripture tell us this?" I'm concerned that there are teachings going forth in our time that omit the responsibility of the believer. There are teachings that omit the importance of "knowing" God and focuses on "the knowing of" God. There are teachings that deny God in that of the power of the Holy Ghost - once saved, always saved, just believe :one time repentance, one time confession, one time to ask for forgiveness and it's all done - I have eternal life because God promised it and I believe! My question is how can you be saved without faith? Yes, Jesus gave His life for the sins of the world, He did His part. I understand that without the guidance of Holy Ghost this question is difficult. I'm not concerned with being popular in this forum, it would be a bit scary if everyone agrees with me. (I enjoy learning and sharing God's Word as led by the Holy Ghost - I never want to be a stumbling block to other souls). "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:" (Matthew 7:13) "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." (Proverbs 16:25) WalkingTalkingBible |
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2 | Saved without faith? | Eph 2:8 | Morant61 | 120828 | ||
Greetings WalkingTalkingBible! By no means do I suscribe to 'one saved, always saved'! :-) But, even I have concerns about the way you have addressed this issue. Scripture is clear that salvation is not based upon anything we 'do'. See Eph. 2:8-9, Gal. 2, and Rom. 4 for examples. Scripture speaks of salvation as an accomplished fact, not as something that we only hope to achieve one day. 1 Peter 1 sums it up nicely. In verse 3, Peter says 'he has given us new birth'. 'New birth' is actually an aorist passive participle. We aren't hoping to be saved one day - if we are good enough. We have been born again, and it has been accomplished for us, not because of us. In verse 5, we are being shielded by by God's power. 'Shielded' is a present passive participle. God is actively shielding us right now. Until when? Until the revelation of our salvation in the last times. Finally, in verse 4, we are told that we have 'an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you'! 'Kept' is a perfect, passive participle. Our inheritance is a present and abiding reality. Nothing we do can change these realities. I will not be 'more' saved if I do good things. Nor, will I be 'less' saved if I don't do good things. Why? I am not saved by works, but by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Jesus did more than 'His part' my friend. He did it all! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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3 | Saved without faith? | Eph 2:8 | WalkingTalkingBible | 120850 | ||
Hi, Tim. Thank you for replying to my post. I think we are looking at my question from two different perspectives. I'll try to be more specific: In John 3:16, Jesus says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Salvation involves two beings: 1)God and His love for the world and 2)man. When I made the statement "Jesus did His part" I am saying that all that had to be done for man's salvation (deliverance) had been done by Jesus. But just because Jesus died for the sins of the world, doesn't make the world saved. Man has to "do something." Look at it in this perspective: God so loved the world that He "did something" that whosoever "does something" should not perish, but have everlasting life. Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. None of us today saw Jesus suffer for us. None of us today saw Jesus hanging on the cross. None of today were there when He died, resurrected, and ascended, but by faith, the Word of God is truth. Man has to do something and that is to have faith (believe). We are saved because we have faith that Jesus did it all. Yes, we are saved by His blood, but since we didn't see the blood, only by the Word of God, we have faith. If we didn't "do something" (believe) how would we know that the Word of God is true? If all that had to be done for souls to receive salvation is Jesus dying and resurrecting, then EVERYONE would be saved! Salvation is to the one with true faith. (Colossians 1:23; Ephesians 2:8; Mark 11:22; Hebrews 11:6, 12:2; 1 Peter 5) Your Sister in Christ, WalkingTalkingBible |
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4 | Saved without faith? | Eph 2:8 | Morant61 | 120879 | ||
Greetings WalkingTalkingBible! Is faith something we 'do', or is it a response to God's grace? If it is something we do, then what your saying would contradict Paul clear statements. For instance, Paul says in Rom. 4:1-5: "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. 3 What does the Scripture say? ‘‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness."" To say that 'trusting' or 'believing' here is a work would be to make Paul's statement nonsense since he is contrasting works and faith. To use a human analogy, salvation is a gift. Jesus purchased the gift with His blood. He presents it to us through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I can accept or not, but my acceptance or non-acceptance does not change the reality of the gift. Now, I believe the gift can be rejected by those who have once accepted it. So, we would be in agreement at that point. But, our salvation is not something that we have to maintain by any effort on our part. It is a completed work. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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