Results 1 - 2 of 2
|
|
|||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Saved by Grace or Acts? | Lev 6:2 | RhondaNelson | 230599 | ||
I know we are saved by Gods glorious Grace thru the blood and death of Jesus. Why do some Christians say that we must make right by acting on our past sins? If we are saved by Grace and God forgives and washes are past lives clean with repentance and if we are to Do away with our old lives,Put on our new way of thinking,and be transformed to the image of Christ. Ephesians 4:22-25 Do we truly also go and correct every wrong we ever committed in our life when we were sinners...before we were forgiven? I have always wondered about this and in reading I find nothing backing this way of teaching up. |
||||||
2 | Saved by Grace or Acts? | Lev 6:2 | Brent Douglass | 230621 | ||
Hi Rhonda, Bill responded to my post, but I wanted to answer to you, so that you can see this directly. I think Bill had a lot good to say about the importance of obedience -- which should be a natural result of our salvation, since the Holy Spirit indwells us and empowers us to be able to obey once our relationship with God has been restored through faith. (John 1:12,13; John 7:37-39) However, I can not fully agree with the following statement by Bill, and I think it important for you to see the distinction: 'Now on the other question about repentance as one of the steps in getting salvation. Throughout the Bible the concept of repentance has always included the attempt of restoration. Thus a theif must return the stolen goods to their rightful owners or do his best to do so. A murderer should feel obligated to ask forgiveness from the family and attempt to restore the manpower as represented by his victim to that family, again as best he/she can within his/her ability. Why is this necessary? God's basic Principle of "Reaping what we've sown in life."' I believe Bill has gone too far in applying demonstration of repentance toward others (through restitution) as being potentially necessary to salvation. Salvation is the restoration of our relationship with God, not others; only Christ can and does provide our restitution before God. Once saved, God desires us to do all that we can to restore our relationship with others, and He can/will convict us of areas in our lives where He wants to continually make us more like Him -- this being one of them. This is much of the point of James (and 1 John for that matter.) Our lives should be transformed, and this is part of the outward testimony to others that Christ has come into our lives and made us alive. Without increasing obedience, our testimony is minimal. However, this is a result of salvation, not a part of it. As I said, salvation restores our relationship with God through Christ. As David said to God after his sin with Bathsheba (which included adultery, deception, and murder against others), "Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge" (Psalm 51:4). Repentance and trust before God brings us to dependence upon Christ and restores our relationship with Him. All that we owed and all of our guilt has thus been removed from before Him by the payment and merit of Christ alone. Once that has been done, but not as pre-condition, He will begin to show you how He wants you to act toward others. This obedience of demonstrating repentance to others (including restitution) is done from a response to what Christ has done and as a witness to others of His work in you. It is not part of the repentance and faith that leads to salvation. It is a resulting good work that comes afterward. (See Ephesians 2:8-10.) Do not let someone tell you that you are not saved if you have not reimbursed someone. The question of your faith and salvation is between you and God, and it can not be judged on the basis of one action -- since we all continue to have a sin nature but also now have the Spirit. Nevertheless, ask God what He would have you do as His beloved child -- for His glory and because of His grace (and even for greater riches in Heaven for your faithfulness)-- but not to merit His approval or salvation. Salvation is between you and God, and Christ is your full and only possilbe restitution. Restitution toward others is a separate and later issue, initiated by God but between you and the other person/people involved. |
||||||