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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | are we saved by grace alone? | Bible general Archive 1 | itiswritten | 29356 | ||
Dear Belinda, Yes, we are saved by grace alone. If we get saved and die immediately, we will go to be with the Lord immediately. However, if we are saved and we remain, the Epistle of James may shed some light on this for you. If you read James 2 I believe you will understand what I am getting at. But for the sake of brevity let me just say that he explains that if you believe, you will act a certain way. If you act contrary to the love of God, you are not acting like you believe what you say you believe. So, you are not saved by being good. But, if you are saved, the natural consequence of that fact should be evident in that you begin to do good. Otherwise what you believe is useless to you. When one falls in love, one tries to please the person one loves. If you are saved and fall in love with Christ, your life should have such evidence. We are not saved by our works, we are saved FOR good works. I hope that is helpful to you. Itiswritten |
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2 | are we saved by grace alone? | Bible general Archive 1 | Hank | 29379 | ||
So, we are saved by grace -- but with a hook? Is it then conditional, based on your thought: "...you begin to do good. Otherwise what you believe is useless to you." In other words, is saving grace contingent upon subsequent good works? I'm not trying to put words in your mouth, but is that your position? --Hank | ||||||
3 | are we saved by grace alone? | Bible general Archive 1 | itiswritten | 29480 | ||
Dear Hank, Before we can be saved, we must recognize we are sinners and must repent of our sins. We must decide to live another way from what we did in the past...Is this not so? In the epistle of James it says that it is not enough to believe only; it matters what you do about it: James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." John the Baptist came to prepare the hearts of men for Jesus. He taught repentance. One cannot be born again unless one realizes he is a sinner and repents or turns away from the sinful life. That does not mean that he will never sin again. I read that Billy Graham described it this way. The world is in a boat and the boat is going rapidly in the direction of the current of the river. To be born again is to be in a boat, striving against the current. We must be determined to be living in a different way than a sinful one. Another example would be- If a couple is living in sin [together outside of wedlock] and they get saved, they either must part or get married. They may fall in temptation and sleep with someone one night, be sorry, and be forgiven, but they cannot be living that way every day and tell God they believe in Him and do as they please, disregarding His ways. Doing good works doesn't get you saved, turning away from bad works and turning to God does. And it is also written we are saved that we may do His will- we are not earning anything, it is the least we owe Him. Being saved is not a license to sin. |
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