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NASB | Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer. |
Subject: getting started over again |
Bible Note: Greetings Jane Doe! Welcome to the forum! If you check my posting history, you will find that I definitely do not believe in 'once saved, always saved'. However, neither do I believe in 'He loves me, He loves me not' theology! :-) Eph. 2:2-10 is a short passage, but it has much to say. It's primary message is that we are not saved on the basis of anything we do, neither are we kept saved on the basis of anything we do. We are saved by grace through faith. Where do works come into the picture? Eph. 2:10 and James 2 both teach that they are the result of our faith. But, nowhere does Scripture teach that if we disobey a single command of God that we suddenly lose our salvation. I believe that sin can lead to a rejection of our salvation in that a continual practicing of sin can harden our hearts and cause us to renounce Christ (though many differ on this point on the forum, I do believe that this is the only way in which one can 'lose' one's salvation). But, there are plenty of Scripture which teach that 'what we do' has no role in our salvation at all. Eph. 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - 9 not by works, so that no one can boast." Rom. 4:2: "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." Titus 3:5: "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit," Rom. 3:28: "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law." Rom. 11:6: "And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." 2 Tim. 1:9: "who has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time," My friend, what you are advocating is the same error as that of the Judaizers in Acts. You have mixed grace and works to produce another gospel. Listen to what Peter said when the disciples were considering whether or not the Gentiles must obey the Law to be saved. Acts 15:5 - "Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, 'The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses.' 6 The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: 'Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.'" Scripture is very clear my friend that our salvation is not gained by works, not is it kept by works. We are saved by grace through faith. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |