Salvation as easy as 1-2-Free!!!
Why don?t people understand the message of
grace? Is it ignorance? Misunderstanding? Or is it because it won?t figure
into a religious system of some form of human effort? There is nothing hard
about it folks, Jesus Christ died for our sins and there isn?t a great deal you
or I can do to change that fact. Our salvation is based upon what Christ did and
not (as some would have you believe) on what we have done or can do.
So then what is required for salvation in the
dispensation of the grace of God? Well there are only two things required for
our salvation. One would be the Grace OF God and two would be the Faith OF Jesus
Christ.
Ephesians 2:8 For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
Did you notice that it is Grace through Faith and NOT
of works? Now if we add up the requirements as shown in Ephesians what do we
find? Grace plus Faith! Two requirements for salvation, not three or more.
Notice that it?s also free? Grace through faith and that NOT OF
YOURSELVES.
If you still aren?t
convinced, lets have a look at what else God?s word has to say about salvation
in the dispensation of the grace of God. First let?s take a look at our first
requirement for salvation, that being GRACE:
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 1:4 I thank my God always on your
behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:
neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave
himself for me.
Galatians 2:21 I do
not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain.
Ephesians 1:6 To the
praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the
beloved.
Ephesians 1:7 In
whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to
the riches of his grace;
2 Thessalonians 2:16
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved
us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through
grace,
2 Thessalonians 2:17 Comfort your hearts, and
stablish you in every good word and work.
1 Timothy 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was
exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy
of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of
whom I am chief.
2 Timothy 1:8 Be not
thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but
be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of
God;
2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with
an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose
and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the
appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath
brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration,
and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:6 Which he
shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we
should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
It should be obvious to anybody that can read what
the bible actually says (rather than putting their own opinion or feelings in
charge of ?translating? it for us) that it is the Grace of God that saves us.
Not you, nor me or Jimmy Whatsisname?s grace, nor our own efforts and
works.
But that was only half of what?s needed for our
salvation, we also need Faith. The biggest problem today is people seem to be
confused as to exactly whose faith it is. So once again let us allow the Word of
God to speak to us:
Romans 3:21 But now
the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the
law and the prophets;
Romans 3:22 Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of
the glory of God;
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of
Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified
by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the
law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:20 I am
crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all
under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that
believe.
Ephesians 3:11
According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord:
Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access
with confidence by the faith of him.
Philippians 3:8 Yea
doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge
of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine
own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of
Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Colossians 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with
the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the
flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Colossians 2:12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith
of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Is it not made very clear in those passages of
scripture as to whose faith it is that saves us? If you missed it let me spell
it out for you. It is the Faith OF Jesus Christ!! We can doubt and lose faith
etc, but Jesus Christ will always abide faithful! When we trust in the grace of
God and trust in his faith, we are set free from the wages of sin (that being
eternal separation from God). Because in that moment, when we accept the
grace of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, all of our sin (past, present
and future) is reckoned to Christ?s account. Try to realise the simple
truth: Jesus Christ was Judged and Condemned to Death on the cross for all the
sins of all people for all time! You cannot earn favor with God through your own
works. Nor can you lose your salvation after you receive it. This is the
wonderful truth of the Gospel of Grace. Don?t miss it now, let go of any
religious ideals that have been drummed into your mind!
When you realize this wonderful truth, the verse I
quoted in the beginning of this article sure does make you feel secure and
certain of your salvation:
Ephesians 2:8 For by
grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should
boast.
Whose grace? God?s grace.
Whose faith? The faith of Jesus Christ.
Whose works? Not yours.
Like the title says, salvation really is as easy as
1, 2, free!
By David
Rudge