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Wrapping up 
Getting into the "Secrets of the Vine" (Ivan)
Salvation & works
Thanks LBS, do you want to contribute and form your own conclusion,if any? eom. (Ivan)
Responding
Hi Truelight, Do me a favour first
Recap 
Please reconsider (Ivan)
The reason for this discussion
Closing the gap in our understanding?
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Hi, Let me wrap up as follows: The reason why some people believe in a Lordship salvation or faith+works salvation is because of verses like Jn 15:1-8, Mtt 24:13, Jas 2:20-26, etc. They say that bearing fruit is automatic to a believer (Jn 15) and insist that anyone who called themselves believers must have fruits to show as evidence of their faith (Jas 2). There also must be no slackening in making efforts to bear fruits, otherwise they may eventually not be saved (Mtt 24). They say according to Jn 15 those who do not bear fruits are fit to be burned in hell (Jn 15:6). On one hand, they claim to believe that faith in Christ’s blood saves an unbeliever, on the other hand, they will tell you that if you really believe in Christ you must have works to show for it. Absence of fruits in your life means you didn’t believe. If you really are a believer you will bear fruits. A careful study of Romans and Ephesians will show that all this adulterates the pure grace gospel preached in Romans 3. Romans 3 says that there’s nothing a sinner can do, now or in the future, except to believe the work that Christ’s has already accomplished when He died on the cross. What must a sinner do to be saved? Believe Christ died for his sins on the cross. And is that all? Yes, Romans 3 says that is all a sinner can do to gain eternal life. After gaining eternal life, can he lose it? Rom 8:30 says once a believer is justified (counted righteous) by faith, he will also be glorified with a new resurrected body. Positionally, a believer is also already sanctified (set apart as holy), even if he in his outward man is still carnal, and even if he behaves like the unrighteous who do not deserve the kingdom of God (1Cor 1:2, 1Cor 6:9-10). Unfortunately, people who believe in the pure grace gospel have mostly failed to answer the faith+works salvation people satisfactorily regarding problem verses like in Jn and Matt. There’s actually one simple answer to these problem verses: recognise that these verses are not talking about the Body of Christ believers and stop mixing them up with the gospel message in Romans 3. Then you will no longer need to tussle with these verses. Not every verse in the Bible talks about the Body of Christ, for eg. Gen 17:10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised, and Mtt23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do… Do you obey the commandment in Gen 17:10 to be circumcised? Do you obey the commandment of Christ in Mtt 23:1-3 to observe all the commandments of the Mosaic law? But Romans 3 is definitely God’s message of salvation to the Body of Christ. If you understand this, it will become very easy for you to find assurance of salvation in God’s word to you in Romans. Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Rom4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Rom 3:25 …faith in his blood.. Rom 8:30 …whom he justified, them he also glorified.... What should a person do when he is in doubt of his salvation? Go to Romans for the answer. The wrong thing to do as faith+works salvation will tell you to do is to start examining your own worthiness before God, your faithfulness to Him, or your fruitfulness or your track record as a believer – your eternal salvation, according to Romans and Ephesians, has absolutely nothing to do with any of these. Ps 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. May God bless you |
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