Free Gift Of Salvation.

[IlovelivingforJesus]

I love God's free gift of Salvation and think about it everyday. The Lord's Salvation is free to everyone who believes. We are saved by grace through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What A beautiful gift given to us by God! Oh and of course there are things we need to do in order to keep it.

 

[EternalFire]

I, too, love the LORD's plan of salvation: righteousness by faith and faith being active by works/deeds. James 2 was my devotional reading today. Verse 24 is so inspiring. In the ESV: "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." In the NIV: "You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone."

 

[OneOfHis]

Not before God... before man....



Romans 4

KJV


For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.


Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.


But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.


Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.


___________
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:




Praise God for His free gift to all His children who have faith in Christ


We, His children are kept by His power

not what we do

 

[PennEd]

Oh and of course there are things we need to do in order to keep it.

Like what?

 

[EternalFire]

Not before God... before man....



Romans 4

KJV


For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.


Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.


But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.


Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.


___________
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:




Praise God for His free gift to all His children who have faith in Christ


We, His children are kept by His power

not what we do

James 2:22-24. [22] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

 

[mailmandan]

I love God's free gift of Salvation and think about it everyday. The Lord's Salvation is free to everyone who believes. We are saved by grace through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What A beautiful gift given to us by God! Oh and of course there are things we need to do in order to keep it.

Sounds like “type 2 works salvation.” From beginning “have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) to end “receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9) salvation is by grace through faith and is not (either obtained or maintained) by works.

 

[OneOfHis]

James 2:22-24. [22] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Romans 3:24-26
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

________


Do you believe your works are needed to keep this free gift by grace through faith?

Or do you believe you need your works as well as the gift to justify you, before God Himself?



(I would suggest to you that you look at your works as dung before God but as your glory before man.... if His love shines through you in your walk as a member of His body and a witness ... this is amazing... but if you look to your level of performance to justify you before God.... how can you call this a gift?)

 

[mailmandan]

James 2:22-24. [22] Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? [22] You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; [23] and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness"--and he was called a friend of God. [24] You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

In James 2:21, notice closely that James did not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac on the altar resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22.

The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. This is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was shown to be righteous.

In James 2:22, faith made perfect or completed by works means bring to maturity, carry to the end, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham was finally saved based on merits of his works after he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22. When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6.

James 2:23, the scripture was fulfilled in vindicating or demonstrating that Abraham believed God and was accounted as righteous. Remember that Abraham was accounted as righteous based on his faith (Genesis 15:6) not his works (Romans 4:2-3) long before he offered up Isaac on the altar in Genesis 22.

In James 2:24, James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3). Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.

 

[EternalFire]

Sounds like “type 2 works salvation.” From beginning “have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8) to end “receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:9) salvation is by grace through faith and is not (either obtained or maintained) by works.

James 2:14
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him?"

 

[mailmandan]

James 2:14
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him?"

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims to have faith but has no resulting evidential works (to substantiate their claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. *So James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!

 

[EternalFire]

Romans 3:24-26
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

________


Do you believe your works are needed to keep this free gift by grace through faith?

Or do you believe you need your works as well as the gift to justify you, before God Himself?



(I would suggest to you that you look at your works as dung before God but as your glory before man.... if His love shines through you in your walk as a member of His body and a witness ... this is amazing... but if you look to your level of performance to justify you before God.... how can you call this a gift?)

James 2:14
"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save him?"
James 2:17
"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Romans 4:18-22
[18] In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be." [19] He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. [20] No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, [21] fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. [22] That is why his faith was "counted to him as righteousness."
I wonder how Isaac would have been conceived if Abraham, after considering his own body, did not act and literally do the deed?

 

[Nehemiah6]

Oh and of course there are things we need to do in order to keep it.

Looks like you ruined your post by adding this caveat.

Christians are not actively righteous or do good works in order to MAINTAIN their salvation (since they are kept by the power of God), but to DEMONSTRATE their salvation.

Abraham demonstrated his faith in God through his obedience concerning the sacrifice of Isaac. In the eyes of men, that showed that he was justified (righteous). But in the eyes of God he was already deemed to be righteous, since God imputed His own righteousness to Abraham because of his faith. And Christians are deemed to be righteous because the righteousness of Christ is IMPUTED to them. Christ was made SIN for us so that we might be made the righteousness of God IN HIM.

 

[EternalFire]

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims to have faith but has no resulting evidential works (to substantiate their claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. *So James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!

I wonder why James wrote that "faith apart from works is useless?" (Jas 2:20)

Heb 11:4. By faith Able offered ...
Heb 11:7. By faith Noah ... constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

 

[Nehemiah6]

ROMANS 4: RIGHTEOUSNESS IS IMPUTED BY GOD
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted [imputed] unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted [imputed] for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned [imputed] to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned [imputed]? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

 

[mailmandan]

I wonder why James wrote that "faith apart from works is useless?" (Jas 2:20)

Heb 11:4. By faith Able offered ...
Heb 11:7. By faith Noah ... constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

it’s useless because it’s not authentic faith but is an empty profession of faith/dead faith. (James 2:14) Authentic faith results in producing works because it’s alive in Christ. (Ephesians 2:5-10) We show our faith by our works. A phrase that James could have coined is "the absence of evidence could be construed as evidence of absence."

In Hebrews 11, notice in all of these occurrences that is was by or "out of" faith and not faith is in essence, these acts of obedience/works. In all of these occurrences in Hebrews 11, faith was genuine and it was shown by their actions (works) so all of these works accomplished in Hebrews 11 were done "by" or "out of" faith, but those works are not the essence of faith, but are the evidence (fruit) of faith.

That is critical to understand! We are saved through faith at it's origin and not at some time later, based on the merit of works. Faith is the root of salvation and works which follow are the fruit.

 

[IlovelivingforJesus]

2 Timothy 2:15
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 

[IlovelivingforJesus]

James 2:14-26
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

[mailmandan]

James 2:14-26
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Do you realize that James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3). ??? Or do you misinterpret James 2:14-26 in order to peddle salvation by works in contradiction to Paul?

 

[IlovelivingforJesus]

I thank God for Heaven. The only thing else I have to say to this is ok and God Bless each of you.

 

[Aerials1978]

I thank God for Heaven. The only thing else I have to say to this is ok and God Bless each of you.

Of course. God is abounding in grace and blessings for those whom have His Son in their hearts, honor him, and fear Him. May our Father bless you.