So is the premise of this “without works” doctrine based upon the premise that one is saved by faith without substance?
Now Let me explain my thumbs down. The TRUTH is
NOT SAVED WITHOUT SUBSTANCE.
WE ARE SAVED BEFORE YOU COULD DO ANY WORKS, PERIOD.
2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9
He has saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works,
but according to His own purpose and grace,
which was given to us in Christ Jesus
before time began.
Romans 4:3-5 (NET)
3 For what does the scripture say? "
Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
4 Now to the one who works,
his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation.
5
But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.
Romans 5:1-10 (NASB)
1
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of
the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5
and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For
while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then,
having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10
For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. { 🡬 NOTICE IT ALL HAPPENED ON THE CROSS.}
So we were SAVED before we were Born, coming out of our mother's womb. So were does our our decision come into Play?
God is ALL KNOWING, and that Means He knew every decision we would make before the BEGINNING OF TIME; when HE wrote our Names in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 3:5 (HCSB)
5
In the same way, the victor will be dressed in white clothes, and I will never erase his name from the book of life but will acknowledge his name before My Father and before His angels.
Revelation 17:8 (HCSB)
8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up from the abyss and go to destruction.
Those who live on the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast that was, and is not, and will be present ⌊again⌋.
There are FOUR main things about GOD's TRUE NATURE that will help you to sort out TRUTH from Fiction.
GOD IS ALL KNOWING = Do not limit GOD's ALL KNOWING NATURE.
GOD KNOWS WHO ARE HIS = EVEN before we are Born.
GOD IS OMNIPRESENT = HE is Everywhere
PRESENT, in every Cubic Inch of Space, BUT ALSO IN EVERY SECOND IF TIME as we know it.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . GOD is the Creator of TIME as we know it, HE is outside of TIME; that is what ETERNAL means.
GOD Never Changes = So GOD Saves everyone in the O.T. and N.T. By GRACE through Faith. O.T. and N.T. Believe in the Messiah, in their
> . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hearts (human spirit).
Jeremiah 1:5 (ESV)
5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”
2 Timothy 2:19 (ESV)
19
But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”
Ephesians 1:11-14 (HCSB)
11
We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,
12
so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
13
When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him [Long before you can do your first work, so Obedience is Part of your Agape Love, that you do after you are SAVED.], you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.
14
He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
1 Peter 1:3-5 (HCSB)
3 Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead
4 and into
an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
5
You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
So where does OUR OBEDIENCE comes into play? AFTER SALVATION.
That is an easy question to answer. I comes out of HIS AGAPE LOVE, that HE had the Holy Spirit pour into our hearts. YES, it spawns Out of the LOVE HE poured into our HEART or Human Spirit,
Rom. 5:5; IT SAYS SO IN THESE TWO VERSES, and never has been part of Salvation.
John 14:15 (ESV)
15
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
That will keep is in one of the Primary Verb Tenses in the Greek, that we do not have in English. THEREFORE it implies a LIFESTYLE of Striving to KEEP His commandments. Greek has 6 Primary Verb Tenses, whereas we only have 3 Primary Verb Tenses.
1 John 5:3 (HCSB)
3
For this is what love for God is: to keep His commands. Now His commands are not a burden,
That is AGAPE LOVE in ACTION. And NOTE: It is only not a burden, when it is done as an act of AGAPE LOVE.
