Saved by faith alone. A surmised understanding?
- Thread starter Lamar
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There are as Eph 2:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
It clearly says. We are saved through or by faith, that we are not saved by good works.
Good works, obedience to the law etc etc are what we use to show that we have faith and that we love Jesus.
Again, it says we are saved by Grace minus works
Grace minus works equals grace alone
It also says only through faith.
Grace through faith minus works equals grace through works alone
This is the verse:
Ephesians 2:8-10
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Please note: It is you who is adding "alone" & "only" into the verses. Paul could have simply wrote the verses in a definitive tone if he had wished. He chose to write the verses in the general.
You are willfully interpreting the verses as definitive, nothing more.
please note: I did not add the word alone to anything
Please read the passage.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God —
Read carefully
1. We are saved ( a completed action)
2. This salvation is by Grace - (unmerited)
3. This grace is supplied through faith
4. It is a gift of God (unearned - God paid the price in full)
5. it is not of ourselves.
so tell me,
In this passage, Besides Grace, what else is required?
if nothing else is required. then by definition, it is grace alone..
its more than that. it was Gods action on the cross. which paid the debt we owe God.
There are examples and Abraham is one of them read Hebrews 11. James 2 also mentions Abraham. And of course Ephesians 2:8-9. Do some homework because that's how you learn. Btw, God only has to speak once for it to be the truth. In other words even if there was only one verse on a given subject, it stands
IN GOD THE SON,
bluto
The following is an example of a definitive statement:
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Please note that none of the pronouns in the above verse are in question. There is no question as to who is the way to the subject nouns.
In Ephesians 2:8-10 the pronouns "you" and "yourselves" are purposely not defined, making the verse general in nature.
Who does the "grace" apply to?
Those that are saved.
Who are those that are saved?
Those that the "grace" is applied to?
Do you see the issue?
If you believe that the grace in Ephesians 2:8-10 applies to everyone then you are a Universalist.
Ephesians 2:8-10 is purposely written in the general.
There is no way around this.
There is nothing in your examples that imply a definitive understanding of "alone" or "only" hence their non-use.
Besides, we cannot claim a promise made to Abraham for ourselves. Our salvation is based on the words of Jesus in the New Testament.
Btw, this is not an issue of "God speaking once" the issue is mankind's using general statements to negate more definitive statements.
James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
God spoke this once, does this negate the need for faith in Jesus?
Learn the difference between descriptive and prescriptive statements, that's how you learn.
When you get finished asking about "faith alone", will you please add "in Christ Alone" to the end of it and ask again?
I think these theological mantras do more harm than good.
The Bible clearly states in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications." (Luke 7:50; 8:12; John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 11:17; 13:39; 15:7-9; 16:31; 26:18; Romans 1:16; 3:24-28; 4:5; 5:1; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 2:16; 3:6-9, 26; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; Hebrews 10:39; 1 John 5:13 etc..).
Now you don't need to add the word "alone" next to "belief/faith" in each of these passages of scripture in order to figure out that the words, "belief/faith" stand alone in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Hence, FAITH ALONE. Do these many passages of scripture say belief/faith "plus something else?" Plus works? NO. *So, then it's faith (rightly understood) in Christ alone.
Not to be confused with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works. (James 2:14-24)
Now you don't need to add the word "alone" next to "belief/faith" in each of these passages of scripture in order to figure out that the words, "belief/faith" stand alone in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Hence, FAITH ALONE. Do these many passages of scripture say belief/faith "plus something else?" Plus works? NO. *So, then it's faith (rightly understood) in Christ alone.
Not to be confused with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" - barren of works. (James 2:14-24)
Who says there are none? And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30,31)
1. "What must I do to be saved?" A very specific and very concerned question.
2. "Believe". Is all. Nothing else is said. But the verse is right there. What is "believe"? Have total and sincere faith.
Of course it is understood that the faith must be in Christ alone, because of who He is and what He accomplished for our salvation. And certainly when the next verse says: And they spake unto him the Word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house they would have heard all this, and also that repentance is necessary, and that after a person repents and believe, Christ commands that he be baptized immediately. And that is exactly what happened shortly after midnight.
There are many other verses, but you are the one to find them after your blunder.
Here's another one that's clear.
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us,...
This says salvation is according to his mercy. It's not by works of righteousness which we have done.
Do you believe this friend?
No it is showing that we are saved by faith.
You are claiming there are no verses that teach this and I am showing g you the most obvious verse.
If you do not accept this please show how we are saved.
Type in "faith alone" to bible gateway or e-sword or some other Bible app and see what comes up
Heres the results:
BIBLE SEARCH RESULTS
- James 2:24
You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.