Free Grace or Faith and Works?

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A man justified before God by:

  • God's free Grace

    Votes: 1 4.3%

  • Faith alone in Christ's work

    Votes: 9 39.1%

  • Faith proved outwardly by works of love

    Votes: 3 13.0%

  • Faith proved outwardly by works of law

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Faith and works (or merit alongside Christ's)

    Votes: 1 4.3%

  • Works alone

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Other (please comment)

    Votes: 9 39.1%
  • Total voters
    23
G

GHClarkII

Active member
Mar 20, 2019
150
35
28
My time on this forum has been relatively short, but I've seen a common theme. There seems to be a long standing debate between those who teach free Grace and those who do not, in whatever form that takes. Some think salvation can even be lost and our purchased redemption can be forfeited. I'd really like to see someone defend this idea of faith and works. I'm hoping this can get a good discussion going about the nature of Grace.

May God be the Judge
 
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A man justified before God by:
  • God's free Grace
  • Faith alone in Christ's work
  • Faith proved outwardly by (our) works
Yes!

A man justified before God by:
  • Faith and works (or merit alongside Christ's)
  • Works alone
No!

~Deut

Titus 3​
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy.​
.
 
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Guys it a simple question. These are mutually exclusive. It's the justification BEFORE GOD. How are we ultimately justified.
 
GHClarkII said:
Guys it a simple question. These are mutually exclusive. It's the justification BEFORE GOD. How are we ultimately justified.
Click to expand...

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by FAITH WITHOUT THE DEEDS/WORKS OF THE LAW....

Galatians 2 states by the FAITH OF CHRIST.....

Of or from indicate source...Jesus begins, finishes and completes the work of faith in us that SAVES AND JUSTIFIES US BEFORE GOD
 
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The operation of the Holy Spirit is accomplished through Faith and Grace. Romans 8:2

As I stated before, when I talk about placing your Faith in Christ, 100% understand that. When I talk about placing your Faith in the Cross, 99% on this form don’t have the foggiest idea what you are talking about. They think you are talking about a wooden beam...it is the same with most Christians.
 
Deuteronomy said:
A man justified before God by:
  • God's free Grace
  • Faith alone in Christ's work
  • Faith proved outwardly by (our) works (this is true before "men", but not before God)
.
Click to expand...
GHClarkII said:
Guys it a simple question. These are mutually exclusive. It's the justification BEFORE GOD. How are we ultimately justified.
Click to expand...
Whoops, I was wrong and your are correct (about point #3 above). Sorry about that, only points #1 and #2 above are correct when speaking of justification BEFORE GOD (not point #3).

So, we are justified ~before God~ by faith in Christ's work (and, of course, by God's gracious choice to save us on that basis alone). The works that we do as a result of being saved are one of the big ways that we demonstrate/prove/validate the truth of our justification before men (both to others and to ourselves as well .. cf 2 Corinthians 13:5), but not before God, as such works are never necessary to prove the validity of our justification to Him who sees the heart, to the One who declares us just.

So we are justified ~before God~ both by His grace .. e.g. Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7, and by faith .. e.g. Romans 3:28, 5:1; Galatians 3:24.

~Deut

Romans 5​
8 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.​
.
 
MessageOfTheCross said:
The operation of the Holy Spirit is accomplished through Faith and Grace. Romans 8:2

As I stated before, when I talk about placing your Faith in Christ, 100% understand that. When I talk about placing your Faith in the Cross, 99% on this form don’t have the foggiest idea what you are talking about. They think you are talking about a wooden beam...it is the same with most Christians.
Click to expand...

maybe you could explain.....
 
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So far the responses are great. I love to hear so many people teaching Sola fide and God's free unmerited grace. Don't forget to vote please
 
MessageOfTheCross said:
When I talk about placing your Faith in the Cross, 99% on this form don’t have the foggiest idea what you are talking about.
Click to expand...
Perhaps that is because our faith is to be ONLY in Jesus Christ and not in our dying to self. In any case do you have a verse or two that says we are to have faith in the Cross?
 
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God's plan for us includes all, faith, works, and grace. If we understand and accept God's plan for us we need to understand what part each of these three play in that plan.
 
Blik said:
God's plan for us includes all, faith, works, and grace. If we understand and accept God's plan for us we need to understand what part each of these three play in that plan.
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That may be His plan, but the issue the OP is dealing with is how a man is justified. And that must be kept separate from works in the area of our justification before God.
 
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Blik said:
How can Christ cleanse us of sin we cling to and have faith in?
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Sin was dealt with at he cross...Jesus sastified that debt....it is finished = paid in full and for the believer...where sin abounds grace abounds the more!!

After salvation sin is an issue of fellowship and and not sonship!
 
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GHClarkII said:
I'm hoping this can get a good discussion going about the nature of Grace
Click to expand...
How did you fail to include "Grace through faith" in your options?

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)

All should note that good works cannot be separated from salvation by grace through faith. They do not earn or merit salvation, but they are necessary for sanctification.

As to "nature of grace" who can explain God's "amazing grace"?
 
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