In the grace you are having been SAVED out of FAITH, and THAT NOT of YOURSELVES, IT is the GIFT of GOD and not of works lest any man should boast.
SAVED<---PAST TENSE
OUT of FAITH that is NOT of OURSELVES
IT IS A GIFT and CANNOT be earned or REWARDED for SERVICE rendered
PLACES one into a POSITION of GRACE
a. It pleased GOD by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe
b. God deals unto men a measure of faith and Christ initiates, finishes and completes that work of faith in ALL who believe
c. A gift is NOT MISTHOS "PAY or WAGES" for service rendered
d. Where sin abounds GRACE abounds the MORE
Yes saved by grace through faith refers to us being born again; regenerated - justified by grace.
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7
I would draw your attention to the phrase -
- justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
When we are born again, we are joined in union to Him, and are now "in Christ"
We are one spirit with Him in which we are joined in union with the eternal life that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17
As long as we remain in Christ, we have the hope of eternal life.
This is what faith is all about: the substance of the thing we are hoping for.
If we fast forward to the Day when He judges us according to our deeds, we see that our hope of eternal life will be fully realized, on that Day.
- eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
God who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;
but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath,
Romans 2:6-8
Jesus said it this way -
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. John 5:28-29
- those who have done good, to the resurrection of life,
- and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
We must be willing to reconcile these scriptures into a theologically sound doctrine of salvation.
We have a snap shot of that Day -
Matthew 25:34-36
Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
for [because] I was hungry and you gave Me food;
I was thirsty and you gave Me drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you visited Me;
I was in prison and you came to Me.’
If we love the truth, and are honest, we plainly see that these who inherited the kingdom of God, [inherited eternal life] did so because they expressed their faith by love.
- So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:8-17
If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Please consider these things, which are the way of love.
JPT