Saved By What?
(by Bob Pulliam)
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You know the answer to that. We are saved by faith. In fact, some tell us by faith only. I know of no one who denies that we are saved by faith. But is that all the Bible has to say on the subject? You would think there was a passage that said, "We are saved by faith only." No such passage exists. The only place we find the phrase "faith only" is James 2:24. Let's dig a little deeper on this matter...
Saved by Grace...
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God," (Eph 2:8) There is no way to earn what God has offered us in Christ Jesus, and we did not in any way deserve that gift (Rom 5:8). If not for the grace of God, we all would be doomed to an eternity of weeping and torment.
Saved by Jesus' Blood...
Paul wrote, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Rom 5:9) This is no surprise. Blood sacrifices were offered continually under the Old Testament law for atonement. But they were never able to accomplish true forgiveness (Heb 10:1-4). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, however, and removed sin by His death, and our willingness to comply with God's conditions for salvation (Heb 5:9).
But how do we take advantage of the blood that cleanses from sins? No one has a bottle of Jesus' blood laying around. the only way is to comply with the word of God. God has set conditions for reaching the benefits of that blood.
Saved by Obedience...
While we cannot earn what God has offered, that does not mean we have no conditions to meet. Every gift has to be accepted, and for all the talk of not doing anything to be saved, I still hear preachers telling people what to do. It may simply be a "prayer of faith"; but it is still something that must be done. Here is the rest of the truth. While the grace of God and faith of man are essential to salvation, there is more to consider. "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Heb 5:9). "...in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Th 1:8) "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (I Pt 4:17)
You know the answer to that. We are saved by faith. In fact, some tell us by faith only. I know of no one who denies that we are saved by faith. But is that all the Bible has to say on the subject? You would think there was a passage that said, "We are saved by faith only." No such passage exists. The only place we find the phrase "faith only" is James 2:24. Let's dig a little deeper on this matter...
Saved by Grace...
"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God," (Eph 2:8) There is no way to earn what God has offered us in Christ Jesus, and we did not in any way deserve that gift (Rom 5:8). If not for the grace of God, we all would be doomed to an eternity of weeping and torment.
Saved by Jesus' Blood...
Paul wrote, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him." (Rom 5:9) This is no surprise. Blood sacrifices were offered continually under the Old Testament law for atonement. But they were never able to accomplish true forgiveness (Heb 10:1-4). Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, however, and removed sin by His death, and our willingness to comply with God's conditions for salvation (Heb 5:9).
But how do we take advantage of the blood that cleanses from sins? No one has a bottle of Jesus' blood laying around. the only way is to comply with the word of God. God has set conditions for reaching the benefits of that blood.
Saved by Obedience...
While we cannot earn what God has offered, that does not mean we have no conditions to meet. Every gift has to be accepted, and for all the talk of not doing anything to be saved, I still hear preachers telling people what to do. It may simply be a "prayer of faith"; but it is still something that must be done. Here is the rest of the truth. While the grace of God and faith of man are essential to salvation, there is more to consider. "And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him," (Heb 5:9). "...in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Th 1:8) "For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?" (I Pt 4:17)