Legalism, Grace, and Faith Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. (Romans 3:28) Even so faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (James 2:17) Sadly, when we speak of obedience to God many people mistakenly think that we are teaching legalism--that one can be saved by doing good works. No, we believe and maintain that people are justified by faith apart from good works. There is nothing that we can do to earn salvation. Good works flow out of ones faith. Obedience is a result of a persons love for God; it is not an effort to earn salvation. There are two beautiful truths balanced so wonderfully in Scripture, as indicated by the above two verses: 1.No one can be saved by doing good works. Salvation comes through faith in Christ. 2. Everyone who has been saved by faith will do good works. Ephesians 2:8-10 describes it this way: 8 For it is by grace that you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, so that no one should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. It is clear from verses 8 and 9 that salvation is something that God works in us by his grace; we do not earn it. This fact, however, does not mean that the believer is exempt from doing good works as verse 10 clearly indicates. Scripture very plainly teaches that salvation is Gods work and yet Christians also must work. For example, Philippians 2:12-13 says: 12 Therefore my beloved as you have always obeyed...work out your own salvation in fear and trembling 13 for it is God who works in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Let us examine just a little about Gods grace and faith and how they are at work in a believer. It is by grace through faith that we are able to obey God; clearly, this is not legalism. LET US WALK IN HIS GRACE AND MERCY, AND WE WILL OBEY GOD BECAUSE THIS IS HIS WILL!! STOP TWISTING THE SCRIPTURES TO DO THE THINGS YOU USED TO DO IN THE FLESH!!! EVERYTHING WE DO SHOULD GLORIFY THE LORD, IF NOT THEN WE ARE GLORIFYING OURSELVES!!! OUT OF FAITH & LOVE WE WILL HAVE GOOD WORKS BUT THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH OUR SALVATION, WE NEED TO ALWAYS UNDERSTAND THAT OUR SALVATION IS A FREE GIFT FROM GOD, YOU WILL NEVER EARN IT NO MATTER HOW MANY THINGS YOU DO!!! DONT BE LEGALISTIC, GOD LOOKS AT OUR HEARTS, PLEASE GOD NOT MAN!! AMEN & AMEN!! CONTINUE OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD, YES, BE A DOER NOT JUST A HEARER!!
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 14:09:23 +0000
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