This is a joint effort between me and my spouse - enjoy :-)
Which statement is most true concerning salvation?
We are justified (saved /rendered innocent) by:
A) Grace
B) Faith
C) Dead Works
D) Good Works
E) Faith and Grace
F) Faith Grace and Good works
Let’s look at some Bible verses to consider each option.
A) Grace
An option the Bible supports
Peter says in Acts 15:11: But we believe that through the grace of the Master Yahushua Messiah we shall be saved, even as they.
Eph 2:5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Messiah, (by grace ye are saved;)
B) Faith
An option supported by the Bible:
Gal 3:23: But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Gal 3:24: Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Messiah, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25: But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Rom 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Heb 4:2: For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
(This faith was needed to believe the gospel preached in the Old Testament as well as the gospel preached in the New Testament)
C) Dead works
The Bible does not support this option.
Heb 6:1: Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Messiah, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward YHUH,
Heb 9:14: How much more shall the blood of Messiah, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to YHUH, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living YHUH?
D) Good Works
The Bible supports this option
Jam 2:14: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jam 2:21-24: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed YHUH, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of YHUH. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Eph 2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Messiah Yahushua unto good works, which YHUH hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
And Paul (Sha'ul) writing with Timothy confirms not only that works are part of salvation, but that you, yourself specifically, are responsible to know what must be obeyed. He does not use the words Messiah ALONE.
Ph'p 2:12: Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
2 Tim 3:17: That the man of YHUH may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Titus 2:7: In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 2:14: Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:8: This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in YHUH might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Titus 3:14: And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Heb 10:24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Re 22:12: And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
E) Faith and Grace
The Bible supports this option
Eph 2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
F) Faith, Grace and Good Works
The afore-mentioned supports all three - Faith, Grace and Good Works.
So F is the most correct answer out of these options.
This is not the entire story of salvation! Read on...
This is not the entire story of salvation! Read on...
The purpose of this exercise was to highlight the following error in church teaching:
When I questioned fellow believers on this I received what I expected. They opted for A) Grace, and, even added the word "alone". Many of you might have chosen the option “Faith”, also succumbing to the idea of Faith alone, thus leaving no room for the real truth.
Where did this slogan, for example, "by Faith Alone” come from? Is it something that you have heard and automatically accepted without checking the word of YHUH? Who are the authors of such a doctrine that add the word ALONE and thereby exclude the rest of YHUH’s doctrine?
Well, I think we need to go back all the way to the 1500s. Let’s go back to the beginning, the “root” of the Protestant church - Martin Luther, a Protestant Reformer who was guilty of such a deed.
When the gospel is changed or oversimplified it is simply being rewritten. The standard among a true Bible believing Christian is:
2 Tim 3:16: All scripture is given by inspiration of YHUH, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Now, while Martin Luther claimed Sola Scriptura he did not follow it as we shall see.
In the translation of his German Bible he added that word “ALONE”
Now, we know from history who else added words to the word of YHUH causing dire consequences - his name was Satan, the serpent, who added one word to YHUH’s word.
YHUH said in Gen 2:17: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The word that Satan added was “NOT”
Gen 3:4: And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
One word created the biggest lie.
Now Martin Luther added the word “ALONE” to this verse:
Rom 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
So as to read:
Rom 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith alone without the deeds of the law.
...Martin Luther would once again emphasize...that we are "justified by faith alone", apart from the works of the Law" (Rom. 3:28), adding the German word allein ("alone") in his translation of the Greek text. There is certainly a trace of Marcion in Luther's move (Brown HOJ. Heresies: Heresy and Orthodoxy in the History of the Church. Hendrickson Publishers, Peabody (MA), 1988, pp. 64-65).
Martin Luther’s attitude was not Sola Scriptura (the Bible alone) -
Luther stated: You tell me what a great fuss the Papists are making because the word alone is not in the text of Paul…say right out to him: 'Dr. Martin Luther will have it so,'…I will have it so, and I order it to be so, and my will is reason enough. I know very well that the word 'alone' is not in the Latin or the Greek text (Stoddard J. Rebuilding a Lost Faith. 1922, pp. 101-102; see also Luther M. Amic. Discussion, 1, 127).
It is clear that Martin Luther changed the word of YHUH to fit in with his own idea of salvation which makes it a self righteous one of dead works rather than according to the good works of YHUH. He even declared that the Epistle of James was an epistle of straw and why would that be? Well, James opposed those who said we are justified by Faith alone and said:
James 2:24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Now, I hope this has encouraged you to further study how we are saved since the multiple choice options I supplied were not exhaustive. The Bible has numerous details on how we are saved. It is not summed up by merely two words such as Faith Alone, Grace Alone, not even Yahushua Alone. How can I say such a thing - this is simply because the new covenant, and for that matter, any covenant, consists of two parties - you and Messiah in this case. If it were Messiah alone where would your part be in this agreement? You see, I can say it is by my vehicle alone that I get to work. That may be true but it is also false. I have to fill that vehicle up with fuel. Now, let's say YHUH has supplied the vehicle and the fuel, so it is by his grace that I drive to work, but if I do not know how to fill the vehicle, what grade of fuel to use, do not know how to drive or do not obey the rules of the road then I am in serious trouble. I would sit on the side walk every day declaring it is by Messiah alone that I get to work but I never actually get to work. I never come to a full understanding of what I am supposed to do with the gift of grace (the vehicle and fuel in this case). You see, those who say Yahushua does it all are deceived. No, Yahushua DID it all and in so doing he provided the tools and knowledge for us to walk in His ways. We must respond and now do the walking with His grace and mercy.
Col 2:6: As ye have therefore received Messiah Yahushua the Master, so walk ye in him:
Now, I could have added this as an option in our multiple choice exercise:
We are (justified) saved by:
- Doctrine
And the Bible indeed says yes to this as well!
2 John 1:9: Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Messiah, hath not YHUH. He that abideth in the doctrine of Messiah, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Now we ask, what is doctrine?
Titus 2:7: In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity.
Aah - so it is defined as one of the GOOD works as opposed to the dead works which cannot save.
James 1:21: Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
The engrafted word is what? The word of YHUH implanted in the believer.
Heb 10:16: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith YHUH, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.
Now, do you see how the covenant involves a number of things? It involves at least six things in this description: You, Messiah, YHUH's laws, your mind and your heart, and, yes, the engrafting of YHUH's laws. So we are not saved by any one thing alone. The word “ALONE” has no room in a covenant. It is a relationship, it is not ALONE. You were alone, separated from YHUH when you did not know YHUH and His Son. Before you were saved you went around doing your own thing - yes, ALONE. So we can safely say that we are saved by the reformed laws of YHUH, (without circumcision and sacrifices), those that are engrafted in our hearts and minds once we make covenant with Him, rather than those which merely brought us to Him as a schoolmaster. We are now qualified in the profession and we now love to serve. We are not students of the law but now we practice and teach Messiah’s reformed law, the law free of the ceremonial law which Messiah fulfilled as the true sacrifice once and for all.
Heb 10:1: For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
Heb 10:12: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of YHUH;
He now says:
John 15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Please note which commandments are we to keep? YHUH the Father’s commandments. Do not think that the Son came to put to death the commandments of his Father like some rebellious son rebelling in Heaven as some churches seem to be insinuating. Note, the commandments did not purge us from sin just as Paul said, but, since that is only the beginning of our salvation process we now need to keep (not discard) the engrafted commandments and thereby continue to abide in him. Remember, if you do not continue abiding in Messiah then you have fallen from grace. Immediately some of you will quote this verse:
Gal 5:4: Messiah is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Please note that Paul has been used out of context to a large degree in Galatians. The law that is being discussed there is the law of circumcision in the Jewish religion as a requirement of salvation and not the law placed in our hearts and minds in the covenant with Messiah. It refers to the old covenant with every ceremonial requirement and with the curse added. Many use this verse in error to justify why they do not obey YHUH’s commandments - because they will be cursed if they try to obey it. By saying you are cursed under YHUH’s law as a believer means you are denying that Messiah put the curse to death. But, by obeying the reformed law under the new covenant you are free of the curse and it is not burdensome but light. It consists of the moral law summarised according to Paul (Sha'ul) as follows:
Rom 13:9: For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Neither does Hebrews contradict Paul, and if it did, it would be Paul contradicting himself as he is believed to be the author:
Heb 10:26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
Now, before we continue - the word sin by definition in the Bible is transgression of the law and also not doing that which one knows is good. So, if we willfully don’t do good works and willfully break the law, grace runs out!! So, by doing good works and obeying the commandments grace does not run out and we remain saved. So, good works and obeying the commandments under Messiah’s grace maintains our salvation. So, good works and the reformed law assist our salvation but not without Messiah working in us. They keep us saved but they did not initially and primarily save us - it was Messiah’s death first which saved us!
Rom 5:8: But YHUH commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.
To continue:
Heb 10:27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Heb 10:28: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
Dying without mercy means they had fallen from grace.
Heb 10:29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of YHUH, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
We see that while grace is a great gift once it is accepted, if despised, it comes with an even greater punishment than the old covenant law breaking. One only wonders as to what error Martin Luther’s false grace teaching contributed to Hilter’s later support. You see, Martin Luther was not under the law –“thou shalt not kill” YHUH forbid, that would be a curse according to the new law of faith alone, and, with that, he could rather curse the Jews. He could easily teach the people:
...to burn down Jewish schools and synagogues, and to throw pitch and sulphur into the flames; to destroy their homes; to confiscate their ready money in gold and silver; to take from them their sacred books, even the whole Bible; and if that did not help matters, to hunt them of the country like mad dogs (Luther’s Works, vol. Xx, pp. 2230-2632 as quoted in Stoddard JL. Rebuilding a Lost Faith, 1922, p.99).
Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss in sulphur and pitch (Martin Luther (1483-1546): On the Jews and Their Lies, 1543 as quoted from Luther's Works, Volume 47: The Christian in Society IV, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1971). pp 268¬293).
Messiah can only be of no effect to a sinner and even to a believer if his sacrifice is despised or ignored and the ceremonial law is enforced. But not if Messiah’s sacrifice is accepted and His Father’s commandments are obeyed. Do not let anyone deceive you! Martin Luther was deceived and I think blasphemous when he taught such doctrines that the church seems to have inherited. He stated further:
Be a sinner, and sin boldly, but believe more boldly still. Sin shall not drag us away from Him, even should we commit fornication or murder thousands and thousands of times a day (Luther, M. Letter of August 1, 1521 as quoted in Stoddard, p.93).
The false church will, and already has, oversimplified salvation, slowly doing away with YHUH’s commandments, making their own commandments, such as tithing, paramount so they can sin all the more.
Rev 18:7: How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.
John 15:10: If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Messiah fulfilled the ceremonial sacrifice purging our past sins with his blood and we therefore symbolically fulfill, or live out, the ceremonial law, as it were, in a new and living way, as living sacrifices obeying YHUH’s law written in our hearts and minds, and not on stone.
Rom 12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of YHUH, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto YHUH, which is your reasonable service.
Note, “holy” is the same word used in the ceremonial law – (hagios) - to be ceremonially pure
Heb 10:19-20 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Yahushua,
By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Mat:5:19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Now we see the temptation of oversimplification of YHUH’s work in salvation already being offered here:
Matthew 4:3-4 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of YHUH, command that these stones be made bread.
It is to me like a parable here, as if Messiah is very clearly rebuking the false worldly doctrine of salvation itself, that quick fix, that appears to ease a worldly hunger but only for a season since it compromises the truth. Messiah rebukes Satan:
Matthew 4:4: But he answered and said: It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHUH.
He opposes the word ALONE with the word EVERY. The obvious simple choice would have been for Yahushua to turn the stones to bread to relieve his hunger. Satan used the concept of bread ALONE as a simple easy way out – trying to distract Messiah from the converse of ALL he had to do according to YHUH’s word. The law and the prophets, and YHUH the Father were all depending on Messiah’s real mission - overcoming Satan and ALL his powers and principalities by his death on the cross. Likewise, Messiah says to us:
Rev 2:26: And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:
So, in our multiple choice we could have added - we are saved if we overcome through Messiah AND to the end. It is not how you start with a sinner’s prayer it is how you finish, keeping His works to the end. There is no easy simple sinner’s prayer and then you have your ticket to heaven! No, it is also overcoming sin thereafter, and that is how grace must CONTINUE to operate in SAVING us.
Heb 4:16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
The question is - what is the need and did the need only arise once when we said the sinner’s prayer? The previous verse answers that:
Heb 4:15: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
The help is against temptation to sin and it is ongoing help as there is ongoing temptation: “tempted like as we are” are=continuous tense. Again, is it grace alone? No, it is us having to respond by coming to the throne, and, it is us seeking the grace in time of need on a continuing basis. If you do not have knowledge of what justifies you (renders you innocent) then you will not see the need for the grace (gift) of help, or the need for repentance, and will still be condemned. Here is a last sobering option to add to our multiple choice, one that is often forgotten. Our words can save us!
Matthew 12:37: For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
We need grace to control our idle words or else we will be condemned. Idle words could include those who say “faith alone” and lead others astray. Yahushua said what words will condemn a man:
Matthew 12:32: And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
The Holy Spirit speaks truth. Speaking lies would be speaking against him. Rejecting his comfort to obey YHUH and saying we can’t keep the commandments - could that be speaking against him? Remember, it is a covenant between Messiah AND you. You have a responsibility. Do not despise Yahushua’s sacrifice. Let’s repent of our wrongful ways and pray for grace in time of need. When Satan comes to oversimplify your Salvation he may tempt you to justify sinning freely and repeatedly. He may whisper lies in your ear “You shall live by grace ALONE”.
What will you reply? –
No!
I live by EVERY word that proceedeth out of the mouth of YHUH.
I therefore conclude that if salvation could be summed up in two words
Grace ALONE
Or
Faith ALONE
Or even
Yahushua ALONE
Then would that be the word of YHUH - just two words?!
It AIN’T -
Start reading your Bible from beginning to end and “work out your own salvation” as long as you live, according to YHUH’s WORD, not by the word of man.
Further reading on the good works of the law:
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