AMAZING GRACE


SALVATION OF LIFE BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH

      It should be obvious by now that each and every proper act of faith obedience to God is by grace through faith. And every act of obedience that is not by the proper faith in God is sin, Ro 14:23. Therefore, every act of obedience commanded by God requires the proper faith, God's grace, and the working of the Holy Spirit in and through us.
      Perhaps it will enhance both clarity and emphasis to enumerate at least the major good works that require grace through faith -- all good works require grace through faith in order for them to be "good works." Thoroughly study again the following passages. They show that we can perform every work enjoined to us in the Great Commission or in the New Covenant "by grace through faith:" Acts 4:33 (23-37); 13:43; 14:26; 15:40; 18:27; 20:32; Rom 1:5; 4:16; 5:2; 6:14-17; 11:5-22; 12:3-6; 15:15; I Cor 1:1-8; 3:10-15; 10:30 (14-33); 15:10; II Cor 1:12; 6:1-10; 8:1-7,19; 9:8-14; 12:7-10; Gal 2:9; 2:21; 5:4 (1-5); Eph 1:6-7-; 2:8-10; 3:2,7-10; 4:7-16; Phil 2:12-13; Col 3:16; 4:6; II Thess 1:12; 2:16; II Tim 2:1; 2:11-14; Heb 4:16; 11:6; 12:15-17,28; 13:9; Jam 4:6; I Pet 4:10; 5:5; II Pet 1:2; 3:18.

A. TWO KINDS OF WORKS

There are TWO KINDS OF WORKS: God's works and man's works. These two kinds of works are always opposed to each other and can never be mixed. Recognizing that there are two kinds of works, that the two kinds are altogether opposite to each other, and can never be mixed is a must. One cannot understand grace properly without understanding this bold fact.

1. God's Works.

      God's works include Holy Spirit works, faith works, grace works, and good works, all of which are one and the same kind of good works. God will always accept this kind of works for they are His works and are therefore grace works. The New Covenant is a grace covenant. All its works are performed by the Holy Spirit in and through us, and are therefore grace works, including scriptural water baptism.


2. Man's Works.
      Man's works include flesh works required by the Law Covenant, flesh works apart from the Law Covenant, and every kind of works not performed by the Spirit of God. Such works are therefore opposed to grace through faith. These, likewise, are all one and the same kind of works, but are altogether opposed to God's works. God will NOT accept any of these works. Those who insist that scriptural baptism is not by grace through faith need to reevaluate where they are putting themselves, Mt 21:23-27; Mk 11:17-33; Lk 20:1-8; Co 2:12.
      If scriptural baptism is not by grace through faith, it is a work of man and God will have no part of it. God will accept ONLY those works which are His works, and scriptural baptism (John's baptism, the true "from heaven" baptism) is a work of God, a work of faith, a work of God by grace through faith.

3. Grace and faith ALWAYS go together. In their scriptural meaning, they are inseparable. God has provided grace for EVERY act of faith, Rom 4:16; 5:2; Eph 2:8; Acts 13:43; 14:26; 15:40; 18:27; 20:32; Rom 1:5; 4:16; 5:2; 12:3-6; I Cor 15:10; II Cor 12:7-10; Heb 4:16.

4. Grace, faith, and good works likewise ALWAYS go together. Faith MUST have works, but those works are God's works, Holy Spirit works, faith works, grace works, because all of these exclude the works of man, Jms 2:14-26; I Cor 15:10; Phil 2:12-13; Heb 13:21; Mt 10:19-20; Rom 4:1-4; Eph 2:8-10; Tim 3:5; Isa 64:6.

5. All the FAITH and WORKS of Hebrews 11 are grace works: grace through faith works. Faith MUST have works, for faith without works is dead, Jms 2:14-26. There were times when Paul wrote about man's works (flesh works) apart from grace and faith, Rom 4:1-4; Eph 2:8-9; Titus 3:5. But there were also times when he wrote of faith works, which are grace works, which are God's works, I Cor 15:10; Phil 2:12-13; Mt 10:19-20; Titus 3:8; II Cor 12:7-10; Heb 4:16; 12:28; Acts 4:23-27.

6. God GIVES grace to suffer and endure every kind of weakness and affliction or trial, Acts 4:23-37; II Cor 12:7-10; II Tim 2:1-4; Heb 4:16; 11:6; 12:1-17, 25-29. We are constantly going to the throne of grace where we obtain mercy and find grace to pray, love, forgive, suffer wrong, suffer need, be patient, stand fast, overcome, preach, witness, live a godly life, etc. Shame on those who say these are works of the flesh which God will not accept. God will certainly not accept works of the flesh, but these are works of grace, not works of the flesh.

7. God gives grace to perform all the works of Romans 12. Observe verses 3 and 6 in their context. It is clear that every work in this chapter is to be done by grace through faith -- to prophesy, teach, preach, minister (serve -- these are all called graces), to exhort, to give, to rule, show mercy, love without hypocrisy, abhor evil, cleave to good, be patient, forgive, etc., See also: Ac 4:3-37; Ep 3:2,7-10; 4:7-16; Heb 4:16; 11:6; Ja 4:6; I Pet 4:10-11; 5:5.

8. The New Covenant is uniquely designed to be a GRACE covenant in contrast to the Law Covenant which was uniquely designed to be a FLESH WORKS covenant. The Law Covenant required everyone to be perfect (perform perfect flesh works) in order to prove to the Jews and to the world that we are all sinners, Ro 3:19.
      While under the New Covenant God has provided the Holy Spirit to perform every work of the New Covenant in us and through us, Ac 4:23-37; Ac 14:26; 15:40; 20:32; Ro 1:5; 12:3-6 (3-21); I Co 1:3-7; 3:10-15; 15:10; II Co 6:1-10; 8:1-7; Ep 3:7-10.

B. SALVATION OF THE LIFE

      The salvation of the life is a fairly common expression, but there are areas of misunderstanding about it. Salvation of the life is NOT salvation from hell, and furthermore, salvation of the life is NOT inherent in or guaranteed by salvation from hell. Of course, when one is saved from hell, his whole person is saved from ever going to hell. So in this sense his life is saved from hell, but that is not what the Bible means when It speaks of "saving the life," Mt 16:24-27; Mk 8:34-38; Lk 9:23-26; 17:33; Jno 12:25; et al.
      One is saved eternally from hell the moment he first truly repents and believes with no grace works or faithfulness required beyond initial repentance and faith, Lk 16:19-31; I Cor 3:15; II Tim 2:20; Mt 12:41; 15:21-28 (Mk 7:24-30); Mt 2:1-12; II Ki 5:17-19; Dan 2:47 (3:28-29; 4:37); 6:14-28; Ex 19:5; Deut 7:6-7; 14:2; 26:16-19; 32:7-9; Ps 2:8; 82:8; Isa 54:3; 61:6; Dan 7:13-14,26-27; Rev 2:26-27; 21:23-26; 22:1-2; Acts 14:16-17; 17:26-28; Ps 19:1-6; Jno 1:9; Rom 1:18-20; Gal 4:21-31; Gen 27:28-29,37; Ex 4:22-23; Heb 12:23; Jms 1:18; Rev 14:4; et al.

1. Must Lose Life Daily to Save It Eternally.

      "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone is desiring to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and let him be following Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what advantage is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels." Lk 9:23-26.
      Here are some observations from this passage concerning the salvation of the life.

  1. This salvation requires a constant resolve.
          "If anyone wills (is desiring) to come after Me.....let him be following Me." Lk 9:23.
          The whole verse and context require a firm but continuing, progressive resolve that is constantly being reinforced and renewed, since it is constantly being assaulted by evil enticements and trying circumstances on every side. However, none of this can be done except by grace through faith.
          "For it is God who works in you both TO WILL and TO DO for His good pleasure," Phil 2:13.

  2. This salvation requires self denial.
          One must firmly resolve to deny and dethrone himself. Self, by nature, is number one, and is our biggest problem in life. It is a daily problem. It requires self denial every day, and requires it constantly throughout the whole of every day of one's entire life. However, no part of this resolve to deny oneself and serve God can be done other than by grace through faith.
          "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need," Heb 4:16.

  3. This salvation requires suffering. "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone is desiring to come after Me, let him deny himself, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY and let him be following Me," Lk 9:23.
          "Take up HIS cross" signifies that a "cross" has been appointed for every follower of Christ, and in order to "save his life," he must bear it. Also, "cross" signifies "suffering," which must be done all day long on a daily basis.
          Among other things the "cross" signifies discipleship, separation from the world, a firm commitment to serve God, suffering together with Christ, and persevering in the faith.
          "And He said to me, 'MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong," II Cor 12:9-10.

  4. We must SAVE our lives by grace through faith. "For whoever wills (sets his mind) to saved his life (in this world) will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake, this one will save it," Lk 9:24.
          WE must SAVE our life. But how do we do it? By hearing what Jesus says and doing it, Mt 7:21-17. By observing "all things" whatever Christ commanded in the Great Commission, Mt 28:18-20. By keeping the requirements of the covenant, Gen 18:17-19; Ex 19:4-6; Heb 10:16-21,29; 13:20. And the ONLY way this can be done is by grace through faith.
          Here is a SALVATION, -- the salvation of the life, but it is NOT salvation from hell. Some who are eternally saved from hell will obtain this salvation, while many others who are also eternally saved from hell will NOT gain this salvation.