prepared by Randall F. More
June 2016
Salvation
is... by Faith Alone... in Christ Alone... by God's Grace Alone… for God’s
Glory Alone
&
Assurance
of Salvation
The
143 Bible passages (NASB u/n) substantiate that salvation is by faith alone, in
Christ alone, by God’s grace alone, for God’s glory alone.
The
YELLOW highlighted
passages are particularly succinct in their reference to salvation.
The
BLUE highlighted
passages are those which provide extra assurance of the believer’s position in
Christ and a fuller description of the promise, power, and guarantee of the
Holy Spirit.
Refer
to the Commentary at the conclusion.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And
Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; let it be done to you as you have
believed" (Matthew 8:13).
“HE
HIMSELF TOOK OUR INFIRMITIES, AND CARRIED AWAY OUR DISEASES" (Matthew
8:17).
“...for
I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners" (Matthew 9:13).
“For
the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost" (Matthew 18:11).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"The
time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the
gospel" (Mark 1:15).
"...you
may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (Mark
2:10).
"Truly
I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever
blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never
has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" (Mark 3:28-29).
And
Jesus said to him... “All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark
9:23).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And
seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you" (Luke
5:20).
And
He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven”... And He said to the woman, “Your
faith has saved you; go in peace" (Luke 7:48,50).
And
He said to her “Daughter, your faith has made you well, go in peace" (Luke
8:48).
"...whoever
receives Me receives Him who sent Me" (Luke 9:48).
"...everyone
who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man shall confess him also before the
angels of God" (Luke 12:8).
"For the Son of Man has come to
seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10).
And
He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in
Paradise" (Luke 23:43).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
But as many as received Him, to them He
gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name
(John 1:12).
Jesus
answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God... Truly, truly, I say to you, unless
one is born of the water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit
is spirit" (John 3:3,5-6).
...that whoever believes may in Him
have eternal life (John 3:15).
"For God so loved the world, that
He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish,
but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
"He
who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of
God" (John 3:18).
"He
who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son
shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).
Jesus
answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water shall thirst
again; but whoever drinks of the waters that I give him shall become in him a
well of water springing up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).
“I say to you, he who hears My word,
and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into
judgment, but has passed out of death into life" (John 5:24).
Jesus
said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and
he who believes in Me shall never thirst" (John 6:35).
"'For
this is the will of My Father, that every one who beholds the Son, and believes
in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last
day" (John 6:40).
"I say to you, he who believes has
eternal life" (John 6:47).
"I
am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if any one eats of this bread,
he shall live for forever; and the bread also which I shall give for the life
of the world is My flesh" (John 6:51).
Jesus
therefore said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh
of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who
eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life; and I will raise him on the
last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My
flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him" (John 6:53-56).
"He
who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being shall flow
rivers of living water’" (John 7:38).
Again
Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (John
8:12).
"I
said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins; for unless you believe
that I am He, you shall die in your sins" (John 8:24).
"If
you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you shall know
the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32).
"Truly,
truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word he shall never see death" (John
8:51).
"We
know that God does not hear sinners; but if any one is God fearing, and does
His will, He hears him" (John 9:31).
And
he said, “Lord I believe.” And he worshiped Him (John 9:38).
"I
am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in
and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9).
"The
thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have
life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10).
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know
them and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.
My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to
snatch them out of the Father's hand" (John 10:27-29).
Jesus said to her, “I am the
resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies,
and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die" (John
11:25-26).
"If
any one serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall My servant
also be; if any one serves Me, the Father will honor him" (John 12:26).
And
Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me does not believe in Me, but in
Him who sent Me. And he who beholds Me beholds the One who sent Me. I have come
as light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in
darkness" (John 12:44-46).
"Truly,
truly, I say to you, he who receives whomever I send receives Me; and he who receives
Me receives Him who sent Me" (John 13:20).
“And I will ask the Father, and He will
give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of
truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know
Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you” (John
14:16-17).
"And
this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus
Christ whom Thou has sent" (John 17:3).
"I
do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me
through their word..." (John 17:20).
Then
He said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here
your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing"
(John 20:27).
Jesus
said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who
did not see, and yet believed" (John 20:29).
...but these have been written that you
may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you
may have life in His name (John 20:31).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
“’AND
IT SHALL BE, THAT EVERY ONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED’”
(Acts 2:21).
And
Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of
Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift
of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38).
So
then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that
day about three thousand souls (Acts 2:41).
And
all those who had believed were together... And the Lord was adding to their
number day by day those who were being saved (Acts 2:44,47).
“And
there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that
has been given among men, by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
"Of
Him all the prophets bear witness through His name every one who believes in
Him receives forgiveness of sins" (Acts 10:43).
"...and
through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could
not be freed through the Law of Moses" (Acts 13:39).
"...we are saved through the grace
of the Lord Jesus..." (Acts 15:11).
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and
you shall be saved..." (Acts 16:31).
...and
many of the Corinthians when they heard were believing and being baptized (Acts
18:8).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For
I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to
every one who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek (Romans 1:16).
For in it the righteousness of God is
revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL
LIVE BY FAITH" (Romans 1:17).
...by
the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the
Law comes the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
But
apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being
witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through
faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God being justified as a
gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus... (Romans
3:21-24).
...He
might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans
3:26).
For we maintain that a man is justified
by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3:28).
For
if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not
before God... “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” ...But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness... (Romans 4:2-3,5).
For
the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir to the world
was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those
who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified;
for the Law brings about wrath (Romans 4:13-15).
Therefore
also IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.... but for our sake also, to whom
it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from
the dead (Romans 4:22,24).
Therefore having been justified by
faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ... (Romans 5:1).
…the love of God has been poured out within
our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5:5).
For
while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly...
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we
shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies,
we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been
reconciled, we shall be saved by His life (Romans 5:6,8-10).
But
the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the
one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of
the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many (Romans 5:15).
For
if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more
those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will
reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one
transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act
of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through
the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the
obedience of the One the many will be made righteous (Romans 5:17-19).
For
the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He
lives, He lives to God (Hebrews 6:10).
For the wages of sin is death, but the
free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23).
But
now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were
bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the
letter (Romans 7:6).
There
is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and
of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God
did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for
sin, He condemned sin in the flesh (Romans 8:1-3).
But
if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. And if
Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is
alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from
the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give
life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells you... for if you
are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are
putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are being
led by the Spirit of God, those are sons of God (Romans 8:9-11,13-14).
…and whom He predestined, these He also
called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified,
these He also glorified (Romans 8:30).
For I am convinced that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans
8:38-39).
That
Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the
righteousness which is by faith; but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness,
did not arrive at that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but
as though it were by works (Romans 9:30-32).
"...AND
HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED" (Romans 9:33).
For
not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they
did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God (Romans 10:3).
For
Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For
Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law
shall live by that righteousness (Romans 10:4-5).
...if you confess with your mouth Jesus
as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall
be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with
the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation (Romans 10:9-10).
For
the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED" (Romans
10:11).
...for “WHOEVER WILL CALL UPON THE NAME
OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED" (Romans 10:13).
But if it is by grace, it is no longer
on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace (Romans 11:6).
Now may the God of hope fill you with
all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the
Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
…our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall also
confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is
faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus
Christ our Lord (I Corinthians 1:7-9).
For
since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know
God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to
save those who believe (I Corinthians 1:21).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin
on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (II
Corinthians 5:21).
For
the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without
regret, leading to salvation; but the sorrow of the world produces death (II
Corinthians 7:10).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grace
to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave
Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us out of this present evil age,
according to the will of our God and Father (Galatians 1:3-4).
...nevertheless knowing that a man is
not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even
we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ,
and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh
be justified (Galatians 2:16).
"For
through the Law I died to the Law, that I might live to God. I have been
crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me" (Galatians 2:19-20).
"I do not nullify the grace of
God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died
needlessly" (Galatians 2:21).
This
is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by
the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having
begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? (Galatians
3:2-3).
For
as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “CURSED
IS EVERY ONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW,
TO PERFORM THEM.' Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is
evident; for, 'THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH" (Galatians
3:10-11).
For
if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would
indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin,
that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to
the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our
tutor to lead us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. But now that
faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God
through faith in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:21-26).
For
the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” (Galatians 5:14).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
In
Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,
according to the riches of His grace (Ephesians 1:7).
In Him, you also, after listening to the
message of truth, the gospel of your salvation - having also believed, you were
sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our
inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the
praise of His glory (Ephesians 1:13-14).
But God, being rich in mercy, because of
His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our
transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in
Christ Jesus, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing
riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-7).
For by grace you have been saved
through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a
result of works, that no one should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
…that He would grant you, according to the
riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the
inner man; so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you,
being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the
saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the
love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the
fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all
that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us (Ephesians
3:16-20).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
...He who began a good work in you will
perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).
...having been filled with the fruit of
righteousness which comes through Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God
(Philippians 1:11).
...work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in
you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).
... I may gain Christ and may be found
in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that
which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the
basis of faith (Philippians 3:8-9).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
As
you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been
firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just
as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude (Colossians 2:6-7).
And
when you were dead in your transgressions…He made you alive together with Him,
having forgiven us all our transgressions (Colossians 2:13).
If then you have been raised up with
Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right
hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on
earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When
Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him
in glory (Colossians 3:1-4).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For God has not destined us for wrath, but
for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us, that
whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him (I
Thessalonians 5:9-10).
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also
will bring it to pass (I Thessalonians 5:24).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
...when
He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among
all who have believed - for our testimony to you was believed (II
Thessalonians 1:10).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
He saved us, not on the basis of deeds
which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing
of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us
richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by His grace we
might be heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:5-7).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
For
we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said (Hebrews 4:3).
And having been made perfect, He became to
all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:9).
He
is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always
lives to make intercession for them (Hebrews 7:25).
He
has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews
9:26).
…so
Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a
second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await
Him (Hebrews 9:27).
…let us draw near with a sincere heart in
full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Hebrews
10:22-23).
"And my righteous ones will live
by faith" (Hebrews 10:38).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
What
use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can
that faith save him?... Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by
itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith, and I have works; show me
your faith without the works, and I will show my faith by my works" (James
2:14,17-18).
But
are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is
useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up
Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and
as a result of works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled
which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS
RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is
justified by works, and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not Rahab
the harlot also justified by works, when she received the messengers and sent
them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so
also faith without works is dead" (James 2:20-26).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again
to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to
obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade
away, reserved in heaven for you (I Peter 1:3-4).
...you greatly rejoice with joy
inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the
salvation of your souls (I Peter 1:8-9).
...you were not redeemed with
perishable things like silver and gold from your futile way of life inherited
from your forefathers, but with the precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished
and spotless, the blood of Christ (I Peter 1:18-19).
...for
you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that
is, through the living and abiding word of God (I Peter 1:23).
He
Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and
live to righteousness, for by His wounds you were healed (I Peter 2:24).
For Christ also died for sins once for
all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having
been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit (I Peter 3:18).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
...if
we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7).
If we confess our sins, He is faithful
and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
(I John 1:9).
Whoever
believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father
loves the child born of Him (I John 5:1).
And
who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the
Son of God (I John 5:5).
The
one who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; the one who does
not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the witness
that God has borne concerning His Son. And the witness is this, that God has
given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (I John 5:10-11).
He
who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have
the life (I John 5:12).
These things I have written to you who
believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have
eternal life (I John 5:13).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now to Him who is able to keep you from
stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with
great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory,
majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude
24-25).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
“‘Behold, I stand at the door and
knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and
will dine with him, and he with Me’” (Revelation 3:20).
=========================================
But
He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our
iniquities; The chastening for our wellbeing fell upon Him, And by His
scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has
turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all To fall
on Him (Isaiah 53:5-6).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Look
at the proud! They trust in themselves, and their lives are crooked. But the
righteous will live by their faithfulness to God" (Habakkuk 2:4 NLT).
=========================================
COMMENTARY:
Justification
is the act whereby God takes our sin and places it upon His Son and clothes us
instead with His righteousness. Justification is solely the work of God.
Justification occurs at the moment of salvation. It is because of
justification, being declared righteous and not guilty, that permits us to be
saved. When we accept by faith Christ's finished work on the cross, God credits
to us the holiness and righteousness of His Son. The believer is declared
righteous and is freed from the guilt of sin. He justifies us. His sacrifice
covers our sin, permitting God to see us as perfect and unblemished. We are justified
in His sight, not by anything that we have done but all by what He has done for
us. Upon salvation, He gives us His Holy Spirit to lead and direct our lives
and He gives us the promise of eternal life.
It
is believed by some that the apostle, James, speaks of works as being a
necessary condition for salvation:
What
use is it, my brethren, if a man says that he has faith, but he has no works?
Can that faith save him? (James 2:14).
James
is NOT saying that salvation is by faith PLUS works. James is saying that a
person who is truly justified by faith will show good works in his life as a
result of his faith. Genuine faith produces good works. Dead faith does not.
The good works will then become the evidence of one's faith, not the cause for one's
salvation. Faith in Jesus Christ is necessary and sufficient for salvation.
Both
apostles, Paul and James, are consistent in their doctrine of salvation by
faith alone. Paul is speaking to unbelievers about the need for faith for
salvation whereas James is addressing those who claim to be believers but who
demonstrate little fruit in their lives as they cling instead to the world and
its values. James is cautioning that the life of a believer will show evidence
of good works as a result of his or her salvation and the new position in
Christ.
Paul
is pointing to salvation itself whereas James is pointing to the proof or
evidence of salvation. True salvation always proves itself in the life of a
believer.
Paul
and James both refer to the faith of Abraham and Rahab whereby their genuine
faith in God was manifested through their works. Their works were evidence of
their faith, not the cause of their salvation. Noah, too, built the ark, not as
works to earn salvation, but it was a clear indicator that he had a powerful
faith demonstrated in his belief and trust of God.
No
personal merit will ever help us gain eternal life as it is a free gift. We are
incapable of providing any meritorious works as far as salvation is concerned.
The prophet, Isaiah, clearly reminds us of the value of our own human goodness
and places it in proper perspective compared to a holy and righteous God:
All
our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment (Isaiah 64:6).
God
is not waiting for us to become good enough in order to come to Him… because we
will never be good enough in our own efforts. Instead, He desires that we come
to Him in simple faith believing and trusting in what He has done on the cross
and acknowledging that He and He alone is sufficient.
None
of us would ever come to a saving faith if works was part of salvation because
none of us have any works which have any merit to a holy and righteous God. It
would be rather presumptuous of us to think that we have any meritorious works
that we can offer to God. Not once does Jesus ever ask us to do anything for
our salvation apart from belief and faith in what He has accomplished on the
cross.
For
those who erroneously believe that salvation requires works in order to be
complete, they, for the most part, often live life in fear of judgment rather
than with the eternal and glorious hope that Christ has freely provided His free
gift of salvation for us.
Paul,
Luke, Peter, and John expect just as much of the changed or transformed life of
the believer as does James, but for Paul, Luke, Peter, and John it is already a
basic understanding. Paul refers to the believer as a new creation in Christ
who will desire to do good things as the evidence of his position in Christ and
as a result of his love for the Lord, not as the cause for his position:
Therefore
if any man is in Christ; he is a new creature (II Corinthians 5:17).
Genuine
faith inevitably produces good deeds. Paul emphasizes that the purpose of faith
is to bring us to salvation; James emphasizes that the result of faith is a
changed life.
Paul,
in his letter to the Philippians, reminds us that we are to work hard to show
the fruit of our salvation but not that works is a necessary part of the free
gift of salvation (Philippians 2:12-13).
Innumerable
Scripture passages are consistent. We need to have the Son of God to have
salvation and eternal life. We do not need to have the Son of God plus anything
else. He and He alone is sufficient.
Any
belief in justification or salvation by works destroys God's grace. God's free
gift of grace cannot be earned by good works. If earned, it would no longer be
a free gift; it would be an affront to God; and God would not get the glory.
As
the Bible clearly states, if you choose to live by the Law then you will die by
the Law but the bad news is that you will die outside of Christ because NO ONE
can uphold the entire Law... and that is the entire reason that Christ came...
to save you and I from the Law.
If
good works was to be a necessary part of justification, it would mean that
Christ died needlessly.
Heaven
is not reserved for good people. It is reserved for undeserving, forgiven
sinners who have recognized their great need. No one gets to heaven by any
personal merit whatsoever... only by faith in what Christ has already accomplished
on the cross.
NO
part of our salvation depends on us, our works, or anything that we do, apart
from belief... because it is insufficient and unnecessary... and if it did it
would only mean that Christ's sacrifice was for nothing and that God would not
get the glory.
In
summary, apart from James's cautionary remarks, there is NO biblical basis for
believing that salvation requires faith plus works. If works was a necessary
part of salvation then it would mean that:
- salvation
is not a free gift
- Christ
died needlessly
- God
would not get all the glory
- we
have an erroneous belief that we have some works or effort that we can offer to
God which have merit to a holy and righteous God
Jesus
and the apostles never instruct or command us to add some good works in order
to be saved.
In
every biblical reference to salvation: to believing, receiving, hearing,
serving, being born again, eating the bread, eating His flesh, drinking His
blood, keeping His word, following Him, fearing God, doing His will, thirsting,
repenting, or being baptized, not once is there any requirement for works as
having any part.
The
fact that works plays no part in salvation couldn't be any more clearly stated
than that by the apostle, Paul:
...
I may gain Christ and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own
derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the
righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith (Philippians 3:8-9).
No
one should make salvation more complicated than what Jesus offered. Salvation
could not be any simpler, as Luke notes:
"Believe
in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved..." (Acts 16:31).
At
the moment of salvation, the believer is filled with the Holy Spirit who has
the power to act in one's life and it is that life which is designed to be
lived out with His direction and power, not to be lived out in the flesh.
He
is the One who preserves us. Eternal security is a spiritual truth, even if we
don't fully understand it. When we accept Christ as Saviour and make Him Lord
of our life, we are given the Holy Spirit to work in and to transform our
life... to conform us to the image of Christ. As we surrender the control of
our lives to His Spirit, we rely less on our fleshly desires.
Doubting
our salvation may be a natural tendency (as long as we don't dwell on it)
because we have a tendency to trust in ourselves, we trust in our own works, we
lean on our experiences, we doubt justification, we doubt forgiveness, and also
because His promises are seemingly too incredible... but they are real!
One
may choose to believe that “once saved, always saved” is not a biblical truth.
Regardless, except for a theoretical theological discussion, it is not really
relevant for the believer. It may be that one was never saved in the first
instance or it may be that one has never truly surrendered his life but,
nevertheless, it does not apply to the surrendered (but imperfect) life.
The
countless passages are to be claimed... as facts by faith... as they are
powerful. God is not a liar. His promises are real and secure. Our obligation
is to take Him at His Word... not to doubt what He promises. If He can't bring
His own promises to pass, then ALL is for naught and nothing else matters.
For
the believer, growing and continuing assurance of salvation comes from seeing
the Holy Spirit transform the life of that person such that the fruit of the
Holy Spirit shows in our life:
But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
Being
a Christian has not so much to do with what one does; it mostly has to do with
what Christ has done and what He promises to do.
The
apostle, John, wrote an entire epistle (I John) primarily so that we
could know that we are saved (with 23 references to "know"). John
wants us to know that we have no excuse not to understand that we already have
assurance of our salvation... and when one is saved, it will be demonstrated in
one's life.
One's
salvation is not dependent upon feelings, emotions, or experience; it is based
on the objective truth of God's Word, an assurance of His promises, evidence of
a love for Christ, a changed life of obedience, a repudiation of sin, and a
love for the brethren. As a believer, Christ has already purchased your
salvation. That is a fact. He purchased your salvation with His life; He
doesn't change His mind and then return you somewhere for some “crappy” credit.
He gave us His Spirit to make us new creations and to bear witness to our
spirit that we belong to Him. God is not a liar. He is faithful. He brings to
pass that which He promises.
If
we live a life of doubting our salvation then we are effectively saying that
either we don't trust or believe Him to accomplish what He promises or we just
simply are not going to permit Him to be in and part of our lives. (None of
that would likely be representative of genuine salvation.) None of this means
that we will no longer sin but it does mean that we will not continually,
habitually, and deliberately sin against the will of God. Your assurance will
become more real as you see Him acting in your life and as you undergo various
trials while placing your confidence in Him. We are assured that it is the
testing of our faith which ultimately produces endurance.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASSURANCE of SALVATION:
Believers,
from the passages highlighted in BLUE above, have assurance of salvation as noted:
- He
knows His sheep and no one shall snatch them from His Father’s hand. (John
10:27-19)
- He
gives us His Helper as He abides with us. (John 14:16-17)
- God’s
love is poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. (Romans 5:5)
- He
predestines us and glorifies us (Romans 8:30)
- Nothing
can separate us from the love of God. (Romans 8:38-39)
- Christ
confirms us to the end as we are called into fellowship with Him. (I
Corinthians 1:7-9)
- We
are sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit who has given His pledge of our
inheritance. (Ephesians 1:13)
- God
raised us up and seated us with Him in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 2:4-7)
- We
are strengthened with power through His Spirit as He does exceedingly
abundantly all that we ask. (Ephesians 3:16-20)
- He
began the work in us and He will perfect it. (Philippians 1:6)
- We
have been raised up with Christ and our life is now hidden in Christ to be
revealed with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)
- We
live together with Him. (I Thessalonians 5:9-10)
- He
is faithful and is the One who will bring it to pass. (I Thessalonians 5:24)
- Having
been justified by His grace, we are His heirs in eternal life. (Titus 3:5-7)
- He
is the source of our eternal salvation. (Hebrews 5:9)
- We
have full assurance of faith because He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews
10:22-23)
- We
have an inheritance which is imperishable and reserved in heaven for us. (I
Peter 1:3-4)
- The
outcome of our faith is our salvation. (I Peter 1:8-9)
- We
can know that we have eternal life. (I John 5:13)
- He
keeps us from stumbling and He makes us blameless. (Jude 24-25)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESSENCE of the GOSPEL:
"When
a child of God looks into the Word of God and sees the Son of God he is
transformed into the image of God by the Spirit of God for the glory of
God" (II Corinthians 3:18 - Warren Wiersbe paraphrase).
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
FAITH:
Fantastic
Adventure
In
Trusting
Him
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
ROMAN ROAD to SALVATION:
Romans
3:10 - none is righteous
Romans
3:23 - I am a sinner
Romans
5:1 - I am justified by faith
Romans
5:8 - Christ died for me
Romans
6:23 - wages for my sin is death
Romans
8:1 - I am no longer under condemnation
Romans
8:16 - His Spirit bears witness to my spirit
Romans
8:38-39 - I cannot be separated from God's love
Romans
10:9 - I confess with my mouth for salvation
Romans
10:13 - I call upon His Name for salvation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOLAS of the CHRISTIAN
FAITH:
·
Sola scriptura: Scripture alone
·
Sola fide: faith alone
·
Sola gratia: grace alone
·
Solo Christo: Christ alone
·
Soli Deo gloria: to the glory of God alone
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
SALVATION REMINDER:
Salvation
is... by Faith Alone... in Christ Alone... by God's Grace Alone… for God’s
Glory Alone
