We certainly act as if it did.
If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times: ___________ doesn't save anyone!!
I believe God and, specifically, the blood of Jesus alone saves sinners from everlasting destruction.
Why do we argue with each other over something that is so plain? The Bible says that many things must be done by us if we would hope to be saved. But we debate and fuss trying to somehow prove that our favorite summary of the requirements for salvation is the correct one.
Did you ever wonder why Jesus had to be baptized?
I think I know why.
Matthew 3
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
He had to be baptized for the same reason that repentance is "given" to us. Our motives and intentions are so corrupt, that even our baptism cannot be accepted as fulfilling the requirements of true righteousness. God's grace covers our best efforts all the time.
The Bible is plain that we are judged by our works. My denomination is constantly charged with practicing and advocating legalism. But I tell you there is a subset among us who know that even our best day when consecrated as fully to God and His service as we know how (even by the unction of the Holy Ghost) is so meager an offering as to be a stench in the nostrils of God. His grace has to be mediated by The Spirit in both directions. Total depravity is a great understatement. Conversion changes our hearts, no doubt, but our righteousness in no way exceeds that of the Pharisees without the mediatory efforts of Christ and His Spirit. The problem with legalists is that they don't take the law seriously enough.
It is God, always, who does the saving. We merely agree for Him to undertake it. There is no other way. And there is no shortcut or useful summary. Whether we have the "thief on the cross" experience or "conversion at 8 and death at 80" experience, it is all of grace.
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 God. (Matthew 4:4)
If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times: ___________ doesn't save anyone!!
I believe God and, specifically, the blood of Jesus alone saves sinners from everlasting destruction.
Why do we argue with each other over something that is so plain? The Bible says that many things must be done by us if we would hope to be saved. But we debate and fuss trying to somehow prove that our favorite summary of the requirements for salvation is the correct one.
Did you ever wonder why Jesus had to be baptized?
I think I know why.
Matthew 3
13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
He had to be baptized for the same reason that repentance is "given" to us. Our motives and intentions are so corrupt, that even our baptism cannot be accepted as fulfilling the requirements of true righteousness. God's grace covers our best efforts all the time.
The Bible is plain that we are judged by our works. My denomination is constantly charged with practicing and advocating legalism. But I tell you there is a subset among us who know that even our best day when consecrated as fully to God and His service as we know how (even by the unction of the Holy Ghost) is so meager an offering as to be a stench in the nostrils of God. His grace has to be mediated by The Spirit in both directions. Total depravity is a great understatement. Conversion changes our hearts, no doubt, but our righteousness in no way exceeds that of the Pharisees without the mediatory efforts of Christ and His Spirit. The problem with legalists is that they don't take the law seriously enough.
It is God, always, who does the saving. We merely agree for Him to undertake it. There is no other way. And there is no shortcut or useful summary. Whether we have the "thief on the cross" experience or "conversion at 8 and death at 80" experience, it is all of grace.
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 God. (Matthew 4:4)