In an effort to be brief and do the topic justice, I've chosen to give some background to the issue and then state what I believe is true Christian doctrine using a format similar to the London Baptist Confession and the Westminster Confession of Faith. I ask that you take the time to look up and read in context the Biblical passages noted, as the good Bearens did in Acts 16, don't allow one passage to be untested. Background When Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the garden; they fell out of communion with God, becoming spiritually dead. The punishment was death, but they didn't die physically, they died spiritually. Romans 3:10-19 Romans 3:23 Romans 5:12 Titus 1:15 Genesis 6:5 Jeremiah 17:9 The guilt of there sin was imputed to there offspring (us) which inclines all of us to evil, "and by nature children of wrath, the servants of sin, the subjects of death, and all other miseries, spiritual, temporal, and eternal, unless the Lord Jesus set them free." (quoting LBC 1689) Romans 5:12-19 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22, 45, 49 Psalm 51:5 Job 14:4 Ephesians 2:3 Romans 5:12; 6:20 Hebrews 2:14, 15 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Due to man's sin, God effectually calls some according to His plan, by his Word and Spirit, out of their sin by His Grace to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 5:25 2 Timothy 1:9 Ephesians 1:19, 20; 2:5-8 1 Corinthians 2:14 When God calls a sinner He also covers that sinner with righteousness by pardoning their sins, for Christ's sake alone, least any man should boast. This is Grace: Christ and his righteousness alone for salvation. Christ died for and justified the elect, and since no sin can separate us from the love of God the saved/justified will never fall from that state. Matthew 6:12; 26:75 1 John 1:7, 9 John 10:28 Psalm 32:5 Psalm 51 Psalm 89:31-33 Once adopted by God the Father we are sealed until the day of redemption when we inherit the promises as heirs of the covenant which is everlasting salvation. Psalm 103:13 Proverbs 14:26 Isaiah 54:8, 9 Lamentations 3:31 John 1:12 Ephesians 1:5, 4:30 Galatians 4:4-6 Romans 8:15-17 2 Corinthians 6:18 Ephesians 2:18 1 Peter 5:7 Hebrews 1:14, 6:12, 12:6 Revelation 3:12 Once you have been 'born again' by the power of God, you receive a new spirit through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection. Due to the dwelling of the Holy Spirit dwelling in those who are born of God, sin is weakened and destroyed. A war continues to rage in the believer because of corruption of our nature, which is sinful, "yet through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ." (Quoting LBC 1689) As we read in Hebrews 10, no one can ever fall from Grace and they receive 'perfection' because of what Christ did. "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." Heb. 10:14 John 17:17 Acts 20:32 Romans 6:5, 6, 14 Ephesians 3:16-19 1 Thessalonians 5:21-23 Galatians 5:24 Colossians 1:11 2 Corinthians 7:1 Hebrews 12:14 The Grace of faith is the work of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone brought by the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Saving faith is the immediate relationship with Christ, "accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace." (quoting LBC 1689) Psalm 27:7-10 Psalm 119:72 Acts 15:11, 16:31, 24:14 2 Timothy 1:12 John 14:14 Isaiah 66:2 Hebrews 11:13 John 1:12 Galatians 2:20 The Biblical View of Salvation Eph. 2:8 - 10 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." I believe, 'and that' is a summation of both grace and faith that come before it. Both grace and faith are gifts of God, for belief is a work (John 6:29 "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.") and men can boast on works. Therefore, "We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Gal. 2:15-16). Our authority is the Bible Alone (Sola Scriptura) for doctrine and practice. Our salvation is by God's Sovereign Grace Alone (Sola Gratia) and conditioned upon Christ Alone (Solo Christo). We rely upon Christ entirely for our salvation by the gift of Faith Alone (Sola Fide). This is all done for the Glory of God Alone (Soli Deo Gloria).Peace,JM