Ernest T. Bass
Well-Known Member
But what verse says Abraham earned salvation and how could his obedience earn salvation when his obedience was not perfect?
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There are many, many verses in the Bible that attest to the fact that God will save those who have a faithful obedience to Him. Not one verse says God will save those who live in rebellion and disobedience to Him. Therefore obedience saves but obedience ALONE will not save because my obedience will not be perfect therefore I'm in need of grace. Meaning salvation is by obedience AND grace and neither one alone will save.
But what verse says Abraham earned salvation and how could his obedience earn salvation when his obedience was not perfect?
But what verse says Abraham earned salvation and how could his obedience earn salvation when his obedience was not perfect?
It is never obedience/works that save; but I will not argue that we are not saved by an obedient faith.
We are not saved through the actions but by the attitude that the actions come from.
It is a heart change that makes the difference.
If you have obedience but have never been born again, you will not be saved.
A man can have obedience and not be born again. He may think that he is saving himself through what he does; but is not trusting in the finished work of the Cross.
But a man cannot be born again and not have obedience. To be born again means to be regenerated and renewed (Titus 3:4-7); and to be made into a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17): the love of God is shed abroad in the heart (Romans 5:5); and this love is never in word or in tongue only but is always in deed and in truth (1 John 3:17-18). This practical love and righteousness, given as a free gift to the believer by faith, translates into obedience to God's word.
But Abraham's obedience did not earn his salvation/justification. Since salvation is a free gift, how could it be earned by Abraham, or anyone else?He trusted that what God said would come to pass, and was obedient even to sacrificing his son Isaac. “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4
Hey Ernest! No fair trick question! lol You asked, I am wondering if anyone on this forum can show me an example from the Bible of a person who was obedient to God's will and the obedience of that person earned him God's grace/mercy/favor? Abraham found favor and mercy, now Grace...that is up to you to decide. Salvation is not much of an option in the OT.
He was before the law, and His trust and obedience to God was imputed to him as righteousness. Salvation is NOT a free gift; it was bought with a heavy price. Our assurance of salvation is based on keeping Christ's commandments and pleasing God. Jesus didn't die so we could sin; He died to free us from sin.But Abraham's obedience did not earn his salvation/justification. Since salvation is a free gift, how could it be earned by Abraham, or anyone else?
Hi,
My point in asking the question was to show that NO ONE earned God's grace by being obedient to God's will. Therefore the idea that obedience is an attempt to earn God's grace is purely a strawman argument.
Also there is NO ONE who received God's grace by living in rebellion and disobedience to God.
The implication of this is the fact one must obey to receive grace.
Such a lot about the power of the Word of God in Psalm 119...'The entrance of Thy words giveth light;
it giveth understanding unto the simple.'
(Psa 119:130)
Yes, @farouk, there is. - Praise God!Such a lot about the power of the Word of God in Psalm 119...
He was before the law, and His trust and obedience to God was imputed to him as righteousness. Salvation is NOT a free gift; it was bought with a heavy price. Our assurance of salvation is based on keeping Christ's commandments and pleasing God. Jesus didn't die so we could sin; He died to free us from sin.
Repentance is obedience, it is required condition to be saved but it does not earn salvation.We had to repent to receive grace.
Abraham just trusted God and acted on His word; Abraham had faith in God.
Men are freely justified Romans 3:24. See also Romans 6:23 eternal life is a free gift
Jesus dying on the cross was a free gift to man where the shed blood of Christ purchased salvation for man. Since salvation is a free gift that means God did not owe salvation to man, hence salvation is a free gift offered to man by God's grace. And this free gift is conditional upon obeying Christ in order to receive it, Hebrews 5:9
It takes obedience to God to be born again
Also there is NO ONE who received God's grace by living in rebellion and disobedience to God.
Since salvation is a free gift that means God did not owe salvation to man, hence salvation is a free gift offered to man by God's grace. And this free gift is conditional upon obeying Christ in order to receive it, Hebrews 5:9
Repentance is obedience, it is required condition to be saved but it does not earn salvation.
This is why one like CharismaticLady would say that Romans 7 is not for the Church, which of course is a lie from the Charismatic movement. We still sin, all the way up to either our flesh death, or Christ's 2nd coming. Like Paul showed in Romans 3:25, our first belief on Jesus covered our sins that were past, not future sins we may slip up and do. In Romans 7 Apostle Paul showed we cannot escape that state while in this flesh, which is why we need Jesus Christ.
Apostle Paul gave us Romans 7 to show that we will still slip up and sin all the way either to our flesh death, or to Christ's 2nd coming.
Those who wrongly believe we cannot sin anymore after having believed on Jesus Christ, are actually being taught to not CHECK THEMSELVES for sin in their lives. It is a direct attack against the WALK WITH JESUS BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
To believe that we cannot sin anymore means to not watch out for sin.