Paul never said we were saved by grace... period.
I beg to differ Ernest... I think you need to understand what Paul is really saying. You use Rom. 5:2 to
establish entering God's Grace through faith. Paul is talking to people who have already received faith
from God, and now they can GROW in this Grace through faith. Paul is talking about maturing as a Son
of God by exercising their faith to understand the abundance of Grace that God sheds upon all. It takes
faith to access the divine nature that changes your attitude toward the ways of God (2nd Peter 1:4).
You can try to establish your doctrine with that scripture, but let's look @ what Paul said in the same book
of Romans 4:2-5.
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast
about; but not before God.
3 For what does the scripture say? "And Abraham believed God and
it was reckoned to him for righteousness".
4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but
as of what is due (he get's paid in this life).
5 But the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
In other words, what we do doesn't save us, but what we believe does. My point
is, we can't believe it if God doesn't shed his grace first. Look @ the people that
don't believe you should be baptized. By faith in the Word of God, I believe a
person should be baptized. Why? Because the Word says so, and it establishes
the legality of the New Covenant. If you don't get baptized, then you probably
don't believe it enough to act upon God's work, which will disqualify you to have
a part in the 1st Resurrection.
If we believe that Jesus died and was buried and was raised from the dead we are
justified through the Blood of the Lamb (Rom. 4:25). If we believe that we can work
to please God within ourselves our faith is worthless, and we are still in our sins (1st
Cor. 15:17).
We are saved by Grace, which is favor that we don't deserve, but God in his mercy
and grace shows us his way by opening our understanding so we can understand the
scriptures (Rom. 5:19). As Paul says, I am crucified with Christ, and it is no more me,
but it is Christ that lives in me that does the works ( Gal. 2:20). As Christians, we must
give God all the glory for the things He has done through the man, Jesus Christ! Don't
put the cart before the horse.
Keep reading in Romans 5:18-19 and you will discover God's Grace was shed before
anyone believed.
What a God! What a Plan!
Logabe
I beg to differ Ernest... I think you need to understand what Paul is really saying. You use Rom. 5:2 to
establish entering God's Grace through faith. Paul is talking to people who have already received faith
from God, and now they can GROW in this Grace through faith. Paul is talking about maturing as a Son
of God by exercising their faith to understand the abundance of Grace that God sheds upon all. It takes
faith to access the divine nature that changes your attitude toward the ways of God (2nd Peter 1:4).
You can try to establish your doctrine with that scripture, but let's look @ what Paul said in the same book
of Romans 4:2-5.
2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast
about; but not before God.
3 For what does the scripture say? "And Abraham believed God and
it was reckoned to him for righteousness".
4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but
as of what is due (he get's paid in this life).
5 But the one who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the
ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
In other words, what we do doesn't save us, but what we believe does. My point
is, we can't believe it if God doesn't shed his grace first. Look @ the people that
don't believe you should be baptized. By faith in the Word of God, I believe a
person should be baptized. Why? Because the Word says so, and it establishes
the legality of the New Covenant. If you don't get baptized, then you probably
don't believe it enough to act upon God's work, which will disqualify you to have
a part in the 1st Resurrection.
If we believe that Jesus died and was buried and was raised from the dead we are
justified through the Blood of the Lamb (Rom. 4:25). If we believe that we can work
to please God within ourselves our faith is worthless, and we are still in our sins (1st
Cor. 15:17).
We are saved by Grace, which is favor that we don't deserve, but God in his mercy
and grace shows us his way by opening our understanding so we can understand the
scriptures (Rom. 5:19). As Paul says, I am crucified with Christ, and it is no more me,
but it is Christ that lives in me that does the works ( Gal. 2:20). As Christians, we must
give God all the glory for the things He has done through the man, Jesus Christ! Don't
put the cart before the horse.
Keep reading in Romans 5:18-19 and you will discover God's Grace was shed before
anyone believed.
What a God! What a Plan!
Logabe