Articles
Saved By Grace
"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" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Some religious denominations believe and teach that if we are saved by the grace of God (and we are) that baptism is not necessary. Is this true? I’m asking you to open your Bible, and your heart, and study with me to see what God’s Word has to say about this important topic.
Basically, grace is viewed in the religious world in three different ways:
1) The grace of God is "Infused" or comes by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit. This idea of grace is the belief that God choses by His grace "the saved" and that man is incapable of being saved through his own free choice.
When we search the Word of God, this idea of grace is completely false. This doctrine of grace has God choosing some to be saved and the rest are lost regardless of what they may or may not do. The Bible teaches, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time" (I Timothy 2:3-6, emp LS). Again, the Bible teaches, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" (II Peter 3:9, emp LS).
2) The grace of God is "Imputed" unto man. This doctrine of grace is the belief that God counts someone righteous that is not righteous by the life of Jesus Christ. The grace of God is said to be “imputed” to man without condition or regardless of conduct.
This is another false doctrine of grace. The Word of God teaches, "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (I John 2:3-6, emp LS). Also, we read from God’s Word, "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:7-8).
3) The grace of God is received through obedience to the conditions in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible teaches that we are saved by the grace of God only when we have faith in God and that faith is obedient to God's commands (Ephesians 2:8-10). More next time.
