 The More you reach out, the more error you will see ◦ Best defense, know what truth looks like

 Among the different forms of error is false views on Salvation By Grace. Extremes: ◦ Saved by WORKS  Penance, hail Mary’s…  “Put an extra $10 in the plate on Sunday”  “If anybody deserves heaven ________ does”

 Saved by grace ALONE ◦ Unconditionally ◦ Only if among the 144,000 (Jehovah’s Witnesses) ◦ Without any works  Ex: “Three of the watchwords of the revival of Biblical preaching known as the Reformation were: Sola Fide (Faith alone), Sola Gratia (Grace alone), and Sola Christi (Christ alone). These Latin terms describe God’s salvation plan in a nutshell--He has done it all, and we can claim no credit for ourselves. The result of this wonderful outpouring of His love is our salvation, and that results further in the fourth watchword: Soli Deo Gloria (The Glory to God alone). Saved By Grace, an article by Charles T Buntin, Baptist Minister

 Grace defined ◦ “Unmerited love and favor of God toward mankind” (Webster’s) ◦ A gift freely given to those undeserving, therefore, unmerited.

 Cannot be saved without it ◦ Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men” ◦ Rom 3:23-25 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed,”

◦ Works alone, apart from grace, cannot save us  Eph 2:8-10  However, if no works, everyone should be saved ◦ Titus 2:11 “the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men”.

 :2 Jericho given into their hand ◦ But---still standing ◦ :8-14 after 6 days---still standing ◦ :15 on 7 th day---still standing ◦ :16 after trumpets & Joshua’s announcement that they were given the city---still standing

 :20 They took the city ◦ Did they earn it? ◦ Did God force their victory on them? ◦ It was given to them by God, but under His conditions

 Some argue that it is not essential ◦ “One of the most nagging questions in Christianity is whether or not baptism is necessary for salvation. The answer is a simple, "No, water baptism is not necessary for salvation…you need to know what baptism is. It is a ceremony that represents an outward representation of an inward reality. For example, it represents the reality of the inward washing of Christ's blood upon the soul.” Is Baptism Essential For Salvation, an article by Matt Slick, president and founder of the Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry (CARM)

 But they never deny other works ◦ Repentance, confession, attendance, prayer, giving, observing the Lord’s supper, studying, visiting, winning souls for Christ ◦ Baptism is a necessary work as well  Mrk 16:15-16  Acts 2:38, baptized for the remission of sins, not because of

 Works do not “earn” us heaven ◦ Luke 17:10 “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.”

 If a man is trapped in a well and is rescued, did the rescuer save him? Yes ◦ Did the one saved do any work? Yes ◦ Did he “earn” his salvation? No ◦ He simply met the conditions of the offer

 Do we earn grace by fearing God and working righteousness? ◦ Acts 10:34-35 “Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him.”

 What conditions must be met? ◦ Hearing, Acts 20:32 ◦ Believing, Acts 16:31 ◦ Repenting, Act 17:30 ◦ Confessing Christ, Rom 10:9 ◦ Obedience, Heb 5:9 (Baptism, 1Pet 3:21) ◦ Continued obedience, Luke 6:46

 Is grace essential for salvation? Yes ◦ Even earthly gifts come with conditions. ◦ Meeting conditions does not equal earning God’s grace. ◦ Meet His conditions today.  Salvation is already yours, if you will take it.