HOW ARE WE SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH?

LET'S EXAMINE THE CALVINISTIC VIEW THEY HAVE AN ALMOST IRRATIONAL FEAR OF WORKS DUE TO A WRONG DEFINTION OF FAITH. TO THEM, MAN IS TOTALLY CORRUPT AND UNABLE TO “DO” ANY GOOD.

THEREFORE, THEY CANNOT ACCEPT THAT FAITH INVOLVES SOMETHING MAN “DOES” SINCE TO CALVINISTS THAT WOULD MAKE FAITH A “WORK”; THEY BELIEVE FAITH MUST BE A “GIFT” FROM GOD. WITH THIS STATE OF MIND ABOUT MAN'S INABILITY TO DO ANYTHING, THEY REJECT ALL ACTION ON THE PART OF MAN AS BEING OF NO VALUE IN GOD'S PLAN OF REDEMPTION.

CALVINISTIC “IRRESISTABLE GRACE” 1. FAITH IS GIVEN TO THE ELECT SINNER BY A DIRECT OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. “ THE HOLY SPIRIT, IN ORDER TO BRING GOD'S ELECT TO SALVATION, EXTENDS TO THEM A SPECIAL INWARD CALL IN ADDITION TO THE OUTWARD CALL CONTAINED IN THE GOSPEL MESSAGE. THROUGH THIS SPECIAL CALL THE HOLY SPIRIT PERFORMS A WORK OF GRACE WITHIN THE SINNER WHICH INEVITABLY BRINGS HIM TO FAITH IN CHRIST. THE INWARD CHANGE WROUGH IN THE ELECT SINNER ENABLES HIM TO UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE SPIRITUAL TRUTH; IN THE SPIRITUAL REALM HE IS GIVEN THE SEING EYE AND THE HEARING EAR. THE SPIRIT CREATES WITHIN HIM A NEW HEART AND A NEW NATURE” (FIVE POINTS OF CALVINISM, STEELE AND THOMAS, PRESBYTERIAN AND REFORMED PUBLISHING CO, PG 48)

CALVINISTIC “IRRESISTABLE GRACE” PT2 2. THE SPIRIT NEVER FAILS TO BRING THE ELECT TO CONVERSION “ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL OUTWARD CALL OF THE GOSPEL CAN BE, AND OFTEN IS, REJECTED, THE SPECIAL INWARD CALL OF THE SPIRIT NEVER FAILS TO RESULT IN THE CONVERSION OF THOSE TO WHOM IT IS MADE. THIS SPECIAL CALL IS NOT MADE TO ALL SINNERS BUT TO THE ELECT ONLY! THE SPIRIT IS IN NO WAY DEPENDENT ON THEIR HELP OR COOPERATION FOR SUCCESS IN HIS WORK OF BRINGING THEM TO CHRIST. IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT CALVINISTS SPEAK OF THE SPIRIT'S CALL AND OF GOD'S GRACE IN SAVING SINNERS AS'EFFICACIOUS','INVINCIBLE', AND 'IRRESISTIBLE'. FOR THE GRACE THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT EXTENDS TO THE ELECT CANNOT BE THWARTED OR REFUSED, IT NEVER FAILS TO BRING THEM TO TRUE FAITH IN CHRIST.” (IBID, PG 49)

SALVATION IS BY GRACE, BUT NOT BY GRACE “ONLY” 1. SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD EPH 2: 8-9 A. ISA 59:1-2 - SIN SEPARATES B. EZE 18:20, ROM 6:23 – DEATH IS DESERVED C. ROM 3: 23-26, 5: 6-11 – BY GRACE GOD GAVE HIS SON TO DIE FOR US. 2. SALVATION, HOWEVER, IS NOT BY GRACE “ONLY”! IF IT WERE, ALL MEN WOULD BE SAVED A. TITUS 2: – GRACE APPEARS TO ALL 1. 1 TIM 2:4-6 – GOD WANTS ALL TO BE SAVED AND CHRIST DIED FOR ALL. 2. IF SALVATION DEPENDS SOLELY ON GOD'S GRACE ALL WOULD BE SAVED ROM 2:11; ACTS 10: 34-35

BUT, EVERYONE WILL NOT BE SAVED MATT 7: WHAT, THEN, IS THE NECESSARY CONCLUSION? MAN'S OWN ACTIONS MUST BE INVOLVED IN WHETHER ONE IS SAVED OR LOST. GOD HAS DONE HIS PART (GRACE) EQUALLY FOR ALL.

3. GOD PURPOSED SALVATION TO BE BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST A. ROMANS 5:15 – CHRIST IS THE MEANS OF SALVATION EXAMINE 2 TIM 1: 9-10 “PURPOSE” “GRACE” “CHRIST” (CONTRASTED WITH) “OUR WORKS”

B. FORGIVNESS IS WHAT? THE OPERATION OF GOD'S GRACE THROUGH CHRIST 1. EPH 1:7 – WE HAVE FORGIVENESS THROUGH HIS BLOOD 2. 2 COR 5:21 – CHRIST DIED IN OUR STEAD C. WHAT IS THE CONDITION OF SALVATION BY GRACE ? OBEDIENT FAITH 1. “FAITH” IS WHAT SEPARATES THE SAVED FROM THE LOST EPH 2: THE WILL OF MAN IS INVOLVED IN HIS OWN SALVATION

GOD WANTS ALL TO BE SAVED, BUT HE FORCES NONE TO BELIEVE. EACH MUST CHOOSE WHETHER TO ACCEPT GOD'S CONDITION (FAITH) IN GOD'S MEANS (CHRIST) TO OBTAIN GOD'S OPERATION (FORGIVNESS )

SALVATION IS BY FAITH, BUT NOT BY FAITH “ONLY” 1. SAVING FAITH OBEYS THE COMMANDMENTS (WORKS) OF GOD A. ROM 10:17 – FAITH COMES BY HEARING B. 2 COR 5:7 – WALKING “BY FAITH” MEANS WALKING BY WORKS “WHICH GOD PREPARED BEFORE HAND THAT WE SHOULD WALK.” EPH 2:10 C. OBEYING “THAT FORM OF TEACHING TO WHICH YOU WERE COMMITTED” ROM 6: DOES NOT NULLIFY GRACE, BUT RATHER THIS IS GOD'S CONDITION BY WHICH WE BECOME THE “SERVANTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

IN THIS AUTHOR'S OPINION THE GREATEST AMOUNT OF CONFUSION IS AS A RESULT OF THE MEANING OF “WORKS”

WHEN WE DON'T MAKE A DISTINCTION BETWEEN MERITORIOUS WORKS (WHICH MAKE FAITH VOID) AND WORKS OF GOD (OBEDIENCE WHICH MAKES FAITH COMPLETE), CONFUSION AND MISUNDERSTANDING IS THE RESULT.

WORKS WHICH CANNOT SAVE 1. WORKS OF THE LAW OF MOSES ROM 3:28; GAL 3: (THE LAW DEMANDS PERFECTION AND NO MAN IS PERFECT) 2. WORKS OF MAN'S RIGHTEOUSNESS - ROM 10: 1-3 WHAT IS MEANT BY THAT? THIS IS WHERE MEN ACT WITHOUT BIBLE AUTHORITY. 2 COR 5:7 – WALK BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT MATT 7: “NOT EVERYONE WHO...” MATT 15:7-9 - “ YOU HYPOCRITES...” GAL 1: “I AM AMAZED THAT YOU..”

3.WORKS OF FAITH – EPH 2:10 – (WORKS WHICH GOD HAS PREPARED BEFOREHAND) DO NOT NULLIFY GRACE BUT ARE ACTS OF OBEDIENCE WHICH PERFECT OUR FAITH (JAMES 2:22) AND FULFILL GOD'S SCHEME OF SALVATION BY GRACE.

2. WHAT IS GOD'S CONDITION FOR SALVATION? OBEDIENCE OF FAITH ROM 1:5 A. ROM 1;16-17 – GOSPEL IS WORD OF HIS GRACE B. WHAT DOES GRACE DO? TITUS 2: IT TEACHES US TO OBEY GOD'S RIGHTEOUSNESS. 2. IS SALVATION BY PERFECT LAW KEEPING? NO! THE LAW OF MOSES PROVED THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN PHIL 3:9 3. GAL 5:6 – FAITH WHICH WORKETH BY LOVE WILL NOT REFUSE TO OBEY ANY COMMANDMENT.

MAN'S RESPONSE OF FAITH IS GOD'S CONDITION UPON WHICH HE SAVES BY GRACE ROM 4:16

SALVATION BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH HEB 11:7 – NOAH PREPARED AN ARK (GOD'S GRACE – MAN'S FAITH) HEB 11:8 -ABRAHAM OBEYED AND WENT OUT (GOD'S GRACE-MAN'S FAITH) HEB 11:29 – ISRAEL PASSES THROUGH THE SEA (GOD'S GRACE- MAN'S FAITH) 2 KINGS 5 – NAAMAN DIPPED 7 TIMES (GOD'S GRACE-MAN'S FAITH) MK 16: – BAPTISM IN WATER, IN CHRIST (GOD'S GRACE-MAN'S FAITH)

4. FAITH COMES BY HEARING THE WORD OF GOD AND IS NOT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 1. WHAT IS THE HOLY SPIRIT'S INFLUENCE ? THE REVEALED WORD! A. TRUE IN THE O.T. - 2 SAM 23:2 DAVID SAID “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SPOKE BY ME..” B. 2 PET 1:21 – HOLY MEN SPAKE AS MOVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT 2. TRUE IN THE N.T. A. EPH 3: 3-5 – REVEALED BY THE SPIRIT JOHN 16:13 B. THE SPIRIT'S WORDS, NOT MAN'S 1 COR 2:11-13

THE BIBLE SAYS NOTHING ABOUT A SPECIAL INWARD CALL ON THE ELECT SINNER! 1. CALLED BY THE GOSPEL – 2 THESS 2:14 2. SINNERS ARE DRAWN AS THEY ARE TAUGHT. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? BY HEARING AND LEARNING AND OBEYING JOHN 6: EVERY EXAMPLE OF CONVERSION IN THE BOOK OF ACTS OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE GOSPEL BEING PREACHED ACTS 8:5, 35; 9:6, 10:33; 16:32

WHATEVER THE HOLY SPIRIT IS SAID TO DO RELATIVE TO THE CONVICTION AND CONVERSION OF SINNERS IS ASCRIBED TO THE WORD OF GOD. THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST IS THE INSTRUMENT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT'S OPERATION!

EXAMPLES 1. SPIRIT – JOHN 3:5 ACTION – BORN AGAIN WORD OF GOD – 1 PET 1: SPIRIT – EPH 3: ACTION – FILLED WORD OF GOD – COL 3:16 3. SPIRIT – 2 THESS 2: ACTION- SANCTIFY WORD OF GOD – EPH 5:26

5. ALL WHO DESIRE TO KNOW THE GOSPEL CAN READ AND UNDERSTAND IT JOHN 7:17; EPH 3: 3-5 A. ROM 8:14- THOSE “LED BY THE SPIRIT” 1 THESS 2:13 B. WHAT ABOUT THE “NATURAL MAN”? 1 COR 2:14 – REFUSES TO BE GUIDED BY REVELATION 1. DISCOURSE BEGINS IN 1 COR I:17FF C. WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO RECEIVE THE GOSPEL AS THE WORD OF GOD? 1 COR 2:5 1. TO THEM THE WORDS ARE FROM GOD, NOT MAN 1 THESS 2:13; EPH 3 2. “WE” OR “US” IN 1 COR 2 – APOSTLES AND PROPHETS

WHAT ABOUT THE CALVINISTIC DOCTRINE OF TRUTH BY AN “INNER LIGHT”? THOSE WHO SAY SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT IS RECEIVING THE TRUTH THROUGH A MYSTICAL WAY VIA AN “INNER LIGHT” MAKE MAN THE FINAL STANDARD. IN REALITY, THIS “FEELING” MAKES THEM A “NATURAL MAN” - 1 COR 2:14

THOSE LED BY THE SPIRIT BELIEVE THE WORDS ARE INSPIRED 1 THESS 2:13 SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES ACTS 17:11 RECEIVE AND OBEY ACTS 2:41 FAITH STANDS IN POWER OF GOD 1 COR 2:5 THEREFORE: “READ” AND “UNDERSTAND”

THE “NATURAL MAN” CONSIDERS WORD AS FOOLISHNESS 1 COR 1: NEEDS PROOF FROM HUMAN RESOURCES 1: GLORIES IN MAN'S WISDOM 1:29 THEREFORE: FOLLOW SUBJECTIVE FEELINGS

CONCLUSION NO ONE IN THE APOSTOLIC AGE EVER RECEIVED A DIRECT OPERATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN ORDER TO MAKE HIM A CHRISTIAN. ALL WERE SAVED BY GACE THROUGH FAITH IN THE SAME MANNER WE CAN BE SAVED TODAY. GOD WANTS NONE TO PERISH BUT THE CHOICE IS OURS TO MAKE. WHOSOEVER WILL CAN BE SAVED, BUT ALL WHO “OBEY NOT THE GOSPEL” WILL BE LOST.