Ephesians 2:7,8 Who Wears the Crown?

How Many Religions are There in the World? Counting only those that invoke a God… Two

What are these Two Religions? The First --- which has many variations on a theme --- is a Religion of Works The Second is Biblical Christianity that Centers on Ephesians 2:7,8 --- Salvation by Grace Alone

Many Christian Churches Teach… A Salvation by Works Gospel --- without Knowing it --- this does not make them “non-Christian” --- but it does make them unbiblical in this regard

The First Religion… The Religion of Works… If you will do “such and such”, God will graciously bestow His blessing upon you

Many Versions of One Religion… The hundred and one varieties of this religion differ only on… what the "such and such" is that you must be willing to do

The “Such and Such” For the Non-Christian Religions of Works… the “such and such” entails external actions and obedience … examples include --- Islam, Judaism, Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses

Each Version of This Religion Teaches the Same Thing… (1)God's forgiveness is possible IF..... (2) God's forgiveness is possible if YOU... (3)God's forgiveness is possible if you WILL...

This Religion is Always… Jesus + [something that you do] = Salvation the determining factor in this equation is… you [and what you add or do not add]

Attributes of this Religion… The ultimate success or failure of this religion is determined solely by the will of man... Everything depends on an "if," and on "you," and on "your willingness" to do your part. Redemption is always conditional since it depends on man's cooperation for success.

Attributes of this Religion… The great work of salvation is not actually accomplished until God can find someone who is willing to "cooperate with Him." This religion offers a wonderful plan of salvation that is able to do mighty things… if you will only let it.

There are Christian Churches that Fall into this Works Religion as Well… Churches that teach that men have a “Free Will” and can act outside of God’s Exhaustive Sovereignty… are also teaching a Works-based Gospel

Attributes of this Religion… The God of this free-will religion can only desire and offer to save sinners He is helpless to secure, by His own power, what He longs to do The goal of redemption cannot be reached unless man, of his own free will, chooses to permit God to accomplish His purposes.

This Free-Will Religion of Works is Always… Jesus + [Faith you Generate in your “free Will”] = Salvation the determining factor in this equation is… you [and whether you add or do not add faith]

The Fallacy of This Religion.. It makes God out to be a Contingent Being It teaches that God wants something… but can be denied that something… It makes the Death of Christ on the Cross Impotent…

If this Free-Will Religion were actually True… Then Christ’s Work on the Cross Saves No One… It merely makes Salvation Possible --- but we must add the Work of Belief in order to be saved

If this Free-Will Religion were actually True… Christ’s Work on the Cross would be Necessary… but not Sufficient to Save Our Free-Will Work of Belief would also be Necessary… and also not Sufficient to Save

If this Free-Will Religion were actually True… Salvation then would be a Joint Effort --- Christ's Work on the Cross + Our Work of Free-Will Belief This is Called Synergism

But this Free-Will Religion is Not True--- Why? God’s Will Cannot be Thwarted… He is not a Contingent Being Faith is not Generated by a Person’s Will (in their own Power) --- this is not Possible for one who is Spiritually Dead… Faith is a Gift from God…

This Gift Is NOT… Like a present… it is not something that we can Accept or Deny…

The Spiritually Dead Cannot Accept… We do not have that Ability… and even if we could Accept (which we cannot) then, if we did accept… it would be a work…

This Free-Will Religion of Works is Always… Jesus + [The Gift you Accept in your “free Will”] = Salvation the determining factor in this equation is… you [and whether you accept or do not accept the Gift]

This Gift is Not Like a Present… It is not offered to be accepted or denied… it is like a Birth --- a New Birth Given onto us…

If We Could… Generate faith on our own… we would be performing a work… and thus salvation would be based upon human work… and we would be able to Boast

If We Could… Accept the “gift” or reject it (in our own power)… and accepted the “gift” we would be performing a work… and thus salvation would be based upon human work… and we would be able to Boast