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Author
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Topic: Assurance of salvation.
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epouraniois
unregistered
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posted
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
There can be but one result of a heart belief in inspired Scripture, viz., unconditional and hearty obedience. To those who believe that ‘God hath spoken’, no argument can be advanced that will excuse disobedience.
‘And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ’.
The meaning of these words will be better appreciated by noting the following paraphrase, which seeks to introduce the shades of meaning latent in the original:
‘Because out of His fulness have all we received, even the grace of New Testament realities, instead of the grace of types and shadows. For the law, with its types, was given through Moses as the channel, but true grace, the antitypical blessings of the gospel, came into being through Jesus Christ as the Creator’.
It will be seen that by this change of dispensation we pass from the grace set forth in types to the true grace of Christ. The epistle to the Hebrews recognises this position. There we read, ‘The law made nothing perfect’ (7:19). Its priests were sinners themselves, and were all subject to death; its sacrifices never took away sin, nor touched the
conscience. God Himself found fault with the Old Covenant, and Christ’s coming and work set it entirely aside. (For this, see Hebrews 7:11,21-28; 8:1-5,7-13; 9:1-14; 10:1-14; also Galatians 5:4, ‘Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace’).
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.
2Ti 2:20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor.
2Ti 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
We speak of Doctrine and Practice, and now point out that whereas Ephesians 1 to 3 contains seven sections devoted to doctrinal truth, Ephesians 4 to 6 contains seven corresponding sections devoted to practical truth; but if we imagine it to be possible to receive, believe and enjoy the revelation of the doctrinal section while ignoring the practical teaching of the corresponding section, we are in grievous error.
The doctrine cannot be divorced from its divinely described goal, namely, 'that we should be holy and without blame'. So also the revelation contained in Ephesians 1:15-23 presupposes the enlightenment of the eyes: 'the eyes of your understanding having been enlightened' (1:18, perfect, passive participle). The fact that salvation is by grace, through faith, and not of works, is not to be separated from the equally emphasized fact that it is nevertheless 'unto good works' (Eph. 2:8-10). The doctrine of Ephesians 1 to 3 and the practice of Ephesians 4 to 6 make one undivided whole, and any attempt to explain the one without the other is vain and must end in confusion. Practice necessitiates the doctrine (istruction) having been received with acknowledgments, all readiness of mind, and belief. In John's Gospel the Saviour has given one or two words that point in this direction:
'If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine' (John 7:17).
'Will do', is the simple future, but this is not what the original says. The Revised Version is correct and reads: 'If any man willeth to do His will', showing that the 'will' of the person is involved. The same care is called for in translating John 5:40, where the Authorized Version reads: 'Ye will not come to Me', which is given a force nearer to that of the original if made to read, 'Ye are not willing to come to Me'. Other examples of the truth that 'will to do' precedes knowledge of doctrine can easily be found.
'If ye continue in My word, then are ye My disciples indeed' (John 8:31).
This word 'continue' is the translation of meno, a key word of John's Gospel, mostly translated 'abide' (see 8:35). So John 15:9 says 'continue ye in My love', but John 15:10 says, 'Ye shall abide in My love'. While a different word is used in John 8:44, there appears to be a reference to the danger of the negative side of this truth, for it says of the devil that he 'abode not in the truth'.
First then we have 'the will to do', followed by the taking up of a permanent abode, making the word of the Lord our dwelling-place, our atmosphere, our environment: 'Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free' (John 8:32). Here the knowledge of the truth which flows out of this abiding, leads to liberty, and makes free . While the truth is necessarily expressed in language, a knowledge of grammar is essential to its interpretation, yet nothing is said of grammar, of the laws of interpretation, of literary ability: what is stressed is consistent, corresponding practice.
Eph 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation (calling)wherewith ye are called
(...)
Eph 4:3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
(...)
Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
(...)
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Eph 4:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
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shadowmaker
Advanced Member
Member # 3696
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posted
Dont know if you re implying you have to work your way into heaven, bc that isnt so. Its a free gift, not one you have to work to get.
Posts: 272 | Registered: Jul 2004
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helpforhomeschoolers
Advanced Member
Member # 15
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posted
quote:
But for us under Grace, faith is precipitating the work of the Holy Spirit and that’s where the difference comes in.
I like that word precipitating. Faith without works is still dead under grace because if the Holy Spirit be dwelling in you, it is impossible that He not be preciptating some manner of fruit out of you.
Posts: 4684 | From: Southern Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: Jun 2002
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Kindgo
Advanced Member
Member # 2
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posted
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"
Well, under the Law it would be. But for us under Grace, faith is precipitating the work of the Holy Spirit and that’s where the difference comes in.
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God bless,
Kindgo
Inside the will of God there is no failure. Outside the will of God there is no success.
Posts: 4320 | From: Sunny Florida | Registered: Jun 2002
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Bloodbought
Advanced Member
Member # 4365
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posted
There are many who say, “I know Christ as my personal Saviour,” and are quite confident that Christ has saved them, but there is no evidence that they are born-again.
They trust Christ to keep them out of hell, while they live like the world.
Are they saved? Can one claim to have received salvation without evidence of it?
How can one be sure that they are truly saved?
Let us consider the following scripture.
1 John 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
The man in verse 4 is the empty professor who says, “I know Christ as my personal Saviour.” He has a head, but not a heart knowledge of Him. He boasts that he is resting on Christ’s finished work, and is confident that he is saved: but does not keep His commandments. He lives for his own pleasure.
In verse 5 it is the genuine Christian who is in view. He does not say, “I know Him,” instead, he proves it. Christ is not presented here as the Object of faith, but we are told that if one keeps His word, this is evidence that he has savingly fled to the Lord for refuge, and knows that he is in Christ by the effects produced.
A simple faith in Christ that does not produce works is not sufficient to save a soul for time and eternity. There must be faith in Christ, but faith must be accompanied by repentance. When one receives the gift of repentance and faith, he will repent and believe and know he is in Christ by his desire to keep His commandments.
Faith without works is dead, James 2:20.
Your views on assurance of salvation would be appreciated.
Posts: 822 | From: Ireland | Registered: Feb 2005
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