Riff's Christian Journal

Ephesians 2:4-5 KJV

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved)

Salvation by Grace and the theology of election gp hand and hand. Paul and Peter taught them using the teachings of Jesus. John chapter six is an example of the what Jesus said and taught.

For the first 300 plus years of the early church were these teachings believed and taught. Then a theologian named Pelagius appeared on the scene and emphasized human choice in salvation and denied original sin and especially stressed the freedom of human will. Pelagius was accused of heresy in 415 and his doctrines were harshly criticized.(From Wikipedia) However, the seed of a specific Christian church was planted.

Whereas salvation by Grace, being born-again, happens not because one is born into a Christian family or by works of flesh nor by the will of man but by the will of God.

God’s foreknowledge of who will be saved is not based on who will choose to accept or reject Jesus of their own will. God through Paul in chapter 9 of Romans makes this perfectly clear..

Romans 9:11-16 KJV (in speaking about Jacob and Esau).

(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) [12] It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. [13] As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. [14] What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. [15] For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [16] So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

Nothing more needs said than what Paul wrote in these verses,.

Moving on…

The reason many Christians reject the doctrine of Salvation by Grace “Alone” is because it eliminates completely man’s participation in his being saved by his will and through self-effort; co-operating with God.

You see, man’s pride needs to be involved. For in doing “his” part, he feels he will be worthy to receive from God forgiveness for his sins and be born-again by the Spirit of God.

In other words … man does his part and God will reward him by doing His part. The problem with this teaching is that this is a works salvation; very much like being under the Law in obedience to God doing a work that God demanded of man, as found in the Old Covenant. In order to receive a blessing or see a promise come to fruition man must do his part before God will do His part.

Anything a person thinks, says or does in order to receive salvation from God is a work of man’s will, but Grace says something else.

In Titus 3:5-7 KJ

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy God saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Note: justified by Grace is the act of being made righteous when one is born-again. Saved by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit is a description of what happens when one, who is dead in sin, is born-again. In order for man, who is dead in sin, is able to respond in believing faith he first must be made alive; bon-again. “saved by Grace”.

It is by God “Alone”, who by Grace “Alone”, saves, “Alone”, apart from any works of man, irregardless of his desire to cooperate in his salvation. For salvation is all of God.

This is why Paul can write:

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you have been saved).

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