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    Focus on the Family addresses the use of biblical principles in parenting and marriage to strengthen the family.

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  • The Gospel of Jesus Christ

    Heard of "The Gospel"? Want to know more?

    There is salvation in no other, for there is not another name under heaven having been given among men, by which it behooves us to be saved."

Bible Study For By His Grace Ye Are Saved

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WalterandDebbie

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5-21-19, 5779, Iyar 15, 30th. Day of The Omer Count

Ephesians 2:1-22
Alive with Christ
1And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

One in Christ
11Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; 12That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: 13But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 18For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

A Temple in the Lord
19Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
 
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God...
One of the most difficult spiritual truths is that of justification by grace through faith. Even many Christians have a problem with this. It is totally beyond human logic to imagine that God -- who demands perfection in His sentient creatures -- gives the gift of eternal life to those who simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. How could it be possible that Abraham believed God and it was imputed or counted to him for righteousness? How can it be possible that a murderer (such as Saul the persecutor) believes the Gospel and is saved by grace through faith?

The answers are found in Romans chapter 5 and in the entire epistle to the Hebews. It was the perfect obedience and righteousness of Christ as well as His perfect finished work of redemption (at the cross and in His resurrection) that made the impossible possible.
 
One of the most difficult spiritual truths is that of justification by grace through faith. Even many Christians have a problem with this. It is totally beyond human logic to imagine that God -- who demands perfection in His sentient creatures -- gives the gift of eternal life to those who simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. How could it be possible that Abraham believed God and it was imputed or counted to him for righteousness? How can it be possible that a murderer (such as Saul the persecutor) believes the Gospel and is saved by grace through faith?

The answers are found in Romans chapter 5 and in the entire epistle to the Hebews. It was the perfect obedience and righteousness of Christ as well as His perfect finished work of redemption (at the cross and in His resurrection) that made the impossible possible.
Yeah! That we should follow his steps:
The Lord is Good

1Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Living Stone

(Isaiah 28:14-22; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15)



4To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, 5Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.


6Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.


7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,


8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.


9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.


11Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Submission to Authorities

(Romans 13:1-7)



13Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.


18Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

Christ's Example of Suffering

(Isaiah 53:1-8; Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; John 18:19-24)



21For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.
 
We don't have to take grace and put it under a microscope, analyze it and tear it apart to see how it works...........it just works. The best part is God's grace is a free gift we do not have to work for, try to earn, but to only humble ourselves before His throne as we only have to believe.

This is a great post as the scriptures alone explain it all. All we have to do is believe them.
 
How could it be possible that Abraham believed God and it was imputed or counted to him for righteousness?


Being credited with righteousness is not the same as being righteous.

Just as being given a credit card with credit in the account isn’t the same as actually having the money in your possession.

I think this is where most Christians miss the point.


The righteousness of faith comes through the action of obedience.


Which is why the bible says it was “fulfilled” that Abraham believed God, when he offered Isaac on the altar.


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. James 2:21-23

Justification by faith only comes by our obedience, which is why it’s called the obedience of faith and not the disobedience of faith.



JLB
 
Being credited with righteousness is not the same as being righteous
As far as God is concerned imputed righteousness means that God sees the saint who is in Christ being AS RIGHTEOUS AS CHRIST.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor 5:21)
So you have identified yourself as another Christian who has a hard time accepting justification by grace through faith.
The righteousness of faith comes through the action of obedience.
FALSE. This is called sanctification, not justification.

Abraham was justified in the eyes of God through faith, before he was seen as justified in the eyes of men through obedience.
 
As far as God is concerned imputed righteousness means that God sees the saint who is in Christ being AS RIGHTEOUS AS CHRIST.


Yes. Imputed righteousness is given to the one who obeys the Gospel.

We are given Jesus Christ Himself who dwells within us and empowers us to live according to His righteous life, rather than the way we did in the past.


Accounted or credited righteousness is what I commented on.




JLB
 
FALSE. This is called sanctification, not justification.

Abraham was justified in the eyes of God through faith, before he was seen as justified in the eyes of men through obedience.


Yes Abraham was justified by faith.

That’s what “by faith” means; God spoke to Abraham and Abraham obeyed.


That is the principle of faith.


Let’s look.


Here are the places in the Bible that refer to Abraham being justified “by faith”.


By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. Hebrews 11:8


This event foreshadowed the Gospel and how God would justify the Gentiles by faith.


And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.” So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham Galatians 3:8


This is called the obedience of faith.

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: Romans 16:26


The is the context of the entire book of Romans.


The Lord spoke to Abraham and told him to get out of his fathers house and go to the country where He would show him.


Abraham now has faith, because he heard God.


Abraham was justified (declared to be righteous) in the eyes of God, because he obeyed the call of God to turn away from his old life and follow the Lord.



The next time Abraham was justified was when he obeyed God to offer his son Isaac on the altar.


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:21



At so it is with us when we hear the Gospel.


We obeyed it through the Spirit and are cleansed of our past sins, in which we are declared to be righteous.



JLB
 
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IMPUTED = ACCOUNTED = CREDITED.
For clarification please see Romans 4.


Yes same thing.


Abraham was declared to be righteous by faith when he obeyed God and became circumcised.


And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, Romans 4:12


When we obey the Gospel, and repent, we are circumcised in our heart, of the Spirit.


For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
Romans 2:28-29





JLB
 
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