Salvation by Faith Alone?

[francisdesales]

Your question was how do we know if we have enough faith to save us..?

We all are given the same measure of faith: Romans 12:3
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."

We all have A measure of faith, not hte SAME measure of faith... Everyday experience bears that out, even in ourselves.

God gave this understanding to Paul through grace; that every man should think a certain way of himself.. (not proud), so if we don't become proud through the faith given to us, we can know for certain that faith is not destroyed.

We know faith is not destroyed as we obey the Commandments, for the Bible gives THIS as the sign of God's presence within us. It is in this respect that good deeds are necessary - for without deeds of love, it is obvious that God does not dwell/abide in us. If we don't have the Son of God abiding in us, we don't have eternal life...

All the faith to move mountains is nothing without Love.

Regards

 

[chestertonrules]

Your question was how do we know if we have enough faith to save us..?

We all are given the same measure of faith: Romans 12:3
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."


God gave this understanding to Paul through grace; that every man should think a certain way of himself.. (not proud), so if we don't become proud through the faith given to us, we can know for certain that faith is not destroyed.

Also, John 1:9 "That was the true Light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."

God hasn't left anyone without.

Great point. Here's another verse that is applicable:

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

 

[stranger]

PING-- to look for the most credible argument for faith alone.

 

[glorydaz]

You're confusing salvation with sanctification.
A person isn't saved because they profess to be saved.
A person isn't saved unless they've been born of the Spirit...then they are saved for all eternity.

As I said, you are mistaken, and this is tripping you up about "not losing my salvation".

The Bible speaks about "save" (Gr. sozo) in different tenses. You ignore this.

1. There is no other salvation through anyone else, nor is there any other name under heaven given to the human race by which we are to be SAVED. Acts 4:12.

This refers to the past event of Jesus on the cross that has redeemed ALL of humanity.

2. {the experience of Noah and the flood}...prefigured bapatism, which SAVES you NOW. 1 Peter 3:21
Through {the Gospel} you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain 1 Cor 15:2

These refer to those who have been baptized, "clothed in Christ", and are able to share in the fruits of this past redemptive act that I describe in #1, the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. As Romans 6 says, BY BAPTISM, we are joined to this saving act, made available to ALL men by Christ's work.

3. Whoever endures to the end will be saved Mat 10:22
the one who perseveres to the end will be saved Mark 13:13

Being saved is also described as a future event that will be experienced ONLY by those found faithful TO Jesus Christ at the end of their lives. Scriptures definitively teach that salvation will be LOST if a Christian is not found faithful to the Way at the end of their lives - as they stand before judgment. NO ONE who has commited acts of unrepented adultery, theft, (see 1 Cor 6:9-10 for a longer list) shall ENTER the Kingdom.

Professing faith IN Jesus is the FIRST step in the adult's journey of salvation. We must cooperate with God's free gift until the day we die. Those who do not persevere in their faith will not be saved (Mark 13:13; Mat 10:22; Phil 2:12-13; Heb 3:14; 1 Cor 9:27; 10:12; 2 Tim 2:12; 1 Tim 1:18-19; Rom 11:22, etc....)

A person is born from above at Baptism. One doesn't have to constantly PROVE that they were born from above by being perfect...

Regards

Acts 4 says how we are to be saved...we're saved when we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We're saved from our enemies, and we're "saved alive". Not every time you see the word saved in the Bible is it referring to eternal salvation of our souls.

But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.

That list of verses looks very impressive, but they do not speak of losing our eternal salvation.

And he saved them from the hand of him that hated them, and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.

What's this "clothed in Christ"? You certainly objected when I spoke of being "covered".

No, when a person has been born of the Spirit, they are under the Law of the Spirit of Life. They will not lose their salvation and their sins...all of them, have been forgiven. We enter into eternal life when we become sons of God. We are chastened but not forsaken when we fail to obey. That list of verses looks very impressive, but they do not speak of losing our eternal salvation. We're saved through all kinds of adversities and trials...we're saved from our enemies, etc.

 

[Adullam]

We are saved through faith AND faithfulness. Both of these aspects are implied in both the Greek word pistis and the Hebrew word emounah.

 

[stranger]

Obviously people mean different things by 'salvation'. I agree that salvation is a process - in response to Jesus words 'it is finished' - His work on the cross was completed - others took Him down and buried Him -- then followed the resurrection /glorification

When the Lord said ' it is finished' some appear to think that this is 'salvation completed' but while a dead Christ paid the wages of sin for us- without the resurrection 'we are left the most miserable of all men.' So without resurrection salvation is not complete. The same is true of glorification. Inclusive of the term 'salvation' is the salvation of the created order - the new heavens and the new earth.