Jim Parker
Member
- Apr 17, 2015
- 11,259
- 2,694
(IV) What is “grace”?
Greek: χάρις (charis)
A. A gift.
Salvation is a gift. We cannot earn salvation. The idea of earning salvation assumes that it is possible for someone to do sufficient good works to outweigh their evil works as if it were like having more cash than debt so that we could pay the debts and still have money left over.
Such a notion raises the question, how many good works does it take to “pay for” each evil work? This is a “salvation of the market place.” (“Buying a stairway to heaven”?) It assumes that good works have some intrinsic value which can be exchanged to cover the cost of bad works which will then be removed from our “account balance.” Of course there is no good answer to that question because the question is nonsense.
The idea of earning salvation also contains the concept that good works have merits and bad works have demerits. This is a juridical approach to salvation. It is the “salvation of the courtroom.” According to this idea, sufficient meritorious work will satisfy the demands of justice to have the charges against us dismissed and expunged from our record.
Both these notions miss the point. Receiving a gift is not about accumulating enough “spiritual cash” to buy it for yourself. A gift is something that is freely given. The greatest gifts are things which you could not possible purchase for yourself, like eternal life.
B. Gifts of the Spirit.
(Gr. Plural: χαρίσματα, “charismata”)
In 1 Cor 12, Paul describes the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are distributed among believers according to the will of the Holy Spirit.
These are enabling gifts. They have the purpose of enabling an individual to perform a function within the body of Christ. They are what Jesus told the disciples they would receive when the Holy Spirit came upon them; they would be empowered to be His witnesses to bring the Gospel to the world. (Acts 1:8)
C. The power to save; God’s power to grant eternal life.
1. Eternal life is a gift. In order to make that gift effective, Jesus had to have the power to destroy the power of death over mankind, which He did by His incarnation, death and resurrection as a man.
2. He also has to have the power to raise all mankind from the grave and to convert their mortal bodies to immortal and incorruptible bodies when He comes again.
3. He has the power to grant eternal life by uniting man to God in Christ.
John 1:14a (RSV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth;
Acts 6:8 (RSV) And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
D. Unmerited favor.
1. When God forgives sin, when He baptizes a believer in the Holy Spirit, when He raises mankind from the grave and when He gives eternal life, He does none of these things because anyone has earned the right to receive it. God does not owe anyone anything.
2. All that God does for the welfare of mankind is done because of His love for mankind. Because of His infinite love for mankind, He is gracious toward us and provides mankind with everything that is necessary for earthy and eternal life.
3. God is under no demand of justice or any demand of necessity to do anything. All that He does, he does graciously out of love.
(V) What is “faith”?
A. Greek: πίστις (pistis) Noun; “faith, faithfulness ”
Luk 18:8 (RSV)when the Son of man comes, will he find faith (pistis) on earth?"
Gal 5:22 (RSV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (pistis)
B. Greek:πιστός (pistos) Adjective; “faithful”
Mat 25:21 (RSV) Well done, good and faithful (pistos) servant;
C. Greek: πιστεύω (pisteuō) Verb; “to believe”; Adverb; “believing”
John 3:18a (RSV) He who believes in him(pisteuō) is not condemned; he who does not believe (pisteuō) is condemned already,
The Greek word which is translated “Believe” and “Faith” and “Faithfulness” are all forms of the word “pistis.” (πίστις)
What makes “belief” and “faith” effective for salvation is “faithfulness.” This is what James meant when he said that “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:17) and that faith alone will not save anyone unless it is combined with works. (Jas 2:24) He illustrated his point by reminding his readers that Abraham made his faith complete by his faithfulness when he obediently offered his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering sacrifice to God. So his faith was completed by his work. (Jas 2:22)
In the 11th chapter of Hebrews, the writer cites the saints of the Old Covenant as those who “received divine approval” because they demonstrated their faith by what they did.
Heb 11:1-2 (RSV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval.
Heb 11:4a (RSV)By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain
Heb 11:7a (RSV)By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark
Heb 11:8a (RSV)By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance;
To have faith in God is to believe and trust that what God says we should do is, in fact, exactly what we should do. Jesus commanded that we love one another. Our belief in Jesus is verified by our actions which demonstrate that we love one another as He commanded.
Paul tells us; “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,” (Col 3:12 RSV) Those are observable and countable behaviors, not inner attitudes. People can see when anyone acts compassionately. They can see acts of kindness. They can see that someone is humble and meek and patient. What they cannot see is what you think. Again, citing James, you cannot demonstrate you faith unless you take action based on faith. (Jas 2:18)
To believe without acting on our beliefs is simply agreeing with God that He is right and God doesn’t need our agreement. Jesus specifically told His followers to let people see their good works when He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16 RSV) If we believe Jesus, if we have faith in Jesus, if we are faithful to Jesus then that is what we will do.
Faith without faithfulness is a coin with only one side.
D. Legalism – I consistently hear the objection that anyone who teaches that we need to do good works to be saved is teaching “legalism.” That statement is based on confusing keeping the Law of Moses to be saved with obeying and imitating God.
Paul went to great lengths to make the point that no one will be saved by keeping the Law. In fact, anyone who tries is under a curse because even one misstep is a violation of the entire Law. (Gal 3:10) He also told believers to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Rom 13:14 RSV) That means to act like Christ; to imitate Christ who demonstrated God’s love for mankind in that He died for us while we were ungodly sinners. (Rom 5:5, 8 RSV) That requires developing a lifestyle defined by doing good works.
A life of imitation of God’s love, grace, patience, kindness, generosity, etc. is not “legalism.” It is the imitation of Christ. If we are God’s children then everything we do reflects on our Father so it behooves an alleged believer to confirm his faith by good works which glorify our Father I heaven.
If you love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15 RSV) Love is a choice. If we choose to love God who loves us beyond our ability to comprehend, then we will keep Jesus' commandments:
Love one another (John 13:34)
Shine you “good works” light (Mat 5:16)
Forgive (Mat 6:14-15)
Be merciful (Mat 5:10)
And many more…………
Greek: χάρις (charis)
A. A gift.
Salvation is a gift. We cannot earn salvation. The idea of earning salvation assumes that it is possible for someone to do sufficient good works to outweigh their evil works as if it were like having more cash than debt so that we could pay the debts and still have money left over.
Such a notion raises the question, how many good works does it take to “pay for” each evil work? This is a “salvation of the market place.” (“Buying a stairway to heaven”?) It assumes that good works have some intrinsic value which can be exchanged to cover the cost of bad works which will then be removed from our “account balance.” Of course there is no good answer to that question because the question is nonsense.
The idea of earning salvation also contains the concept that good works have merits and bad works have demerits. This is a juridical approach to salvation. It is the “salvation of the courtroom.” According to this idea, sufficient meritorious work will satisfy the demands of justice to have the charges against us dismissed and expunged from our record.
Both these notions miss the point. Receiving a gift is not about accumulating enough “spiritual cash” to buy it for yourself. A gift is something that is freely given. The greatest gifts are things which you could not possible purchase for yourself, like eternal life.
B. Gifts of the Spirit.
(Gr. Plural: χαρίσματα, “charismata”)
In 1 Cor 12, Paul describes the gifts of the Holy Spirit which are distributed among believers according to the will of the Holy Spirit.
These are enabling gifts. They have the purpose of enabling an individual to perform a function within the body of Christ. They are what Jesus told the disciples they would receive when the Holy Spirit came upon them; they would be empowered to be His witnesses to bring the Gospel to the world. (Acts 1:8)
C. The power to save; God’s power to grant eternal life.
1. Eternal life is a gift. In order to make that gift effective, Jesus had to have the power to destroy the power of death over mankind, which He did by His incarnation, death and resurrection as a man.
2. He also has to have the power to raise all mankind from the grave and to convert their mortal bodies to immortal and incorruptible bodies when He comes again.
3. He has the power to grant eternal life by uniting man to God in Christ.
John 1:14a (RSV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth;
Acts 6:8 (RSV) And Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people.
D. Unmerited favor.
1. When God forgives sin, when He baptizes a believer in the Holy Spirit, when He raises mankind from the grave and when He gives eternal life, He does none of these things because anyone has earned the right to receive it. God does not owe anyone anything.
2. All that God does for the welfare of mankind is done because of His love for mankind. Because of His infinite love for mankind, He is gracious toward us and provides mankind with everything that is necessary for earthy and eternal life.
3. God is under no demand of justice or any demand of necessity to do anything. All that He does, he does graciously out of love.
(V) What is “faith”?
A. Greek: πίστις (pistis) Noun; “faith, faithfulness ”
Luk 18:8 (RSV)when the Son of man comes, will he find faith (pistis) on earth?"
Gal 5:22 (RSV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (pistis)
B. Greek:πιστός (pistos) Adjective; “faithful”
Mat 25:21 (RSV) Well done, good and faithful (pistos) servant;
C. Greek: πιστεύω (pisteuō) Verb; “to believe”; Adverb; “believing”
John 3:18a (RSV) He who believes in him(pisteuō) is not condemned; he who does not believe (pisteuō) is condemned already,
The Greek word which is translated “Believe” and “Faith” and “Faithfulness” are all forms of the word “pistis.” (πίστις)
What makes “belief” and “faith” effective for salvation is “faithfulness.” This is what James meant when he said that “faith without works is dead” (Jas 2:17) and that faith alone will not save anyone unless it is combined with works. (Jas 2:24) He illustrated his point by reminding his readers that Abraham made his faith complete by his faithfulness when he obediently offered his son, Isaac, as a burnt offering sacrifice to God. So his faith was completed by his work. (Jas 2:22)
In the 11th chapter of Hebrews, the writer cites the saints of the Old Covenant as those who “received divine approval” because they demonstrated their faith by what they did.
Heb 11:1-2 (RSV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old received divine approval.
Heb 11:4a (RSV)By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain
Heb 11:7a (RSV)By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, took heed and constructed an ark
Heb 11:8a (RSV)By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance;
To have faith in God is to believe and trust that what God says we should do is, in fact, exactly what we should do. Jesus commanded that we love one another. Our belief in Jesus is verified by our actions which demonstrate that we love one another as He commanded.
Paul tells us; “Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, and patience,” (Col 3:12 RSV) Those are observable and countable behaviors, not inner attitudes. People can see when anyone acts compassionately. They can see acts of kindness. They can see that someone is humble and meek and patient. What they cannot see is what you think. Again, citing James, you cannot demonstrate you faith unless you take action based on faith. (Jas 2:18)
To believe without acting on our beliefs is simply agreeing with God that He is right and God doesn’t need our agreement. Jesus specifically told His followers to let people see their good works when He said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Mat 5:16 RSV) If we believe Jesus, if we have faith in Jesus, if we are faithful to Jesus then that is what we will do.
Faith without faithfulness is a coin with only one side.
D. Legalism – I consistently hear the objection that anyone who teaches that we need to do good works to be saved is teaching “legalism.” That statement is based on confusing keeping the Law of Moses to be saved with obeying and imitating God.
Paul went to great lengths to make the point that no one will be saved by keeping the Law. In fact, anyone who tries is under a curse because even one misstep is a violation of the entire Law. (Gal 3:10) He also told believers to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” (Rom 13:14 RSV) That means to act like Christ; to imitate Christ who demonstrated God’s love for mankind in that He died for us while we were ungodly sinners. (Rom 5:5, 8 RSV) That requires developing a lifestyle defined by doing good works.
A life of imitation of God’s love, grace, patience, kindness, generosity, etc. is not “legalism.” It is the imitation of Christ. If we are God’s children then everything we do reflects on our Father so it behooves an alleged believer to confirm his faith by good works which glorify our Father I heaven.
If you love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15 RSV) Love is a choice. If we choose to love God who loves us beyond our ability to comprehend, then we will keep Jesus' commandments:
Love one another (John 13:34)
Shine you “good works” light (Mat 5:16)
Forgive (Mat 6:14-15)
Be merciful (Mat 5:10)
And many more…………
Last edited:
2