How God saves people? God initiates salvation. People of God respond to it. And God activates it. Or, we may say: God convicts people of their sins. His people repent and cry out to God. God cleans them from all their unrighteousness, which is the cause for sin, so that they do not sin again. Then he forgives their past sins. Thus God saves his people from their sins or from their sinning. As they are saved from their sins, there is no need for the punishment for their sins, which is hell and the lake of fire. So, now they are saved from hell and the lake of fire as well.
A person is saved by twofold works. One, the Omnipotent Lord God helps sinners to come out of sin that is, God saves them from sin. Two, sinners who trust God obey him and they come out of their sins. If God does not save, it will not happen. If the person does not obey God, it will not happen. A person get saved is the work of God as well as the believer. Most Christians love sins so much that they have become one with it. Satan helps them to stay in sin by false gospel with false preachers.
Satan's gospel tells that they are saved from the punishment for sins while they are committing sins because of the cross of Jesus, as if Jesus Christ died on the cross so that they may enjoy sin without fear. Satan was able to deceive Eve to disobey God because of her desire to eat the fruit. Satan still is able to deceive most Christians because of their love to commit sin. Satan teaches Christians to say that they are saved when they are not saved. They think it is faith, but it is a lie. "2 Co 11:14 ... Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness whose end shall be according to their works." God saves his people who obey him and he does not save the rest.
The well known meaning of grace is false and it is the following:- Grace is a special privilege given to Christian believers to enjoy the world in full with its sins without forfeiting the kingdom of heaven in its fullness. Grace counts all the righteousness of Jesus Christ to believers and it counts all unrighteousness and ungodliness of believers to Jesus Christ. It is a smart exchange. Faith is just to believe this lie. It amounts to that Jesus died on the cross so that Christians may enjoy the world with its sins in its fullness. It does not make any sense. They think that through this faith and grace God can be made blind so that he can not see their sins. And they think that they not only escape hell, but also inherit heaven. However, the source of this preaching is Satan and it is deception. Grace is neither a license to commit sin, nor a free ticket to heaven.
“By grace ye are saved” is a famous quotation. This phrase is explained as God has quickened who were dead. Quickened means resurrected to life. Living in sin is as dead according to God. That is, living without sin is resurrected (quickened) life. This is explained in the following verses. "Eph 2:1 ... you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins: ... 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" This principle of God is explained from the life of believers. "Eph 2 Wherein 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: 3 Among 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." Their past life was of disobedience and sin. Now, they are converted to obedience to God. It is referred as saved. Whatever God has given them to bring this conversion is called grace. Grace consists of the doctrine of God, his power, his presence and abiding.
The same incident is repeated in a little different way also. "Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." We saw what grace is. Let us see what faith is. If you have time to read you may read the following article: www.abideinchrist.info/faith.html. Faith is not to believe that God will do what we want him to do. It is rather to believe God is God and we must do what he wants us to do in order to obtain his favor. Through our faith and by God's grace, we are saved. God also has a done work in us so that we may walk in his ways. "Ezek 36:25 Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. 26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. 2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 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." So, if we do not walk in the way of his righteousness, it is proof that God has not done any work in us and so we are not saved. That is, grace was not even given to us.
Let us see what grace will do to a person. "1 Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." We must notice two points in this verse. (1). Grace converts a person from being an arrogant religious person to an obedient servant to the Lord Jesus Christ. (2). Grace makes a person labor abundantly, if not grace is in vain. That is, grace not only converts a person to godliness but also works diligently through him/her. That is, if a person is neither converted and nor do works, it is evident that he/she was not given grace.
Paul says in verse 21 that he does not frustrate the grace of God. How did he
not frustrate grace? Let us see the verse in its context.
"Gal
2:19
For
I through the law
am dead to the law,
that I might live unto God.
20
I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me:
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of
God, who loved me, and gave himself
for me.
21
I do not frustrate the grace of God:
for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
Verse 19 tells about two laws, one pertains to righteous liivng and other pertains
to ordinances. God gave both of them.
"Luke
1:6
... they were both righteous
before God, walking in all the
commandments
and
ordinances
of the Lord blameless."
But later Jesus Christ repealed the law of ordinances, rituals, etc. "Gal
6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. Eph
2:15
Having abolished in his flesh ... , even the
law of
commandments contained in ordinances..."
So, Paul obeyed the law of righteousness and became dead to the law of
ordinances.
God created all that is in existence. That is, he has created small insects as tics as well as elephants, whales, etc. His workmanship always is great. He has created grass as well as big trees. He has created small planets, moon, sun, as well as big stars that are several times bigger than the sun. He has created air, water, space, vacuum, etc. He has also created the invisible souls, spirits, angels, etc. They shows his marvelous workmanship. It is strange that he has created thrones, dominions, principalities, powers, etc. That is, without him nothing is done, even administrations in the world. Most of all, God creates new hearts, writes his commandments in them, and gives them that obey him so that they do his commandments by nature. "Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more." They are converted to new creatures by his special workmanship. They are of the Spirit and are righteous holy people. They will inherit God's kingdom and dwell in the glorious heaven with God himself.
God’s grace and workmanship are interlinked and they are almost synonyms. God's people have enough faith to obey God. So, God gives them grace and grace saves them. "Eph 2:8 ... by grace are ye saved through faith;" At the same time, God's people are his workmanship. That is, he does a work in them so that they may do good works instead of sinful works. It is same as being saved. "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."
Grace is the doctrine of God that reveals God's mysteries. Grace is the power of God that converts a person. Grace is the presence of God that abides in a person. Grace overcomes sin. But, Grace is neither a permission slip to sin nor a free ticket to heaven.
God does not just give grace to a person and disappear. Instead, he also works with the person and in the person to bring conversion. That is why, a man of God is the workmanship of God. "Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
Grace is the person Jesus Christ who gave himself not only to teach godliness but also to purify us. "Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 ... our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." Grace is the workmanship of the Lord Jesus Christ that turns us away from all sins.
In order to receive his grace we must humble ourselves. "James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." Usually we say and think we are humble. So, God points out a few things for us to know whether we really are humble. "7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." First, submit (obey without questioning) yourself to God’s every command. Resist Satan with all his deceptions. "8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded." Let us draw closer to God, quit sin and clean ourselves. "9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness." Expect afflictions for the cause of Christ. If we do these then we are humble and God has already started to do his work in us. "10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up." If we do not do these then we are not humble and we do not have God’s grace.
God sent his only begotten son the Lord Jesus Christ to the world to bless people by turning them away from their sins and iniquities. "Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." If we are chosen, he requires us to live his holy blameless life before him. "Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:" If we strive to walk in righteousness and in truth as he is truth, God will clean us from all sins. "1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Our striving to be holy and God’s work of purifying, jointly make our life conform to the life of Jesus, the Son of Man. If and when our life conforms to the life of Christ, we will also be born to God as Christ was born (begotten) to God the Father. "Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Churches are Spiritual war fields. Yet this war is not an open war, but it is a war of deception. This war was started in the Garden of Eden. God said you will die if you eat the fruit. Lucifer, while he was yet the covering angel of God, told Eve that she will not die if she disobeys God and eat the forbidden fruit. Satan was more convincing than God. Even now the servants of Satan are more convincing than the servants of God and both are working in churches. "2 Cor 11:13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Matt 13:24 The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way… 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil;… Luke 16:8 ... the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Satan’s workers are presenting themselves as the ministers of Jesus Christ, preaching false gospel, offering deceptive Spirits, presenting another Jesus Christ and even doing miracles. So, it is important that we know whether we are in truth or we are in deception.
God’s word tells us to examine ourselves so that we may know whether we are "in sin" or we are "in Christ." "2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.” There is no sin "in Christ." "1 John 3:5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." If we are "in sin" we are dead according to God. If we are "in Christ" we are alive and heavenly. "Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" If we are in sin, still we are old creatures. If we are in Christ then we are new creatures. Christians are taught to deceive themselves. While they are in sin they have learned to believe and to say that they are in Christ and they are new creatures. "2 Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
God created us as men and women so that we may become the sheep of his pasture. "Psalms 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Then God became a man, lead a life of example for us to follow. "1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:" Those who obey his voice are his sheep. God will protect them and gives them eternal life. "John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life;..." So, let us follow him with our crosses. "Matt 16:24 ... said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." God will do his work on those who will follow him. "John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Only those who are godly will come to God and hear (obey) him.
Christians are introduced to anther Jesus Christ, who provides them the things of the world. But, even though they call him Jesus Christ, in reality he is the Mammon. But, true Christians have not learned Christ for worldly things, but for eternal life. "Eph 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ; 21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness." To put on the new man created after the image of God, we have to put off the old man of the fleshly deeds. "Col 3:9 ... ye have put off the old man with his deeds; 10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" God will help us if we obey him. "2 Ti 2:19 ... The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity." We must depart from iniquity and sin. Instead, we put on righteousness and holiness.
Satan and his workers
preach an easy salvation, which is counterfeit. They preach another Jesus
Christ, another Holy Spirit and another gospel. Most Christians accept the
counterfeit.
"2
Cor 11:4
For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if
ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which
ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."
But we can
be the workmanship of God if we work out our salvation with fear and trembling.
"Phil
2:12
Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling.
13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to
do of his good pleasure."
Let us continue in his word, become his disciples
and know the truth.
"John
8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which
believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are
ye my disciples indeed;
32 And
ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
If we love God with reverential fear, we will obey God - We will stop sinning.
the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
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