Many opinions (which the poll options don't remotely address) - and from what I've glanced at, all true - but the whole truth of a matter is rarely explained in the fullest by just one verse, unless that verse be understood as a summarization and incorporation of all other verses on the topic.
How is a person saved?
In Losing One's life: Lk 9:24 - For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it. (cf Mk 8:35ff, etc.)
By [our] Endurance: Lk 21:19 - By your endurance you will gain your lives. Mt 10:19 - You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved. Mt 24:13 - But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
Through Faith: Gal 3:26f - For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. (cf Jn 3:16, I Peter 1:9, etc.)
God's Patience: 2 Pet 3:14f - Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation;
By, Through Grace: Eph 2:8 (cf v5) - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Acts 15:11 - But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are...
In/Through Him, By His Name: Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved. - John 3:17 - For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
By Words (Gospel): Acts 11:14 - and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household...
By Receiving those Words/Love of the Truth: James 1:21 - Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. - 2 Thess 2:10 - ...and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.
Repentence/Baptism/Receiving the Word: Acts 2:38ff - Peter said to them, "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself. And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation!" So then, those who had received his word were baptized...
By God's Mercy: Titus 3:5 - He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit...
By The Washing of Regeneration: (ibid)
By The Renewing by the Holy Spirit: (ibid)
By Having Believed [in God]: Acts 16:34 And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.
ThroughThe Message Preached / Those who Believe I Cor 1:21 - For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Belief, and been Baptized: Mark 16:16 - He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned.
Confession: Romans 10:9f - that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (cf Belief)
Calling On the Lord's Name: Romans 10:13 - for "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED." (cf Acts 2:21, Joel 2:32)
Baptism: I Peter 3:21 - Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you--not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
Having Believed [in Jesus]: Acts 16:30ff - "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.
Faith, repentence, confession, baptism, belief, God's mercy and patience, calling on His name, being in Him, endurance/perseverance, love of the [whole] truth...
The sum of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.
- Psalm 119:160
God bless...
__________________
Last edited by Subdood; 31st October 2009 at 11:49 AM.
A person is saved by Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in synergy with man. A living faith includes works (for as the scriptures teach "faith without works is dead") . A dead "faith" or one without works is not conducive to salvation. Works of faith are wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit in us but they are only brought about to our gain if we consent to them and not despite ourselves. Our consent to do the work of the Holy Spirit helps us to grow on the path of salvation. The sacraments of the Church also play a major role on this path .
As Saint Athanasius taught "God became man so that man might become god." Becoming divine by grace, which is participation in the uncreated energies of God, is the ultimate nature of our salvation. It goes far beyond a mere forgiveness on Gods part for all the bad things we have done. Only by reducing salvation to a one time juridically conceived event can the whole faith vs works argument come into being.
As a side note works of faith or works of love are NOT the same thing as "works of the law".
Last edited by Christos Anesti; 31st October 2009 at 12:09 PM.
We are, through faith, cleansed in the blood of the lamb who was slain. It is by Almighty's grace that He sent His Lamb to be sacrificed.
By accepting Christ as our personal saviour we will read and follow His example in the gospel, thereby starting our lives of virtue.
Scripture says faith without works is dead! I guess that was sight into heart, because many claim to be Christians( a show of faith) but few bear His fruits.
Praise and exalt Him above all forever!
__________________ I pledge allegiance to Elohim,
and to Jesus Christ my KING,
and to His true mercy, at which I live,
one humble servant under God,
undeservable,
with faith, hope, and love for all!
Our works will reflect what faith we have. A truly faithful Christian won't go judging others and having sex outside of marriage. If someone who does things like that says they have true faith, they are not being truthful. If you firmly believe that Christ sacrificed Himself for us, then our actions will reflect that. Our works are a reflection of the strength of our faith.
"Faith without works is dead".
"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."
Also, Christ tells us that faith alone does not save us and that we are at the Mercy of our Father.
__________________ “My mercy is greater than your sins and those of the entire world. Who can measure the extent of My goodness? For you I descended from heaven to earth; for you I allowed Myself to be nailed to the cross;" - Christ to St. Faustina
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