Explaining the disastrous “grace-only” doctrine

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The following is only one PROOF
against the “grace-only” doctrine:


“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to
the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.” (Romans 8:29-30)


From above, BACs are predestined for 2 things:
(1) – to be conformed to the likeness of Jesus
(2) – to be called, justified, and glorified

God does (2) w/o any co-operation from BACs!
However, BACs are involved in (1) because they are not robots; they have free-will to co-operate, or not co-operate!

WHY does God predestine BACs to be conformed to become like Jesus?
(1) – for walking around in this life? ... or ...
(2) – for preparing to be qualified for heaven?

If this is about (2) … then we’re talking about
being prepared for salvation and for heaven!

Being conformed to the image of Jesus is called “sanctification”. To be sanctified means to be set apart (and to be made holy) … and … there is a positional sanctification, and then a progressive sanctification.

Will the instantaneous justification of a believer make him like Jesus? NO.
Man is made up of 3 parts: body, soul, and spirit.
Our whole being (body, soul, spirit) is to be made into Jesus’ likeness!

Now, returning to Romans 8:28-30 above …
All of the underlined items are the major parts of God’s saving work.
God will NOT justify those He does NOT sanctify.
There is NO separating justification and sanctification so much … that we focus on one and ignore the other.
God does NOT offer justification as a stand-alone means of salvation.
Justification cannot be isolated and made to represent all of God’s saving work!

JUSTIFICATION (taking Jesus as SAVIOR)
SANCTIFICATION (making Jesus our LORD)


If we take Jesus as SAVIOR,
then we also take Him as LORD.
Which do you prefer “Savior and LORD”
or “LORD and Savior”?
There are NT verses for both.

What is required for the believer to be progressively sanctified unto holiness?
Co-operation with the precious Holy Spirit, obedience, and repenting of sins.
Believers who are habitually sinning
are not on the narrow path to heaven!
 
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BCsenior

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Grace-only, cheap-grace, hyper-grace,
easy-believism are all called antinomianism!

This is the notion that a one-time justification saves … apart from sanctification.

But, this is an “incomplete” understanding
of God’s wonderful free gift of grace.

It is incomplete because God’s grace is intended to be made “complete” by the believer doing his part in his salvation … by co-operating with the precious Holy Spirit … as He works to fully sanctify the believer unto holiness!

The problem with easy-believism is it allows those who are NOT walking in obedience to live comfortably with a false sense of assurance leading to the tragedy described in Matthew 7:21-23.

The "grace-only" doctrine encourages people
who are living in hypocrisy, disobedience, and sin
... because it is offering them
a false assurance of salvation!
 
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As Luther stated, we are saved (made righteous) by faith alone. But a faith that saves is never alone.

If a man is not regenerated, he will never believe. He may say he does, but it will just be a religious experience, and not true faith. So all of the “sanctifying” works will not gain him anything.

However, if a man is regenerate, he will believe, and there will be good works that follow.

So I agree that there is cheap grace, or said faith. But it’s grace through faith that saves us, and no amount of works will keep us saved.
 
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BCsenior

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So I agree that there is cheap grace, or said faith. But it’s grace through faith that saves us, and no amount of works will keep us saved.
So, are both J and S required for salvation?
If you say NO, then you are trashing the OP.
 
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Hammster

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This is against Baptist theology, correct?
Not that I’m aware of. But I’m also not exactly sure what you are referring to.
 
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redleghunter

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If a man is not regenerated, he will never believe. He may say he does, but it will just be a religious experience, and not true faith. So all of the “sanctifying” works will not gain him anything.
We continue in the West to suffer from the late 19th century “decisional regeneration.”
 
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redleghunter

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redleghunter

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An excellent article. Thank you!
You are most welcome. MacArthur took a lot of flak from fellow Evangelicals when he wrote that piece and his book “The Gospel according to Jesus.” He was accused of works righteousness or “Lordship salvation.” All he did was establish Biblical truth and doctrine.
 
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AspiringTheologian

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I've never understood such emphasis placed on Ephesians 2:8-9, while ignoring the rest of scripture. Should not all scripture be coherent? It is true that we are saved by grace through faith, how else could one obtain salvation unless God allows it? However, how can this disregard the need for God's plan of salvation? Many emphasize "not of works". Is not accepting Christ a work, is not turning from your sins a work? Surely there is more to this.

Jesus said except a man be born again, he cannot see Heaven.
He went on to say, except a man be born of water and of spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven (John 3:1-6).

The Jews receive salvation in Acts 2.
The Gentiles receive salvation in Acts 10.

Do this not sound like the pattern in which Jesus was referring too? Born of water (baptism in His Name), Born of the spirit (the outpouring of His Spirit).

Ephesus receive Truth, taught by Apostle Paul
In Acts 19 they received it in like manner.
“Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?”
“Unto what baptism were you baptized into?”
Two important questions. They were then baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and received the Holy Spirit (speaking in tongues, as noted)

Why would Paul emphasize receiving the plan of Salvation on his trip to Ephesus if it were unnecessary? Paul was the author of the epistle to Ephesus. Surely he wouldn't contradict the Gospel he originally preached. As noted in many other epistles, there were many Jewish Christians that wanted to add laws in conjunction to grace (this is what Paul was disputing).

Justification comes by Faith (Romans 5:1, Galatians 2:16, 3:24)
Sanctification comes thereafter (a process)

It is true that we do not deserve salvation and it’s by grace that we receive these blessings. It’s not things we work to earn nor do we deserve. Yet if we have faith in Jesus Christ; through faith and obedience of his plan we receive salvation.
 
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BCsenior

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MacArthur took a lot of flak from fellow Evangelicals when he wrote that piece and his book “The Gospel according to Jesus.” He was accused of works righteousness or “Lordship salvation.” All he did was establish Biblical truth and doctrine.
Yes, it was (and is) a fantastic book for
which his denomination crucified him for!
IMO, he had to retract it ... and apparently
now he is preaching a lot of nonsense.
IMO, he opened a door ...
and Satan took full advantage.
Satan attacks hardest those whom
he considers to be his greatest threat.
 
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BCsenior

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It’s not things we work to earn nor do we deserve. Yet if we have faith in Jesus Christ; through faith and obedience of his plan we receive salvation.
Yes, you have it right.
Try considering more comprehensive meanings for "believe" and "faith".
Because of the whole of the NT,
these words must include such concepts as:
endurance, repentance, obedience, works.

Because of the whole of the NT,
true saving belief/faith must include these!
 
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Hammster

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Because of the whole of the NT,
these words must include such concepts as:
endurance, repentance, obedience, works.
They will include these things.
 
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BCsenior

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Because of the whole of the NT, belief & faith must include such concepts as:
endurance, repentance, obedience, works.
Because of the whole of the NT,
true saving belief/faith
must include these 5 concepts:
endurance, repentance, obedience,
works, and practicing righteousness
.

I have one full page of NT verses
for each of the 5 concepts above,
which prove their validity.

And there are other factors also,
for which I do NOT have a full page

of proof verses.
 
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Because of the whole of the NT,
true saving belief/faith
must include these 5 concepts:
endurance, repentance, obedience,
works, and practicing righteousness
.

I have one full page of NT verses
for each of the 5 concepts above,
which prove their validity.

And there are other factors also,
for which I do NOT have a full page

of proof verses.
Must = law.

Will = gospel.
 
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