Salvation is Faith Alone in Christ Alone Plus Nothing Minus Nothing Acts 13:39, Romans 3:19-28

[Cockcrow]

Acts 13:39 “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Plus nothing meaning you don't have to do anything to be saved, and minus nothing meaning you don't have to stop doing something to be saved (giving up all your sins, live a good life, etc.). The only thing you must do to be saved is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31. the simple gospel, Jesus paid it all, we pay nothing all our works are filthy rags before God and can never save us. Living a good life, stopping the sinning, that's not salvation, salvation is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:19-28 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Over and over we have clear scriptures saying its faith alone, yet people still come along and say "I still think you gotta have the works" well Romans 4:5 destroys this wicked false teaching.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

 

[Stephen Andrew]

Peace to all,

To me salvation is the New Eden.

Adam and Eve, to me, created love through the Power of the Holy Spirit will of God and from Jesus, the New Adam fulfilling eternal love through the Body of Christ, into the image of the Creator as Transfigured.

Peace always,
Stephen

 

[Danthemailman]

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-26).

*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works. (Romans 3:24-28)

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-26) *Perfect Harmony*

 

[d taylor]

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The believing is a big mystery to many seeking Eternal Life salvation. But if The Gospel of John is read, this book was specifically written to tell people what to believe, that is about Jesus.

So what does believing in Jesus mean. It means to believe Jesus and who He, Jesus or other believers/disciples (Paul, Peter, Phillip, etc..) say Jesus is. Which is the resurrection and the life, The promised Messiah / Son of God*. This is the name and believing in this name. Is what gives people God's free gift of Eternal Life.

The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When He comes, He will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.


Do not miss believing in the name of Jesus or you will miss receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation.

* Messiah and Son of God are the same names of Jesus, so if you believe Jesus is The Messiah, you are also believing Jesus is the Son of God

 

[Stephen Andrew]

Peace to all,

To me the transfiguration is what James and Peter and John talk about in their Gospels, after His resurrection.

Peace always,
Stevehan

 

[d taylor]

Peace to all,

To me the transfiguration is what James and Peter and John talk about in their Gospels, after His resurrection.

Peace always,
Stevehan

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​

So how is that related to a person and receiving God's free gift of Eternal Life. John plainly writes to present to the reader of his gospel. That Jesus is the promised awaited Son of God / Messiah of Israel. John record's 8 signs (miracles) Jesus did to prove He is who He claimed to be: the resurrection and the life, The promised Messiah / Son of God

 

[Cockcrow]

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-26).

*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works. (Romans 3:24-28)

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-26) *Perfect Harmony*

Nope, it's faith alone. Faith without works is dead, therefore faith without works exists. it is possible to have faith without works, Romans 4:5 is correct "“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” 2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Faith in Jesus but you have zero works or zero clean up the life? you're still saved. Romans 4:5

 

[Danthemailman]

Nope, it's faith alone. Faith without works is dead, therefore faith without works exists. it is possible to have faith without works, Romans 4:5 is correct "“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” 2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Faith in Jesus but you have zero works or zero clean up the life? you're still saved. Romans 4:5

I said it was faith alone in post #3. I mentioned James 2 because those who teach salvation by works will typically cite James 2:14-26 in an effort to prove that we are saved by both faith and works. In regard to "faith without works is dead," James does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith or that works are the source of life in faith or that we are saved by works. That would be like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree, and the fruit is the source of life in the tree. James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works demonstrates that it's dead.

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine.

In regard to James 2:24 (justified by works and not by faith alone) James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3) Again, if someone merely says-claims they have faith, but continuously lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. (James 2:14)

2 Timothy 2:13 - If we are faithless, He remains faithful [true to His word and His righteous character], for He cannot deny Himself. (AMP) I would not use this verse as a proof text that God saves unbelievers. (John 3:18) Now although God does impute righteousness apart from works (Romans 4:5) this does not mean that believers will never produce any works at all and remain completely unchanged.

 

[David Lamb]

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* Messiah and Son of God are the same names of Jesus, so if you believe Jesus is The Messiah, you are also believing Jesus is the Son of God

Surely "Messiah" is the Hebrew equivalent of "Christ". They are titles, rather than names of Jesus.

 

[d taylor]

Surely "Messiah" is the Hebrew equivalent of "Christ". They are titles, rather than names of Jesus.

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​

Messiah and Christ are the same, but as for name. I am going by how the Greek has been translated, the verses state believe in the name. Which is, Jesus is: the resurrection and the life, The promised Messiah / The Son of God

The verses do not state believe in the title

“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

[Ted-01]

I'm trying to figure out why this is in the "Controversial Christian Theology" forum?

 

[d taylor]

I'm trying to figure out why this is in the "Controversial Christian Theology" forum?

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Are you not familiar with how many groups who identify as Christian. Say it takes more than belief in Jesus to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation.

 

[Ted-01]

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Are you not familiar with how many groups who identify as Christian. Say it takes more than belief in Jesus to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life salvation.

Yes, I'm aware that in today's world, everything is debatable.

Still, this doctrine seems to have long standing roots in traditional theology. I make a distinction between something being arguable and something being controversial.

Oh well.

 

[JulieB67]

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-26)

Exactly. No one is saved by works but works are proof of that genuine faith.

Romans 4:5 is correct "“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness

or zero clean up the life?

Yes but after all of these threads you continue to start on this subject, I still don't think you fully understand what true repentance is. (change of heart and mind) And I highly doubt that a person whose strong faith is counted for righteousness is living in blatant sin as you seem to be always implying they can do. That's not what true repentance is. Abraham was an example that his faith and belief in God is what counted towards him as righteousness not his works. We can see that he was righteous.

A person that has repented which means they are "thinking differently" they want to change their lives. Will they fall short yes, but they are still thinking differently meaning they won't stay down.

Colossians 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Colossians 3:3 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

Colossians 3:4 "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory."

Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"

Colossians 3:7 "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Colossians 3:8 "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."


Colossians 3:9 "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;"

Colossians 3:10 "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him That created him:"

You are always quoting Paul's Roman's verses. What do you think he is teaching here? He certainly doesn't say we should keep the old man and it doesn't matter if we put on the new man. He assumes after repentance we have put on the new man.

No one will ever be perfect but it doesn't mean one can't continue to mature and grow as a Christian. That is not works for salvation. That is a natural course for a Christian because we have put on the "new man". That's what Paul is teaching.

 

[d taylor]

Exactly. No one is saved by works but works are proof of that genuine faith.



Yes but after all of these threads you continue to start on this subject, I still don't think you fully understand what true repentance is. (change of heart and mind) And I highly doubt that a person whose strong faith is counted for righteousness is living in blatant sin as you seem to be always implying they can do. That's not what true repentance is. Abraham was an example that his faith and belief in God is what counted towards him as righteousness not his works. We can see that he was righteous.

A person that has repented which means they are "thinking differently" they want to change their lives. Will they fall short yes, but they are still thinking differently meaning they won't stay down.

Colossians 3:1 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Colossians 3:2 "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Colossians 3:3 "For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God."

Colossians 3:4 "When Christ, Who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory."

Colossians 3:5 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:"

Colossians 3:7 "In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.

Colossians 3:8 "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."


Colossians 3:9 "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;"

Colossians 3:10 "And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him That created him:"

You are always quoting Paul's Roman's verses. What do you think he is teaching here? He certainly doesn't say we should keep the old man and it doesn't matter if we put on the new man. He assumes after repentance we have put on the new man.

No one will ever be perfect but it doesn't mean one can't continue to mature and grow as a Christian. That is not works for salvation. That is a natural course for a Christian because we have put on the "new man". That's what Paul is teaching.

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How are works proof of genuine faith. Do these works enable you, to be able to see into a person mind/heart at the very moment they believed in Jesus.

Or where is the list of works a believer should be doing. So another believer can check off these works as they are being seen done by another believer. So the believer can be seen as a true believer.

The parable of the soils shows that not all believers will bear fruit. Out of the three believing soils only the 4th soil actually bore fruit. The other two soils let the world cause them to be unfruitful.

But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles. Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

 

[fhansen]

Acts 13:39 “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Plus nothing meaning you don't have to do anything to be saved, and minus nothing meaning you don't have to stop doing something to be saved (giving up all your sins, live a good life, etc.). The only thing you must do to be saved is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31. the simple gospel, Jesus paid it all, we pay nothing all our works are filthy rags before God and can never save us. Living a good life, stopping the sinning, that's not salvation, salvation is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:19-28 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Over and over we have clear scriptures saying its faith alone, yet people still come along and say "I still think you gotta have the works" well Romans 4:5 destroys this wicked false teaching.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

To believe in Jesus is to believe in the true God. And that faith establishes and makes real relationship or union with Him, man and God now reconciled. And that union is the very essence of justice or righteousness for man, a righteousness that the law could only testify to but could not accomplish in us (Rom 3:21). Only God can make man just, righteous.

Now that we’ve been given this grace, this gift of righteousness (Rom 5:17), we can and must live our lives accordingly, as children of God should. Now we can finally fulfill the requirements that we were created for (Rom 6:22 and 8:12-14), under grace, by the Spirit, with God. That’s what faith is all about, that’s how it saves. Nothing has changed between the old and new covenants in man’s obligation to be righteous. Micah 6:8, for example, still applies:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.

 

[JulieB67]

How are works proof of genuine faith. Do these works enable you, to be able to see into a person mind/heart at the very moment they believed in Jesus.

Don't you believe James?

James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

The most important thing is that God can see into our hearts/minds he's the heart knower but to me it's pretty easy to see who's playing at being a Christian and who is sincere.

It all boils down to what Christ's states, love God with your heart, mind and soul and treat your neighbor as yourself. If a true sincere Christian holds to this and most importantly wants (repentance is to think differently) to hold to that, the works will come naturally. How could it not? James talks about this as well as does Paul.

James 2:8 "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," ye do well:

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word even in this; "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

And we will always fall short but we get back up and get back on the path. As a Christian, don't you "want" to be righteous? Don't you "want" to put on the new man? If not, I would think someone has not come to repentance yet. They are not thinking differently.

Or where is the list of works a believer should be doing. So another believer can check off these works as they are being seen done by another believer. So the believer can be seen as a true believer.

I don't think you get what I'm talking about. Or what James is talking about. Repentance is true change. It's not about checking a list. To even suggest this means you don't get it all. Repentance is to actually have a change come over you. The works will come naturally. People are too focused on the word "works" as if you have to work for something. Sometimes it just boils down to being a light to someone. Bringing up someone, being kind, etc because that's the person you are. Those are works, natural works of the heart. It's not about "I have to do this or that" it's about being a Christ like, putting on the new man because again that's who you are now. Even if someone doesn't have physical works they have still changed as a person. They "want" to be righteous because of the newness of heart and mind.

And it has nothing to do with falling short or missing the mark. We always will in the flesh but if repentance has taken place, a Christian will not want to stay down.

 

[d taylor]

Don't you believe James?

James 2:18 "Yea, a man may say, "Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."

The most important thing is that God can see into our hearts/minds he's the heart knower but to me it's pretty easy to see who's playing at being a Christian and who is sincere.

It all boils down to what Christ's states, love God with your heart, mind and soul and treat your neighbor as yourself. If a true sincere Christian holds to this and most importantly wants (repentance is to think differently) to hold to that, the works will come naturally. How could it not? James talks about this as well as does Paul.

James 2:8 "If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself," ye do well:

Galatians 5:14 "For all the law is fulfilled in one word even in this; "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

And we will always fall short but we get back up and get back on the path. As a Christian, don't you "want" to be righteous? Don't you "want" to put on the new man? If not, I would think someone has not come to repentance yet. They are not thinking differently.


I don't think you get what I'm talking about. Or what James is talking about. Repentance is true change. It's not about checking a list. To even suggest this means you don't get it all. Repentance is to actually have a change come over you. The works will come naturally. People are too focused on the word "works" as if you have to work for something. Sometimes it just boils down to being a light to someone. Bringing up someone, being kind, etc because that's the person you are. Those are works, natural works of the heart. It's not about "I have to do this or that" it's about being a Christ like, putting on the new man because again that's who you are now. Even if someone doesn't have physical works they have still changed as a person. They "want" to be righteous because of the newness of heart and mind.

And it has nothing to do with falling short or missing the mark. We always will in the flesh but if repentance has taken place, a Christian will not want to stay down.

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I get what you are saying which is, you use the word true with believer. So you say a true believer will have works that will show they are a true believer. Something James does not do.

So i ask where is the list of works these true believers will be doing or do you get do decide who is and who is not a true believer. So have you fashioned a list of works from The Bible a true believer will do to show they are a true believer.

What about the believers in John 12, they would not publicly confess Christ, because they loved praise of man more than praise from God.
Do you label them false believers?

This is what establishes a person as a born again child of God (a believer). What is the object of a persons faith, did they at some point in their life. Believe in the person Jesus (in His name) for God's free gift of Eternal Life.

If they have not (believed in Jesus), no amount of good works will make them a born again child of God.

 

[Guojing]

Acts 13:39 “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Plus nothing meaning you don't have to do anything to be saved, and minus nothing meaning you don't have to stop doing something to be saved (giving up all your sins, live a good life, etc.). The only thing you must do to be saved is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved Acts 16:31. the simple gospel, Jesus paid it all, we pay nothing all our works are filthy rags before God and can never save us. Living a good life, stopping the sinning, that's not salvation, salvation is Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 3:19-28 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.

28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Over and over we have clear scriptures saying its faith alone, yet people still come along and say "I still think you gotta have the works" well Romans 4:5 destroys this wicked false teaching.

Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

When do you think this began?

1. When God spoke Genesis 3:15?
2. When Israel cross the red sea?
3. When Christ was born?
4. When Christ was crucified?
5. When Paul was saved?

 

[hedrick]

Exactly. No one is saved by works but works are proof of that genuine faith.

This creates a problem. Historically, people who claimed to believe we are saved only by faith but thought certain things are unacceptable or required said that if you don't have those things, your faith isn't real. I think if you really want to say that salvation is purely by faith you can't talk about genuine and non-genuine faith, or use works to discriminate between them.