I had to check other.
The scriptures say that it is BY grace THROUGH faith.
Only #1 used that wording.
#1 was close until you added works since the verse clearly says that it is not of works lest anyone should boast.
As a result I had to check other.
Salvation is a gift from God - given by grace. It comes "through" faith since one must be born again by believing the Word of God or he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. But that faith in the Word only comes because we have been enabled to believe by the grace of God.
I care not if anyone says with the Calvinists that that initial step is "regeneration" or if they want to use another word like "enlighten" or "convict" or "draw". I care not if some would make it a process (Paul kicked against the goads for some time) or if they insist that it is instantaneous (as Lydia's enlightenment seemed to be).
The important things is that we get the order right and not reversed.
We are not "regenerated" (if you will) because we have exercised faith. We have exercised faith because that initial light or life has been given to us that makes that faith possible.
There is a world of difference between the two ways of describing the salvation process.
The difference is so profound that it causes the heated disagreements we see here in the forum between Calvinists and otherwise.
To make matters worse - there are many here who wrongly teach that only if and when our faith has proven to be successful enough at the end of life as shown by our good works will we someday receive life. Some even say openly that we will all sleep at the end of this life until the Great White Throne Judgment and only then will it become apparent if we have been true men and women of faith and will we receive life.
It's hard to keep it all straight - and all because people can't follow the logic of a simple analogy.
The born again analogy the Lord used is so simple that anyone who has studied the birds and the bees on a grade school level can understand exactly how it works. He meant it to be that clear.
Only proud men who want to boast in their own works try to make salvation difficult by reversing the order.
We are born in due time because we have received life from our Father (and that not of ourselves - it is purely of grace). We do not receive life from our Father because we have been born and we for darn sure won't receive it because we lived an exemplary life as some teach.
First, the word "
by" and "
through" mean the same thing. The words "
by faith" appears 37 times in the King James Bible; And it sometimes refers to having faith in Jesus. Also, Romans 5:2 says, "
we have access by faith into this grace..."; Obviously you can replace the word "by" for "through" and it would not change the meaning of this verse. Besides, even the Dictionary lists the word "
by" as in reference to "
through" as a synonym or related word. See this link
here.
Second, as for Calvinism: Well, I believe the problem in Calvinism is that it makes one think that they do not have to take responsibility in owning up to responding to God's call of their own free will choice. It makes it appear like we have to have some kind of experience that is more forced upon us. So if this experience with God's call to salvation in Jesus is not something that is more forced upon us, and we feel it is more of us (in our free will) trying to respond to God, then it can push some of us away from the LORD. Also, Calvinism seeks to attack the good character of GOD in the fact that it is His fault in that He makes some to be saved, and others to not be saved (For in Calvinism: He elects based on no conditions, hence, why it is called "Unconditional Election"). But the Bible says that He is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. For He holds out His hands to rebellious people all the day long.
Three, I believe that God directed works done through the believer (Sanctification) is not something that I can boast in myself over because I believe they are the works of GOD done through me. So any or all good works done in my Christian life should be done with giving praise to the Lord. For there is none good but GOD. So the only good I do is by GOD. So all praise and glory and thanks go to Him, and not myself.
Four, the Bible actually does teach that you need to cooperate with the good work GOD desires to do through your life (i.e. Sanctification) after we are saved by God's grace through faith in Christ. For Justification is the 1st work of God (done in our life), and Sanctification is the 2nd work of God (done in our life). But please. Do not take my word for it, check the list of my 30 points in Scripture below to see them for yourself. For...
After we are saved by God's grace,
God’s works (done through us) are also required as a part of the Salvation Process:
(Here are a List of Verses
):
#1. “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." (James 2:24).
#2. "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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.” (James 2:17-18).
#3. "They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." (Titus 1:16).
#4. "If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing," (1 Timothy 6:3-4).
Supplemental verse:
"...God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." (James 4:6).
#5. "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:9).
#6. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
#7. “...God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
Supplemental verses:
(a) “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:12).
(b) “...and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and establish you in every good word and work.” (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
#8. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1).
Supplemental verse:
“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13).
#9. "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema [accursed] Maranatha."(1 Corinthians 16:22).
Supplemental verses:
(a) "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15).
(b) “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10).
#10. ”And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” (Luke 10:25-28).
#11. “...if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” (Matthew 19:17-19).
#12. "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38). ”If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Matthew 16:24-26).
#13. "...No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) (cf. Luke 8:11-15, 1 Corinthians 4:15).
#14. "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God." (Romans 2:8-11).
Supplemental verses:
(a) "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (James 1:21).
(b) “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12).
(c) "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." (John 3:20).
#15. “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:29).
#16. ”And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.” (Revelation 22:12-15).
#17. “For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.” (Romans 11:21-22).
#18. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:12-13).
#19. ”Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” (Matthew 25:34-40).
“Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:41-46).
#20. ”His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” (Matthew 25:21).
”And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30).
#21. “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” (1 John 3:10).
#22. “He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).
#23. “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.” (1 John 1:7) (cf. 1 John 2:9-11).
#24. “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20).
#25. “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:24-27).
#26. “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21).
Supplementary verse:
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication” (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
#27. “And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet [Jesus], shall be destroyed from among the people.” (Acts of the Apostles 3:23).
#28. “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.’ (John 15:5-6).
Supplementary verses:
(a) “Bring forth therefore fruits befitting for repentance” (Matthew 3:8).
(b) “And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10).
#29. “And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.” (1 Peter 4:18-19).
#30. “For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:8-9).
