I understand that. What I'm trying to understand is how it applies to the subject discussed. Are you saying that therefore, 'partial works' salvation is Biblical, since 'works alone salvation' is not? I thought the discussion had come around to, in effect at this point, monergism vs synergism.
I am replying to the portion of the OP that supposes a false misunderstanding on Ephesians 2:8-9.
Poster “Neostarwcc” stated:
“Why do many Christians not understand that it is by God's grace that we are saved through our faith? Why do they understand that our faith is not of our own doing but that it is a gift of God? Not by our works because our works are as righteous as filthy rags?” ~ Quote by: Neostarwcc.
In other words, Neostarwcc asked the question as to why Christians do not understand that by God's grace that we are saved through faith. Neostarwcc takes the popular view of Christianity today that says we are saved by a belief alone in Jesus Christ and it is in nothing we do. So when he reads verses like Ephesians 2:8-9, Titus 3:5, and Romans 4:3-5 he reads them from what he has been taught by Calvinists, and he is not seeking out the truth with God by way of prayer to find out the whole counsel of God's Word in what it says plainly. Anyways, Neostarwcc does not understand that...
#1. Paul is primarily referring to the 1st aspect of salvation in being saved by God's grace, and He is not referring to the call of the gospel which is God having chosen us to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit, and a belief of the truth in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14. For Paul says elsewhere you can deny God by a lack of works (Titus 1:16). Paul says elsewhere if we live after the flesh, we will die, but if we put to death the misdeeds of the body by the Spirit we will live (Romans 8:13).
#2. Paul was fighting against "Circumcision Salvationism" (Which is Law Alone Salvationism without God's grace); A certain sect of Jews were trying to deceive some Christians into thinking they had to first be circumcised in order to be saved. This was a heresy that was clearly addressed at the Jerusalem council (See Acts of the Apostles 15:1, Acts of the Apostles 15:5, Acts of the Apostles 15:24). Paul also addressed this problem; Paul said to the Galatians that if you seek to be circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing (Galatians 5:2), and then Paul mentions how if you seek to be justified by the Law, you have fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4). This "law" is the Torah because circumcision is not a part of the commands given to us by Jesus and His followers. So when Paul says we are saved by God's grace through faith and not of works, he is referring to the works of the Law of Moses (the 613, that included circumcision, animal sacrifices, sabbaths, dietary laws, etc.). Hebrews 7:12 says the Law has changed. So we are under a New Covenant, with New Commands. In fact, to even believe on Jesus Christ is a commandment or Law (See: 1 John 3:4). Jesus said that to believe on Him is a work of God (See: John 6:29). So obviously Paul is not referring to this work in Ephesians 2:8-9.
#3. The Bible teaches that sin can cause spiritual death or condemnation in hellfire from Matthew to Revelation (Matthew 5:28-30) (Matthew 6:15) (Matthew 12:37) (Matthew 25:31-46) (Luke 9:62) (1 John 3:15) (Galatians 5:19-21) (Revelation 21:8).
#4. The Bible teaches that obedience to God's commands is tied to eternal life from Matthew to Revelation (See Matthew 19:17-19) (Luke 10:25-28) (1 John 1:7) (1 John 3:23) (Hebrews 5:9) (Revelation 22:14).
#5. Ephesians 2:9 is referring to “
Man Directed Works Alone Salvationism” (Wherein one would falsely boast in themselves), and Ephesians 2:10 is referring to work of faith (1 Thessalonians 1:3) (2 Thessalonians 1:11) that we are created unto Christ Jesus to do. Ephesians 2:10 is referring to “
God Directed Works Done Through The Believer” by a person's faith in God's Word. For it is God who works in us (Philippians 2:13), and we can do nothing without Jesus (John 15:5). Surely we would boast in God and not ourselves if we know it is God who is working through us, right? So Ephesians 2:9 is dealing with boasting in one's own self efforts.
#6. Ephesians 2:8 refers to only one gift (i.e. singular), and not multiple gifts. So it is grace that is the gift of God. We have to exercise faith in order to obtain this gift of grace freely. Jesus marveled at how great the Centurion's faith was. This would not make any sense for Jesus to marvel if faith was a gift from God. For Jesus is one with the Father and He does what He sees His father doing. So Jesus marveled at the Centurion's faith that he had (See: Matthew 8:5-13). Hebrews 11 talks about how without faith, it is impossible to please God. For faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Faith is not forced upon a person as Calvinists have been taught. God's grace is the gift (singular) because God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son (See: John 3:16).
#7. Matthew 13:41-42 talks about how
the Son of Man (i.e. Jesus) will send forth His angels and they will gather out of
HIS Kingdom (i.e. Christ's kingdom) all things that offend and those who work iniquity (sin) and they will be cast into
the furnace of fire (i.e. the Lake of Fire). This means that believers who justify sin in this life or hold to beliefs that can cause others to fall into an offense (i.e. sin) are going to be cast into the Lake of Fire (Note:; To see how the word "offense” is used elsewhere, check out: Matthew 18:6-9; For it implies in speaking against child abuse)
