• Starting today August 7th, 2024, in order to post in the Married Couples, Courting Couples, or Singles forums, you will not be allowed to post if you have your Marital status designated as private. Announcements will be made in the respective forums as well but please note that if yours is currently listed as Private, you will need to submit a ticket in the Support Area to have yours changed.

Who then can be saved?

Dan1988

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jul 8, 2018
2,036
719
36
Sydney
✟280,521.00
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
Christian denominations agree that salvation comes through God's grace and Jesus Christ, but they differ on the role of faith and works, and how a person receives and maintains salvation.
Catholics emphasize faith expressed through active good works while Protestant Denominations vary, with many holding to "faith alone" (sola fide) as the primary path, though good works are seen as evidence of true faith.
The process can be viewed as a one-time event or a lifelong journey, and denominations like Reformed Christianity emphasize predestination, while Methodists focus on achieving entire sanctification.

Eastern Orthodoxy Theosis (Deification): Focuses on salvation as a process of theosis, or becoming united with God.

Means of Salvation: Achieved through the Church's mysteries (sacraments) and sanctification, viewed as a lifelong process rather than a legal or one-time event.

These are some of the views held by the various denominations, but which if any line up with what the Bible has to say about salvation.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". This verse establishes that humanity is inherently sinful and separated from God, making self-salvation impossible.

Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one'".
These verses describe the universal fallen nature of man, confirming that no one naturally seeks God or performs righteous acts sufficient for salvation.

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". This verse directly contrasts salvation with human deeds, attributing it solely to God's mercy.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".
This passage explicitly states that salvation is a gift from God, and not something earned through human actions.

Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”". In response to the disciples' question about how the rich could be saved, Jesus highlights that salvation is beyond human power.

Jeremiah 13:23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to doing evil".
While referring to the difficulty of changing evil habits, this verse metaphorically suggests a fundamental inability to change one's corrupted nature without divine help, which is relevant to the concept of salvation.

Is salvation, by grace or by works or by a combination of both.
 

Maria Billingsley

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Oct 7, 2018
11,240
9,297
65
Martinez
✟1,154,652.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Christian denominations agree that salvation comes through God's grace and Jesus Christ, but they differ on the role of faith and works, and how a person receives and maintains salvation.
Catholics emphasize faith expressed through active good works while Protestant Denominations vary, with many holding to "faith alone" (sola fide) as the primary path, though good works are seen as evidence of true faith.
The process can be viewed as a one-time event or a lifelong journey, and denominations like Reformed Christianity emphasize predestination, while Methodists focus on achieving entire sanctification.

Eastern Orthodoxy Theosis (Deification): Focuses on salvation as a process of theosis, or becoming united with God.

Means of Salvation: Achieved through the Church's mysteries (sacraments) and sanctification, viewed as a lifelong process rather than a legal or one-time event.

These are some of the views held by the various denominations, but which if any line up with what the Bible has to say about salvation.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". This verse establishes that humanity is inherently sinful and separated from God, making self-salvation impossible.

Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one'".
These verses describe the universal fallen nature of man, confirming that no one naturally seeks God or performs righteous acts sufficient for salvation.

Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". This verse directly contrasts salvation with human deeds, attributing it solely to God's mercy.

Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".
This passage explicitly states that salvation is a gift from God, and not something earned through human actions.

Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”". In response to the disciples' question about how the rich could be saved, Jesus highlights that salvation is beyond human power.

Jeremiah 13:23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to doing evil".
While referring to the difficulty of changing evil habits, this verse metaphorically suggests a fundamental inability to change one's corrupted nature without divine help, which is relevant to the concept of salvation.

Is salvation, by grace or by works or by a combination of both.
James 2:18
"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

This verse plainly states the two sides you are describing. Then it is addressed to clarify the issue. Now it us up to the hearer on how to interpret. The way I hear it, good works flow from those who have faith.
Blessings
 
Upvote 0

caffeinated.hermit

Active Member
Jun 25, 2025
75
66
Mid-West
✟6,165.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The more I have studied this, lived, and suffered, the more I have come to believe that salvation is by grace through faith and through discipleship. Works do matter, and obeying Christ to the best of our ability does matter. Imo, sanctification is a part of justification, not distinct from it.

Theosis is a neat model, and one that seems to also overlap with Western Divinization, Lutheran Christification, and even Evangelical concepts of Lordship Salvation. Not 100%, but it's close, and I think we may all be ultimately talking about the same thing.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

ozso

Site Supporter
Oct 2, 2020
28,300
15,338
PNW
✟985,350.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
James 2:18
"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

This verse plainly states the two sides you are describing. Then it is addressed to clarify the issue. Now it us up to the hearer on how to interpret. The way I hear it, good works flow from those who have faith.
Blessings
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:28-29

What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” 4 Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. Romans 4:1-4
 
Upvote 0

Lukaris

Orthodox Christian
Site Supporter
Aug 3, 2007
8,877
3,225
Pennsylvania, USA
✟953,808.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Single
I believe we are saved by grace and show our thanksgiving to the Lord by doing works worthy of repentance. I believe St. Paul originally summed this up in Acts 26:20, explains elsewhere like in Colossians 1:10-24, Ephesians 2:8-18, 2 Corinthians 9:6-16 etc. This is for most of us since we want to have some life to live.

The thief on the cross was saved by grace of the Lord recognizing the thief’s faith & repentance. The thief did all he could do in extreme physical pain & the Lord is merciful.
 
Upvote 0

Clare73

Blood-bought
Jun 12, 2012
29,424
7,589
North Carolina
✟348,246.00
Country
United States
Gender
Female
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
Politics
US-Republican
Christian denominations agree that salvation comes through God's grace and Jesus Christ, but they differ on the role of faith and works, and how a person receives and maintains salvation.
Catholics emphasize faith expressed through active good works while Protestant Denominations vary, with many holding to "faith alone" (sola fide) as the primary path, though good works are seen as evidence of true faith.
The process can be viewed as a one-time event or a lifelong journey, and denominations like Reformed Christianity emphasize predestination, while Methodists focus on achieving entire sanctification.
Eastern Orthodoxy Theosis (Deification): Focuses on salvation as a process of theosis, or becoming united with God.

Means of Salvation: Achieved through the Church's mysteries (sacraments) and sanctification, viewed as a lifelong process rather than a legal or one-time event.
These are some of the views held by the various denominations, but which if any line up with what the Bible has to say about salvation.
Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". This verse establishes that humanity is inherently sinful and separated from God, making self-salvation impossible.
Romans 3:10-12 "As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one'".
These verses describe the universal fallen nature of man, confirming that no one naturally seeks God or performs righteous acts sufficient for salvation.
Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit". This verse directly contrasts salvation with human deeds, attributing it solely to God's mercy.
Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast".
This passage explicitly states that salvation is a gift from God, and not something earned through human actions.
Matthew 19:26 "But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”". In response to the disciples' question about how the rich could be saved, Jesus highlights that salvation is beyond human power.
Jeremiah 13:23 "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to doing evil".
While referring to the difficulty of changing evil habits, this verse metaphorically suggests a fundamental inability to change one's corrupted nature without divine help, which is relevant to the concept of salvation.
Is salvation, by grace or by works or by a combination of both.
Read Eph 2:8-9. . .salvation is by faith, not by works.

True faith always has works.
But those works are the result of salvation, not the cause of it.
 
Upvote 0

fhansen

Oldbie
Sep 3, 2011
16,008
4,009
✟395,624.00
Country
United States
Gender
Male
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Married
Is salvation, by grace or by works or by a combination of both.
It all begins with grace. without which salvation is impossible. But grace can be resissted, or not; it can be cooperated with, or not. Salvation is about union with the Vine, as we're grafted into Him by faith. Whether we remain in Him or not involves the willingnes to do so. If we do, and continue to, we will live the life of grace, God's life in us, by the Spirit. producing much good fruit. If we aren't producing good fruit, fruit born of the love the Holy Spirit pores into believers (Rom 5;5), then we're not even His, or we've left the fold. So, as James says, faith and works must go hand in hand. This is because faith without love would be dead.

"The only thing that counts is faith working through love." Gal 5:6

So we're justifed-made just-by turning to and relying not on ourselves anymore but on God=faith. The result is real righteousness given:
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,

and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord."
Jer 31:33-34

From that point we must continue to walk with Him in that justice/righteousness, that love that fulfills the law, picking up our cross daily and growing in those virtues which come only from Him as a result of drawing near to and uniting with Him. It's all about who one hangs out with. The following directive has never changed one bit under the new covant. Instead, were simply given the means to finally achieve it, by virtue of union with the Vine, now reconciled with God by the death of His Son who came to make God known-so that we may believe and become "my people", knowing God as a child of His should.

"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." Micah 6:8
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0

Dan1988

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jul 8, 2018
2,036
719
36
Sydney
✟280,521.00
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
James 2:18
"But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

This verse plainly states the two sides you are describing. Then it is addressed to clarify the issue. Now it us up to the hearer on how to interpret. The way I hear it, good works flow from those who have faith.
Blessings
The Bible does confirm as you say, "good works flow from those who have faith" But where does faith come from?, is it something that everyone is born with, or is it a gift from God.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

James 2:10 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Colossians 3:23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

The above are exhortations to good works, but Philippians 2:13 goes even further by confirming that it is God who does the good works through us.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Most Christian Denominations agree that we are saved by grace through faith. They teach that grace is a gift of God, but they don't believe that faith is also a gift. Most teach that faith is something which the individual produces and cultivates within themselves.

 
Upvote 0

Dan1988

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jul 8, 2018
2,036
719
36
Sydney
✟280,521.00
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
Read Eph 2:8-9. . .salvation is by faith, not by works.

True faith always has works.
But those works are the result of salvation, not the cause of it.
I have read Ephesians 2:8-9 and it doesn't say what you quoted. It doesn't say "salvation is by faith" at all. If you care to read it yourself, you would find that it actually says "salvation is by grace". and not "by faith" as you claimed.

The scripture also confirms that both "grace" and "faith" are gifts which God gives to His people. So even if you claim to have been saved by "your faith", it would be incorrect because Eph 2:8 confirms that "faith" is also a gift
 
Upvote 0

Dan1988

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Jul 8, 2018
2,036
719
36
Sydney
✟280,521.00
Country
Australia
Gender
Male
Faith
Baptist
Marital Status
Private
It all begins with grace. without which salvation is impossible. But grace can be resissted, or not; it can be cooperated with, or not. Salvation is about union with the Vine, as we're grafted into Him by faith. Whether we remain in Him or not involves the willingnes to do so. If we do, and continue to, we will live the life of grace, God's life in us, by the Spirit. producing much good fruit. If we aren't producing good fruit, fruit born of the love the Holy Spirit pores into believers (Rom 5;5), then we're not even His, or we've left the fold. So, as James says, faith and works must go hand in hand. This is because faith without love would be dead.

"The only thing that counts is faith working through love." Gal 5:6

So we're justifed-made just-by turning to and relying not on ourselves anymore but on God=faith. The result is real righteousness given:
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,

and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord."
Jer 31:33-34

From that point we must continue to walk with Him in that justice/righteousness, that love that fulfills the law, picking up our cross daily and growing in those virtues which come only from Him as a result of drawing near to and uniting with Him. It's all about who one hangs out with. The following directive has never changed one bit under the new covant. Instead, were simply given the means to finally achieve it, by virtue of union with the Vine, now reconciled with God by the death of His Son who came to make God known-so that we may believe and become "my people", knowing God as a child of His should.

"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." Micah 6:8
I haven't com across a single verse in the Bible to support this notion that "grace can be resisted". Likewise I've never come across anything in the Bible to support the idea that God requires the cooperation of the person, in order to save them.

You obviously hold to the "saved by works" version of the gospel, which is based on "legalism". The "saved by grace" gospel, confirms that salvation is "all of God" and man plays no part in the work of salvation.
It is 100% of God, He first chose His elect, before He created the earth, then He quickens His elect out of the state of spiritual death and makes them willing to repent. He then does the life long work of sanctification and transformation into the image of His Son.

Nobody is born willing to cooperate with God, we are all born with the sin nature we inherited from Adam. That's why Gods Word confirms that nobody seeks Him, we are all born as His enemies, so there's no way we would willingly cooperate with our enemy, unless He first changes our will.

All of the exhortations to do good works, were given to encourage us. They weren't given as conditions, we have to meet, in order to be saved.
 
  • Like
Reactions: David Lamb
Upvote 0