At work we have a returning employee who at first I considered an unbeliever. Then one day he mentioned that he went to church so I started to talk to him. When asked what he believes he gave the statement "Just accept Jesus into your heart." This of course started more conversation as to who he thinks Jesus is and is he doing the work or is it all done by Jesus.
I talked about Eph 2:8,9 some and explained that if his works could save him then why does he need Jesus. The sad truth is his church, a large assembly, does not explain who Jesus is and why we need him like that last breath of air to a drowning man.
I have decided to start in Genesis and talk about who God is first. My first objective is to show that God created every thing from nothing which should dispel all thoughts of aliens or other religions. Then I plan to show that scripture also says that Jesus made every thing and by him all things exist. I also plan to show mans attempts at salvation an offer Jesus as his only choice.
Comments and recommendations are appreciated.
I have went to a few churches where there is no invitation to accept Christ at all, and there is no talk about His grace, and or any need to believe in Him for salvation and there is no gospel message of His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). No grace, means.... no salvation. These churches are all about "do, do, do" and "no grace." This is wrong. At least the church he went to got him to accept Christ as His Savior. But yes, acceptance of Christ without knowing the gospel is not good, either. For not knowing why Christ died for us, and was buried, and was risen three days later is a big problem.
As for Ephesians 2:8-9:
This is how we are initially and ultimately saved. God's grace (Jesus and the gospel) is the entrance gate to salvation. We are not saved by works of righteousness that we have done, but by His mercy (Titus 3:5). God's grace is also foundational to our salvation, as well. We continue to build upon the foundation of God's grace (Who is Jesus Christ). Jesus is the gift (John 3:16). If we mess up or happen to stumble into a sin on rare occasion (unintentionally), we go to His grace by confessing our sin to Jesus in order to be forgiven (1 John 1:9). So God's grace is how we are initially and ultimately saved.
I also believe that a person has to accept the Holy Bible as God's one and only spiritual authority for their lives, as well. This is what it means to be born of water. For if a person starts to accept a false vision, or man made church traditions, or another supposed holy book (Besides the Bible), they are not born of water. A person can also deny that there is no Holy Word from God that we can know today with 100% certainty, too. They may think God's Word (the Bible) is unknowable (as a whole or in part) or that there are errors in God's Word (or they must determine what is true and false in the Bible). If so, I believe this type person is not born of water.
To be born of the Spirit means one is given a new heart with new desires when they believe in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection on their behalf for salvation and they seek forgiveness with the Lord Jesus Christ over their past life of sin.
After one is saved by God's grace: They need to enter the Sanctification Process (Putting away sin, being fruitful (works), and in living holy by God doing the good work through you) as a part of salvation. If not, then they are turning God's grace into a license for immorality (Jude 1:4). If they do not enter the Sanctification Process for salvation they are not agreeing with Titus 2:11-12 that says that God's grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and that we should live righteously and godly in this present world.
Most today in candy land Christianity want God and their sin, too. But it does not work like that. We can deny God by our works (Titus 1:16). Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). If we live after the flesh (sin), we will die, but if we put to death the misdeeds of the body (sin) by the Spirit, we will live (live eternally) (Romans 8:13). 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says that God has chosen us to salvation by two things.
(a) Belief of the Truth (Jesus is the Truth - Jhn 14:6).
(b) Sanctification of the Spirit (Romans 8:13, Galatians 5:16).
James says we are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).
Yes, salvation is initially and ultimately in God's grace through faith in Christ and the gospel message (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), which is a foundational process of salvation that is without works (Ephesians 2:9). So we are not saved by "Works Alone." But the Bible does talk about how Sanctification also plays a part in the salvation process, too. For Jesus is the author of eternal life to all who obey Him (Hebrews 5:9). 1 John 1:7 says that if we walk in the light, the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. According to 1 John 2:9-11, walking in the light is loving your brother.
God's grace is about cleansing us of our past sin. Sanctification is about purifying yourself before God in this life and living faithfully to Him. For Jesus says "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' if you do not do what I say?" (Luke 6:46). It is a contradiction for a believer to be a "
sinning saint," or to be "
unfaithful in their faith." For even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19).