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.
Thanks for all the effort Danthemailman. I really do appreciate it.
Hopefully I will get you to see that the phrase faith alone is unscriptual error in phraseology.
The Bible has many phrases, example
calling on the name of the Lord This phrase is all throughout the old and new testaments.
Not once does the Bible use the phrase Faith Alone.
You know why? Because it is an error in Biblical interpretation of scripture. I will prove that the salvation formula of grace + faith alone is not the gospel taught anywhere in the Bible.
Really, I don't need to prove it, for you have already done it for me in your post that I have posted above.
"Based on the merits of His finished WORK"
You just agreed with what the Bible teaches saves us,
Gods grace + mans faith + Gods merit, works = salvation
You understand yourself, and that's why I like discussion with you. You don't have an issue with there being works in salvation.
The real problem you have is your sects mess of doctrinal explanation.
If I could get you to realize what a poorly descriptive phrase Faith Alone is as a definition for how one is saved. I will of made some head-way in your teaching on salvation. Again it has nothing to do with who is smarter than who, only indoctrination that causes blindness to the obvious.
Now please answer this,
John 6:28-29
Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might WORK THE WORKS OF GOD? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the WORK OF GOD, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent.
Now who told you that is just a play on words?
Think about this, who came up with the idea of how He wanted to save mankind?
Dumb question I know, obviously God did.
Now who's "mind" did the whole concept of Faith come from, it came from God.
God breathed faith as a condition for man to obey in order to receive His grace. Man had nothing to do with this work of God.
Now that we know Faith comes from the "mind" of God. We must also conclude it is in fact a work of God. It cannot be only a play on words. It is a thought process that comes directly from the "mind" of God and he also put His thoughts on Faith into practise when He brought this idea of His to earth for man to follow. God thought it and took action on it by bringing it to mankind.
That is more than just a play on words. It is LITERALLY A WORK OF GOD. Just as Jesus says it is in,
John 6:28-29.
Now you have already admitted that God does works of merit in order that we might be saved. Theres works involved in salvation. And for you to say otherwise goes against the Biblical gospel that is taught in the Bible. You know this to be true.
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.
Yes not based on our merit, you already know I dont believe man can earn his salvation. But you contract that poor protestant phrase of Faith only right in your own explanation of how we are saved.
"Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished WORK"
Based on your own explanation of how salvation works. You admitted works must be involved for man to be saved. Which is exactly my position all along. Not works that we do,
Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5.
But works that God does for us and on us,
John 6:28-29; Colossians 2:12
So my formula for Gods plan of salvation ie Jesus' gospel. Is Biblically sound, while your Faith Alone is nowhere found in the Bible.
This is Gods formula to receive salvation, Grace+ obedient faith + Gods works.
The Bible teaches faith is a work. The protestants teach we are saved by faith only apart from ANY kind of works.
Since faith is a work of God,
John 6:28-29.... this is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent, You teach faith ALONE without any kind of works save us. So you deny man is saved by that which you say we are saved!!!
The Bible clearly states in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith
"apart from additions or modifications." (
Luke 8:12;
John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; 20:31; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; 26:18;
Romans 1:16; 3:22-28; 4:2-6; 5:1; 10:4;
1 Corinthians 1:21;
Galatians 2:16; 3:6-7, 26;
Ephesians 2:8,9;
Philippians 3:9;
2 Timothy 3:15;
1 John 5:13 etc..).
Never does the Bible teach Belief alone. Every one of those passages are referring to Biblical faith which is never alone. Faith that saves always is implied that it obeys God. Why do you hate the idea of obedience to God so greatly? Obeying God is the most beautifull thing a person can do.
In regards to Jesus receiving water baptism in
Matthew 3:15, Jesus stated - “Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to
fulfill all righteousness." So getting water baptized is a
"work of righteousness"
No Sir, you cannot compare Jesus' baptism WHO IS WITHOUT SIN AND IS GOD, to the reason man requires baptism. Very poor exegesis.
In regards to
Colossians 2:12, Paul clearly teaches that what is signified in baptism (buried and raised with Christ) actually occurs "through faith." Christians are "buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him
through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."
I will teach on baptism a little but I really just want you to give an answer on how one is saved without any works of any kind, only faith Alone.
No God does not teach in Colossians 2:12 that he already operated on us by Faith alone. The verse nowhere teaches this.
By the way when God operates on us. That is a WORK INVOLVED IN OUR SALVATION. Faith +works = salvation.
Colossians 2:12
Buried with Him IN BAPTISM wherein also ye are risen with Him...
This scripture is clearly teaching we are buried with Christ in baptism Not BEFORE! Then in baptism we are RAISED WITH CHRIST JUST AS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD. We also raise BORN AGAIN from the dead in BAPTISM never by Faith alone.
You want to die from the old man of sin and be born again with Christ? Gods word says it only occurs in baptism.
....through the faith of the OPERATION of God,...
Through faith alone without baptism? NOT ACCORDING TO COLOSSIANS 2:12.
Just as faith precedes water baptism. Why does it? Because the only folks who will be water baptized are those who already have FAITH. No one without faith is going to believe that water baptism can save them. Just as Jesus COMMANDS in
Mark 16:15-16.
Will you admit that the Baptist's go against the gospel of Jesus Christ by refusing to admit that water immersion is a DIRECT COMMAND OF OUR LORD? Why dont you teach the truth on water baptism?
Acts 10:48
And he COMMANDED them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.
Colossians 2:12
...through the faith of the OPERATION/WORK OF GOD, who hath raised Him from the dead.
When does Colossians 2:12 teach God works His saving power on us?
Is it before baptism? Does this passage teach God operates on us at the instance of Belief?
No, we know exactly what this passage is teaching!
God operates on us with His power to make us born again in WATER BAPTISM.
Faith is a work of God.
Repantance is a work of God
Confession is a work of God
Baptism in Water is a Work of God,
Colossians 2:12-13; Acts 2:38.
All of these works of God must be OBEYED! Not only the work of Faith, as you teach in error.
Titus 3:5 are works of man. They are meritorious works of the law of Moses. Cannot save,
Galatians 2:16
Acts 10:35
But in every nation he that feareth Him and worketh righteousness, is accepted by Him.
The works we do in Acts 10:35 cannot be the same kind of works in
Titus 3:5 because God accepts the obedient works we do in Acts 10:35 and condems the works we do in Titus 3:5.
Acts 10:35
....
worketh righteousness, is accepted by Him.
This verse proves that righteousness does not come by only belief as your sect teaches.
You cannot get around the fact that Gods word teaches there are works/commandments of God, that when we obey do account us as righteous, justified. You can claim only faith alone can account a man righteous but you are calling God a liar when you do.
James 2:24
Ye see then how by works(obedience) a man is JUSTIFIED and not by faith only.
Why can you not see that James is not saying you are justified without obedience? James never once says man is counted as righteous/justified before obedience only after. Obedient Faith saves.