- Mar 16, 2004
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The Protestant expression is, 'saved by grace through faith ', the New Testament will tell you apart from works. All Christian theology Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant agree that sanctification by the agency of the Holy Spirit must follow. In the context of the Reformation justification by grace through faith basically meant apart from the Catholic Priesthood, the sacraments or any human agency or practice. In Luther's day people would contribute something called indulgences, giving money to Rome in order to have family in Purgatory forgiven for their sins. When the early Anabaptists arrived on the scene they were persecuted because they practiced baptism by immersion.Just s quick point here.
I hear some on the radio and in person say we are saved by “faith” and they add the words “faith alone”.
But in scripture we read that we are saved by grace through faith
Ephesians 2 - 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. “
Romans 4 - 16. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”
Romans 5 - 15. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”
Ephesians 2 - 5. Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)”
Romans 3 - 24. Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”
So by faith we enter INTO this grace
Romans 5 - 2. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Justification by grace through faith is normal salvation as the church has always taught, going all the way back to the council of Jerusalem. The controversy surrounding justified by faith has more to do with who the agency of salvation is. For the early Protestants it was faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone.
Grace and peace,
Mark
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