Too often I see Christians creating an unbiblical chasm in the relationship between salvation and good works. I found Thomas Schreiner helpful on this issue. Commenting on 1 Timothy 4:11-16, he writes,
Salvation is ultimately of the Lord, for it is his work. And yet the actions of human beings are significant and crucial as well. Timothy's faithfulness is necessary for him to be saved, and his faithfulness pays a role in the salvation of others. On the other hand, such faithfulness in the life of Timothy is ultimately and finally due to God's work in his life. Both of these strands must be held together and in the right order to grasp Paul's theology. Thomas Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God's Glory in Christ, p. 284.In other words, our faithfulness is necessary for perseverance and our faithfulness is due to Gods work in us.
WORKS THAT SAVE AND WORKS THAT DON'T
ReplyDeleteTHE WORK THAT SAVES
What work endures to eternal life.
John 6:27-29 Do not work for the food perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the the Father, God has set His seal." 28 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so 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 as sent."
The work that men do to be saved is believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and their Lord and Savior and that God raised Him from the dead. Yes, there is a work that men do, that can save them. Believing is the work men that do that saves.
THERE IS A WORK THAT GOD DOES, THAT SAVES.
Colossians 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in whichyou were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
God does the work in water baptism. Not men.
You cannot separate faith and water baptism.
Mark 16:16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved....
1 Peter 20-21 ...safely through the water. 21 Corresponding to thatbaptism now saves you ---not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience--- through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You cannot separate faith and water baptism. Man's work is to believe. God's work is to forgive men of their sins.
Colossians 2:12-13.......When you dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,
You cannot separate faith and water baptism.
WORKS THAT DO NOT SAVE.
Galatians 2:11-16....16 nevertheless know that a man is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ Jesus and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
The apostle Paul was not telling Cephas (Peter) and Barnabas,
that believing in Jesus was a work of the Law Moses,
that being baptized in water for the forgiveness of sins was a work of the Law of Moses,
that repenting (turning from unbelief and making a commitment to turn from from a sinful lifestyle and turning toward God) was a work of the Law of Moses,
that confessing that Jesus was the Son of God, their Lord and Savior and believing that God raised Jesus from the dead, was a work of the Law of Moses.
FAITH-REPENTANCE-CONFESSION and WATER BAPTISM are not works of the Law of Moses.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been savedthrough faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.
Colossians 2:12 ....baptism...through faith in the working of God...
Ephesians 2:9-10 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in the.
Believing in Jesus is not a good work.
Repenting is not a good work.
Confessing is not a good work.
Being baptized in water is not a good work.
Believing (John 3:16) Repenting (Acts 2:38) Confessing (Romans 10:9-10) and Water Baptism (Mark 16:16) are all essential for salvation, however NONE of them are Laws of Moses nor are they good works.
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