What We Believe And Why We Believe It.

Title: Grace, Faith and Works Text: Eph. 2:8,9

Jeremy Young presented this lesson at Kenova, West Virginia on May 29, 2005. His lesson summarizes very ably what I understand the scriptures teach relative to Grace – Faith and Works. He very kindly gave me his notes and his permission to put this material on my web-site. While these notes cannot capture the force and the power of the lesson he delivered, the logic of the message, even in written form, will greatly aid our understanding of these issues if we will but study what he has written and “search the scriptures to see if these thing be true” (Acts 17:11).

Introduction:

· Jesus is the Son of God, the Sacrifice for our sin, and our Savior.

· We will look at what we believe concerning Grace, Faith and Works. We will look at what the Scriptures say concerning these important matters and draw our conclusion based upon what the Bible says. .

· There are many misconceptions about Salvation by Grace, Salvation by Faith and Salvation by Works. Some feel that to say that you are saved by Grace and Faith means that you can not possibly be saved by Works. What we want to do is show that these concepts do not contradict each other but rather support each other.

· We will see that there is perfect harmony in what the Bible teaches on Grace, Faith and Works. Only in man's doctrines on these subjects do you find contradictions.

· This morning we will look at each and ask the question.... Are we saved by.....

· Grace? ..... Faith? ...... Works?....

Are we saved by Grace?

A. What is Grace?

1. The Greek Word for Grace is Charis, "That which affords joy, pleasure, delight. Grace, good will, loving kindness, favor, in a broad sense, Used of the kindness of a master towards his inferiors or servants, and so especially of God towards man. Contains the idea of kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved; that kindness by which God bestows favors even upon the ill-deserving, and grants to sinners the pardon of their offences, and bids them accept of eternal salvation through Christ; Thayer pg. 665,666.

2. Grace is the Gift of God and of Christ.

· Eph. 2:8,9 “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. “

· Rom. 16:20 "And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen"

· 2 Cor. 13:14 "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all"

· James 4:6 "But He gives more grace, therefore He says; God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble" .

· 2 Pt. 3: 18 "but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen"

3. The Gift of God, or the Grace of God, was given to all mankind. Titus 2: 11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

4. Jesus is that Gift.

· Jn. 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”

· Rom. 5:8,9 “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

· Rom 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death but the Gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

5. Without the death and Resurrection of Christ on the cross we could not have had a hope for eternal life. Without that selfless act by God and by Jesus we could not have eternal life and we would all be doomed to eternity in Hell.

· Rom. 3:23; “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”

· Rom. 6:23; “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

· I Cor. 15:12-19 “... If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

6. Jesus came into the World so that sinners could be saved.

· I Tim. 1:15. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

· Jn 1:17 "For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ"

7. So we see that it is by the Grace of God that man can be saved.

B. However we are not saved by Grace alone.

· The Bible does not teach that we are saved by Grace alone.

· If this was the case than we would not have to even believe in Christ

· The Bible plainly teaches that we must believe or die in our sins. Jn. 8:24 "Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins"

· Eph. 2:8 tells us that For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Now if we are saved by Grace alone than this would not be a true statement.

· Rom. 5:2 "through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God"

· If Grace were meant to save us alone than all men would be saved. Titus 2: 11 ~ 14. ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. “ But in fact this passage tells us that Grace teaches us that we are to do some things too..... Like denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly and righteously in this present age.

C. Grace is God's part

and without it salvation could not be attainable for man. But there is much more to Salvation. It is only by Grace that salvation is possible but we are not saved by Grace only. .

Are we saved by Faith?

A. What is faith?

· Heb. 11: 1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

· It is required to please God.

· Heb. 11:6; “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

· Mk. 16:16; “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”

· Jn. 8:24 “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

· Faith is the way that we receive the grace of God. Eph. 2:8. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

· Faith is the medium through which the Christian life is lived. Gal. 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

· Faith is that which comes from Hearing God's Word. Rom. 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” This is the only way the Bible tells us that we can have faith. Faith is more than a mere feeling, it is more than belief, it is belief based upon the evidence of God's Holy and Divine Word. If faith was based solely upon how I personally believed or felt in my heart, then faith would be a very shaky foundation to stand upon. But standing upon the unchanging Word of God we have a sure and steadfast footing.

B. Does Faith save?

· Yes it does.

· Jn. 3:16-18; “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God”

· Jn. 5:24 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life."

· Mk 16:16. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned”

· Rom.5: 1 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through OID Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which w stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

· Faith is essential to salvation. With out Faith it is impossible....

C. Are we saved by Faith alone?

1. NO! We have already shown that we are saved by Grace through Faith.

2. If we are saved by Faith alone than we can't be saved by Grace.

3. The term alone means in exclusion to everything else.

4. We are saved by the Grace of God through the Faith.

5. In Eph. 2: 8 the article is left out of many translations but is present in the original language.

6. This indicates a specific type of faith. Not just a believing faith but the System of faith which is the Word of God. . .

7. We are saved by Grace through the Faith which comes from knowing and obeying God's Word.

8. The book of James teaches us very plainly that there is much more than just belief involved in faith.

· Faith alone does not profit and will not save. James 2:14~16 “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”

· Faith alone is dead. James 2: 17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”

· Faith alone cannot be proved. James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works”

· Faith alone is exactly what the demons have. James 2:19 “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”

· Faith alone is incomplete. James 2:22 “Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?”

· Faith alone will not justify. James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only”

9. It is interesting to see that the only place in the Bible where the words “faith only” appear is with the word not preceding them.

Are we saved by Works?

A. What is meant by works?

1. If you mean by the term works, "the law of Moses" the answer is clearly no.

· Rom. 3 :20 "Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

· Gal. 2: 16 "knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. "

2. If you mean by the term works, that of works of merit than again the answer is no.

· 2 Tim. 1:9 "who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began."

· Eph. 2:8,9 "For by the grace you have been saved through the faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

B. Are we saved by works of Faith?

· Yes we are.

· Gal. 5:6 "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.”

· Paul spoke of the work of faith. I Thess. 1:3 "remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father."

· SO we see that Faith is a work! Jesus said in Jn. 6:29 "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent"

· Every condition of salvation is based on obedient faith. as we have already noticed, faith without works is dead. James 2: 17

· Why does it save? It proves the reality of faith. If you really believe in Christ than you will be motivated to obey Him. Jesus said If you love me, keep my commandments. Jn. 14: 15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments”

· Gal. 3:11 tells us the Just shall live by faith. This clearly means more than just believing. The word living involves with it action. The actions of our every day lives must be directed by faith and not flesh. That is we follow His word.

· Heb 11 Is known as the Faith chapter of the Bible. We have many hero's of Faith given to us by example. Notice that each of these hero's of faith acted upon that faith. There faith was not mere belief but belief made manifest in their actions.

· Read. Heb. 11:4,5,7,8,9,17,20,21,22,23,24,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34

· Peter tells us to add these works to our faith! 2 Peter 1 :5-8

Conclusion:

· The apostle Paul began the body of his letter to Timothy with these sobering words~ "As I urged you when I went into Macedonia~ remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith." 1 Tim. 1:3,4 2. Timothy was an evangelist, and he was to proclaim the truth and oppose the error.

· I have attempted to do that today.

· We are saved by Grace, but not by Grace alone.

· We are saved by Faith, but not by Faith alone.

· We are saved by Works, but not by Works alone.

· We are saved by a combination of the three together.

· It is by God's Grace that Jesus was sent to die for our sins and by His grace that we have the Word to show us what to do to be saved.

· It is by Faith that we must live. Not a mere belief in God or in Jesus, but a working faith. A faith that is seen by all proving that you are indeed a follower of Christ and not merely saying that you are a follower. Faith is proven by the obedience that you have to God.

· God has supplied the Grace for you. Do you have the Faith to be obedient to Him?

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