Salvation is a free gift without
any work whatsoever. (Eph.
2:8-9) Salvation is not dependent upon walking the aisle, joining the church,
being baptized, turning over a new leaf, repenting of your sins, turning from
your sins, forsaking your sins, confessing your sins, asking for forgiveness of
your sins or inviting Christ into your heart.
Forgiveness is available to all
who believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again and that
God forgave us for Christ’s sake.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 Moreover,
brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also
ye have received, and wherein ye stand;By which also ye are saved, if ye keep
in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures; And that he was buried, and
that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Salvation is trusting completely
in what Christ did in our behalf at Calvary.
Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were
sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
We believe that this glorious
truth has been hidden from the world in general by the religious system of this
world that has substituted the traditions of men for the truth.
As you consider the following
facts, please keep in mind that the words of Paul in Romans through Philemon
are the Words of Christ [for this dispensation of grace]. However, many times
Paul’s words differ drastically from the words of Christ spoken during His
earthly ministry [to and for Israel under their prophetic Kingdom program].
Under the kingdom message
[Genesis thru Acts 8; Hebrews thru Revelation], as under the law, works were
always a part of salvation, but under grace, salvation is a free gift without
works:
PETER: Acts 10:34-35 – Then
Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no
respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh
righteousness, is accepted with him.
PAUL: Titus 3:5 – Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to
his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy
Ghost;
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.
Christ specifically taught his
disciples and others to keep the law; Paul said we are not under the law:
CHRIST: Matt. 19:17 – And
he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that
is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Matt 23:1-3 – Then spake Jesus to
the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit
in Moses seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe
and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
JEWS: Acts 21:20 – And
when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest,
brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are
all zealous of the law:
PAUL: Romans 7:6 – But
now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein
we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the
oldness of the letter.
The 12 disciples taught that
works were necessary for salvation, while Paul taught that they were not:
JAMES: James 2:24 – Ye
see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
PAUL: Romans 4:5 – But
to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the
ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Baptism is a work and was
necessary for Israel’s salvation but has no place in God’s program for today.
We are living in the dispensation of the grace of God. (Eph.
3:1-6)
PETER: Acts 2:38 – Then
Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift
of the Holy Ghost.
1 Peter 3:21 – The like figure
whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of
the filthiness of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,)
by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
PAUL: Acts 16:31 – And
they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,
and thy house.
Rom. 11:6 – And if by grace,
then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of
works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Peter was sent to baptize, while
Paul was sent not to baptize:
PETER: Matt. 28:19 – Go
ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
PAUL: 1Cor. 1:17 – For
Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom
of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
Jesus taught that forgiveness was
conditional on man forgiving others, while Paul taught that we are forgiven
based solely on what Christ did for us.
JESUS: Matt. 6:15 – But
if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father
forgive your trespasses.
PAUL: Col 2:13 – And
you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he
quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Jesus taught that there was an
unpardonable sin, yet Paul said there was forgiveness for all sins.
JESUS: Matt.12:31 – Wherefore
I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but
the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men.
PAUL: Acts 13:39 And
by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye
could not be justified by the law of Moses.
Jesus told the 12 to preach the
gospel of the kingdom, while Paul was given the gospel of the grace of God.¶¶JESUS:
Matt.24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached
in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.¶¶PAUL: Acts 20:24 But
none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that
I might finish my course with joy and the ministry, which I have received of
the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God.
By Pastor
Steve Atwood -
3827 Hixson Pike
Chattanooga, Tennessee
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