Is God's Grace conditional?
I have heard it said many times that God's love is unconditional and so is His grace. Some seem to think that because we cannot earn our salvation, there is nothing required of us at all to "be saved". Although we know God's love is unconditional...John 3:16 comes to mind...it should be obvious that His grace IS conditional.
Why do I believe this? To the honest person looking for the truth of God's Word, that is what the New Testament teaches. Before I get into the scripture, please think about something. Jesus compared the christian "relationship" with God to marriage. He did that for a reason. We all understand what a marriage ceremony is all about and that it shows our intention to live in a sanctified relationship for the rest of our lives. God has always wanted a close and faithful relationship with mankind. Just as a marriage is conditional both in the requirement of a ceremony, and in a lifelong commitment...the same is true of a Christian relationship. The fact that conditions are required does not mean we are earning our salvation and don't need Jesus. The ONLY way that a person can EARN salvation is by living a sinless life. We all know that this is not possible. The conditions are required because faith is more than just belief...it is believing something so strongly that it causes one to act on that belief.
Please consider James 2:19 to the end of the chapter. Especially in verse 19, James says that even the demons believe there is a God and tremble. Many who claim that we are saved by grace only or faith only think that the entire book of James is not refering to the faith that justifies, but the faith that sanctifies. As if there were more than one kind of faith. But anyone who reads Ephesians 4:5 knows that there is only one faith. That faith is what justifies and sanctifies and is what James explains as needing works. Works and faith are intertwined.
The word sactify mearly means "set apart" and this is what the Greek expresses as well. All Christians are "set apart" from the rest of the world by making that commitment to God. We die to our old selves and live a new life for God desiring to be Christ-like (which is what christian means.
Water baptism that final step in our spiritual wedding ceremony and after baptism we are to remain faithful to our Jesus. Just as the woman takes the name of her husband to show who she belongs to, we take the name of Christ and are known as christians. We belong to Jesus. 1 Peter 3:21 shows us that water baptism saves us and it is the anti-type to the way Noah was saved through water. Anyone who will let the Bible interpret itself will come to the conclusion that water baptism is "for" the remission of sins and not because of.
After Paul(then known as Saul) was confronted by Jesus on his way to Damascus, he was instructed to go into the city and wait until a prophet of Jesus came to him to tell him what he MUST do. Paul waited there for three days. He was still blind and he fasted and prayed for those three days. When Anonias came to Paul, he healed Paul's eyes and then said, What are you waiting for? Arise and be baptised and wash away your sins. (ACTS 22:12-16) My question is...if Paul had fasted and prayed for three days, what sins did he have to wash away in baptism?
Now those who profess faith only also think that the baptism that saves is baptism of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit baptism was never a teaching God commanded anyone to do. God did it himself(Acts 2:15-18)and it was for specific purposes. To fulfill prophecy(Joel 2:28-29)and to show God's approval. (Acts 10:44-48) Holy Spirit baptism was visable and is only found in Acts chapter 2 and Acts chapter 10. It means to receive miraculous gifts. The reason Cornelius and his family received the Holy Spirit baptism was to show that God accepts non-jews to be christians as well. If this "sign" had not occurred, the jewish converts would have denied any gentile the right to be baptized christians. The purpose of Holy Spirit baptism on the Apostles in Acts 2 was to show that these men were God's prophets. We know it was only the 12 apostles because the comment recorded in Acts 2 says...are not all these men Gallalians? All the Apostles were from Gallalie. The 120 that some think were included were not all from Gallalie.
Also, in Acts 10:34-35, Peter says that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, he who fears God and works rightiousness is accepted by Him. It should be more than clear that there is only one baptism that saves.(Eph.4:5)Water baptism is that one baptism and the faith that saves does have conditions. These conditions, though technically, they are "works", they cannot possibly earn the gift of God...salvation. It is necessary to be in a right relationship with God to be saved and stay saved. I do hope that if you have never understood how one becomes "saved", this has helped you. God wants all to be saved and that is why Christ has not reurned yet. But we also know that the gate to eternal life is narrow and the path is difficult... few will find it.(Matt.7:13-14)
Why do I believe this? To the honest person looking for the truth of God's Word, that is what the New Testament teaches. Before I get into the scripture, please think about something. Jesus compared the christian "relationship" with God to marriage. He did that for a reason. We all understand what a marriage ceremony is all about and that it shows our intention to live in a sanctified relationship for the rest of our lives. God has always wanted a close and faithful relationship with mankind. Just as a marriage is conditional both in the requirement of a ceremony, and in a lifelong commitment...the same is true of a Christian relationship. The fact that conditions are required does not mean we are earning our salvation and don't need Jesus. The ONLY way that a person can EARN salvation is by living a sinless life. We all know that this is not possible. The conditions are required because faith is more than just belief...it is believing something so strongly that it causes one to act on that belief.
Please consider James 2:19 to the end of the chapter. Especially in verse 19, James says that even the demons believe there is a God and tremble. Many who claim that we are saved by grace only or faith only think that the entire book of James is not refering to the faith that justifies, but the faith that sanctifies. As if there were more than one kind of faith. But anyone who reads Ephesians 4:5 knows that there is only one faith. That faith is what justifies and sanctifies and is what James explains as needing works. Works and faith are intertwined.
The word sactify mearly means "set apart" and this is what the Greek expresses as well. All Christians are "set apart" from the rest of the world by making that commitment to God. We die to our old selves and live a new life for God desiring to be Christ-like (which is what christian means.
Water baptism that final step in our spiritual wedding ceremony and after baptism we are to remain faithful to our Jesus. Just as the woman takes the name of her husband to show who she belongs to, we take the name of Christ and are known as christians. We belong to Jesus. 1 Peter 3:21 shows us that water baptism saves us and it is the anti-type to the way Noah was saved through water. Anyone who will let the Bible interpret itself will come to the conclusion that water baptism is "for" the remission of sins and not because of.
After Paul(then known as Saul) was confronted by Jesus on his way to Damascus, he was instructed to go into the city and wait until a prophet of Jesus came to him to tell him what he MUST do. Paul waited there for three days. He was still blind and he fasted and prayed for those three days. When Anonias came to Paul, he healed Paul's eyes and then said, What are you waiting for? Arise and be baptised and wash away your sins. (ACTS 22:12-16) My question is...if Paul had fasted and prayed for three days, what sins did he have to wash away in baptism?
Now those who profess faith only also think that the baptism that saves is baptism of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit baptism was never a teaching God commanded anyone to do. God did it himself(Acts 2:15-18)and it was for specific purposes. To fulfill prophecy(Joel 2:28-29)and to show God's approval. (Acts 10:44-48) Holy Spirit baptism was visable and is only found in Acts chapter 2 and Acts chapter 10. It means to receive miraculous gifts. The reason Cornelius and his family received the Holy Spirit baptism was to show that God accepts non-jews to be christians as well. If this "sign" had not occurred, the jewish converts would have denied any gentile the right to be baptized christians. The purpose of Holy Spirit baptism on the Apostles in Acts 2 was to show that these men were God's prophets. We know it was only the 12 apostles because the comment recorded in Acts 2 says...are not all these men Gallalians? All the Apostles were from Gallalie. The 120 that some think were included were not all from Gallalie.
Also, in Acts 10:34-35, Peter says that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, he who fears God and works rightiousness is accepted by Him. It should be more than clear that there is only one baptism that saves.(Eph.4:5)Water baptism is that one baptism and the faith that saves does have conditions. These conditions, though technically, they are "works", they cannot possibly earn the gift of God...salvation. It is necessary to be in a right relationship with God to be saved and stay saved. I do hope that if you have never understood how one becomes "saved", this has helped you. God wants all to be saved and that is why Christ has not reurned yet. But we also know that the gate to eternal life is narrow and the path is difficult... few will find it.(Matt.7:13-14)
posted by Unknown at 2:02 AM
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