Aubrey and Brad's Adventures: We aren't saved by faith alone??

"For the preaching of the CROSS is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the POWER OF God." 1 Corinthians 1:18

Jesus said: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." Luke 9:23

And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Colossians 1:20

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Galatians 6:14

Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; Colossians 2:14

"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 NIV

" Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)

ONE GOD

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. Isaiah 44:6

Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any. Isaiah 44:8

Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the Lord that maketh ALL things; that stretcheth forth the heavens ALONE; that spreadeth abroad the earth by MYSELF; Isaiah 44:24

...who hath told it from that time? have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Isaiah 45: 21

Look unto me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God and there is none else. Isaiah 45:22

Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is NONE LIKE me. Isaiah 46:9

... Believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. Isaiah 43:10

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker!... Isaiah 45:9

(striveth: make great efforts to achieve or obtain)

Jesus Christ is God in the flesh:

Colossians 1:13-16 -"Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:" Colossians 1:19 - "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Colossians 3:8:9

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." II Corinthians 5:6

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

"Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:1

"Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God." John 5:18

"That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him." John 5:23

"And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shall you say unto the children of Israel, I AM has sent me unto you." Exodus 3:14

"I [Jesus] 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." John 8:24

"Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." John 8:58

"I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God." John 10:30-33

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." John 14:6-7

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." John 14:9-11

"And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God." John 20:28

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." Acts 20:28

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:" 2:5-6

"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." 1 Timothy 3:16

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;" Titus 2:13

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:7-8

"I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last." Revelation 22:13

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." John 1:14

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." 1 John 5:7

When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The LORD—he is God! The LORD—he is God!” 1 Kings 18:39

Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. Deuteronomy 4:35

Friday, December 7, 2012

We aren't saved by faith alone??

What is James saying in James chapter 2?

Faith and works are results of salvation, not conditions or means for it. James is talking of a person or people who are ALREADY saved or claiming to have saving faith without that faith producing any works. True saving faith produces good works (but remember, you're ALREADY saved by that point). James says we aren't saved by faith alone and he's right because we are saved by God's grace alone. His writings in chapter two go in complete harmony with the plethora of "saved by grace without works" passages found in the Bible.

"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." Epheisians 2:8-9

Even faith is not ours to boast of...it is a gift from God and the moment He gifts us with faith in Him, we are saved...and that doesn't mean "after all we can do." We are "born again" and a saved child of God at that very moment. God doesn't make salvation a gift to turn us into lazy spoiled brats, he does it out of love, mercy and ultimately for His glory. If we can lay claim to any part of our salvation, that diminishes God's full sovereignty and glory.

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