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To: Elsie
While certain Freepers emphasize DOING things to KEEP your salvation; the bible doesn't.

Correct: it emphasizes keeping effectual faith, which effects obedience, and thus promises salvation to those who believe, as well as those whose life and character characterize what true faith effects, in perseverance, and excludes as saved those whose life and character characterize the contrary. For what we do manifests what we truly believe.

The critical difference is that faith is what appropriates justification for the unGodly, being counted for righteousness, and while this faith effects obedience and Christian character, the effect is not the cause of justification, as if one actually possesses such perfection of character that he is fit to be with God, or his merits outweigh his sins. Yet works are the basis by which the elect are manifest as being so, and are judged and justified/vindicated as having true complete faith. Understanding this reconciles what can seem to be contradictory statements.

Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, (Romans 4:4-6)

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; (Titus 3:5)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (Ephesians 2:8)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27-28)

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (Matthew 25:34-36)

(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. (Romans 2:13)

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:4-5)

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:13-14)

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. (Ephesians 5:5)

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (Hebrews 6:7-9)

But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end. (Hebrews 3:6)

Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. (Hebrews 3:12)

For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14)

For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. (Hebrews 10:26-27)

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:38-39)

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. (Revelation 2:11)

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14)

Mark 16:16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. The Book does NOT say... ...but whoever does not GET BAPTIZED will be condemned.

Correct: it promises salvation to those who believe with the kind of faith that effects obedience, and thus salvation is promised to those who believe, and to those who confess the Lord Jesus, and to those who obey Him.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47)

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9-10)

It is the faith that is behind baptism whereby the heart is purified, and which is counted for righteousness, versus the act of baptism itself effecting regeneration.

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. (Acts 2:38)

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43)

And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us; And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9)

387 posted on 08/31/2016 7:08:49 AM PDT by daniel1212 ( Turn to the Lord Jesus as a damned and destitute sinner+ trust Him to save you, then follow Him!)
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To: daniel1212; Elsie; BipolarBob
It is the faith that is behind baptism whereby the heart is purified, and which is counted for righteousness, versus the act of baptism itself effecting regeneration.

You're not talking about the water baptism into discipleship, are you?

(There are seven baptisms in the NT, eight if you count ritual cleansing in the mikvah for entering the sacred Temple precincts.)

391 posted on 08/31/2016 9:35:39 AM PDT by imardmd1 (Fiat Lux)
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