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The substantiality of my wealth is in abundance that exceeds paradise for truly where ever I AM in you this quotient exists in a udepleteable manner and such is my Grace for those in my will . So watch now as I dress my children of light as Job and reward them even now for the trials and tribulations , " Yeah " the pathway of fire they have surrendered to for my name sake . Did I not say buy from me gold and silver that has been tested and purified by My Holiness alone ?! Then surely what...

Some time after the conflict, Fuchida came upon the testimony of a young Christian woman. Her mother and father had been killed by the Japanese. That war had swept away her parents’ lives.

I would like to thank all of you for coming back over the last several months to read my story (God’s Story)…My Secret Sin. I didn’t share my story to shock anyone but my intention was to show God’s grace, and how we can trust in His Word.

Hello and welcome to another edition of the White Horse Inn as we are thinking through what is means to be Christians in a post-Christian culture. You know, every time a debate comes up on homosexual marriage or on war, a whole host of topics; on one hand conservatives sometimes invoke the theocratic promises, commands, and threats of the old covenant as if they could just be lifted from the context of Israel's covenant with God and apply to any modern country. While liberals and secularists simply dismiss these Old Testament passages as morally offensive "texts of terror." But there...

There is no doubt that the 16th century witnessed the greatest ever split in Church history. Some view the Reformation as a sad or even an evil episode. Others see it as a time when God restored the one true biblical Gospel back into the hands of the masses. But what exactly were the issues back then? And what are the issues in our own day? Was this a mere tempest in a tea cup? I suggest that the issues then and now are exactly the same - who or what speaks for God, and what exactly is the Gospel?...

I am calling you into a oneness of abundance and grace can you see it ?! For the children "know" ! This is not a work but a surrender \o/ \o/ \o/ Allow me alone to be and become your shepherd . Through times of darkness I am your light , Through times of division and hardship I AM The Love that brings " all " together . You see ?! See me in all things for I am your eyes and your submission to me must be complete that I may be resurrected in you ! Psalm 23 1The...

Special to AIPNews.comSeptember 16, 2009Georgette SmelichThrough many generations God’s loving Hand has greatly blessed the United States of America. We are a Christian nation that was founded upon reliance on God and His principles. He has graciously provided all of our needs, from an abundance of food on our tables, the clothes that we wear, to the warm shelter within our homes. The Lord has protected us, for we are His people. He has remained faithful and merciful, gently caring for us as a shepherd tends to his flock. In difficult times God is our solid Rock. He is our...

1) What do we mean when we say "that we are saved by grace alone?" When we use the term "grace alone," what we mean is that our salvation from the wrath of God - our deliverance from hell - is because of something good in God, and not because of anything good in us. The Biblical conception of human nature after Adam and Eve's fall into sin is not a pretty picture, and Amerians, who seem to have an unlimited confidence in human nature and human goodness, have a very difficult time accepting what the bible says about the...

I am tearing down old strongholds in my children's lives for this is a "storm of Grace" I am bringing across the waters (~ " the voices of my children " ) that have cried out to me and in this containment of these strongholds shall come such a release of my spirit that it shall calm all the storms of my children's lives in Tranquility ~ " The very fruit of Peace " ~ that is ~ " ME " ~ I call ~~~ ZION ~~~ , for as I become your covering in this new way you shall...

Questionnaire: Are you Catholic or Protestant? Before reading the following essay on justification by faith..., we invite you to answer 10 questions. They are simple questions about justification by faith. In surveys to date, this questionnaire has demonstrated the startling fact that a very large proportion of Protestants are more Catholic than Protestant in their concept of justification. Please record your answers to the 10 questions. In each of the following 10 choices, mark either (a) or (b), whichever is correct. 1 (a) God gives a man right standing with Himself by mercifully accounting him innocent and virtuous. (b) God...

Many Catholics just don’t know what to say when someone asks them whether they are saved. As Catholics, we're vaguely familiar with "saved" language. We don't usually ask someone, "Are you saved?" and when someone asks us this question, we often stutter and fumble for an answer. So how should we answer: "Are you saved?" Constantly. We are constantly being saved by the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why? Because salvation is dynamic, ongoing. It's a past, present, and future reality. Let me explain. Salvation is a past reality: We have been saved by the death of...

Praise God, that we are saved by grace alone. Works without faith are utterly without merit. This is not merely a Protestant notion. Such has been the persistent teaching of the saints throughout the ages. Yet a whitewashing of Martin Luther has led to many people, even Catholics, fundamentally misunderstanding the Catholic Church's criticism of him. Please understand that what I write here is no ad-hominem attack on Luther for any purpose, including the slander of Protestantism. Attacking the moral character of Martin Luther is gainless, for no-one supposes Luther to be imbued with the gift of infallibility. But when...

Thank God For Our Dinner? Cambridge Students Axe Tradition Of Saying Grace Before Dinner As It Is 'Too Religious' By Daily Mail Reporter 14th May 2009 Students lucky enough to have won a place at Cambridge have plenty to be thankful for. So it is not surprising that grace is said before formal dinners at the university's Newnham College. However, the Christian content of the prayer has proved too much for some students and they have brought in a secular version. Enlarge All change: Newnham College, Cambridge, where undergraduates think saying grace is 'too religious' Their only concession is that...

I was watching Sunday ABC News and the Salvation Army was the big sponsor for the newscast. They showed a commercial that was very touching. The Salvation Army is the greatest organization ever created! It is truly doing God's work. Here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90cfMSqAj0o&feature=related

Watch Video Poem. If I compared you to a sweaty sock The one that helps to win a marathon If I compared you to a dull, flat rock The one to build my hopes and dreams upon If I compared you to a little bug The honey bee who makes my mornings sweet If I compared you to a broken jug The buried, priceless treasure 'neath my feet If I compared you to a black rain cloud The one that saves my life and ends a drought If I compared you to a noise so loud The sound of angels'...

 The Sacrament of Baptism: Gateway to New Life The sacrament of Baptism is the beginning of life—supernatural life. Because of original sin, we come into the world with a soul which is supernaturally dead. We come into the world with only the natural endowments of human nature. The supernatural life which is the result of God's personal and intimate indwelling, is absent from the soul. Original sin is not, in the strict sense, a "blot" upon the soul. Indeed, original sin is not a "something" at all. It is the absence of something that should be there. It is a...

    Gospel Library   “I Have a Question,” Ensign, Jul 1989, 59–61 Questions of general gospel interest answered for guidance, not as official statements of Church policy.What is the role of grace in LDS theology? Robert E. Parsons, “I Have a Question,” Ensign, July 1989, 59–61Robert E. Parsons, associate professor of ancient scripture, Brigham Young University.One cannot be an active Christian or a student of the scriptures without being introduced to the term grace. It is as much a part of Christian theology and doctrine as are faith, baptism, the Atonement, and the Judgment. Just as we grow in our...

1 Peter 1:3-9 (King James Version) 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your...

Outline: (1) What do we mean by the phrase "grace alone?" (2) What is the human condition according to the Scriptures? (3) What do the Scriptures say about Sola Gratia? (4) Why do American Evangelicals have such a difficult time with this doctrine? (5) How do we respond when these issues are at stake? 1) What do we mean when we say "that we are saved by grace alone?" When we use the term "grace alone," what we mean is that our salvation from the wrath of God - our deliverance from hell - is because of something good in...

GALVESTON — Opening statements will begin Tuesday after a jury of seven women and five men was selected in the capital murder trial of Kimberly Dawn Trenor, accused in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, known initially as Baby Grace.

GALVESTON, Texas — Even the most grizzled investigators were reduced to tears by the disturbing details of the death of 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers. The tot's already decomposed remains had been stuffed into a plastic container that was dumped into Galveston Bay. A fisherman found the container and its contents on a tiny island about a mile from the shore of the huge bay in October 2007. On Monday, jury selection is set to begin for the capital murder trial of Riley Ann's mother, 20-year-old Kimberly Dawn Trenor. She and her husband, Royce Clyde Zeigler II, are accused of beating...

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2009 At Capitol, abortion likened to slavery By Jean Torkelson, Rocky Mountain News (Contact) Published January 23, 2009 at 12:05 a.m. Photo by Barry Gutierrez / The Rocky Mariette McGrath joins others in prayer Thursday on the west steps of the state Capitol, where 400 abortion foes turned out for the annual Colorado Right to Life rally. Abortion is the slavery issue of our time, author Eric Metaxas told about 400 people at the annual Colorado Right to Life rally Thursday on the steps of the Capitol. "God is the one who calls you to the battle,"...

THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE: OR, A BRIEF SUM OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE, CONTAINED IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES, AND HOLDEN FORTH IN THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION OF FAITH AND CATECHISMS; TOGETHER WITH THE PRACTICAL USE THEREOF, JOHN vi. 37. - All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. EDINBURGH: JOHNSTONE, HUNTER, & CO. MDCCCLXXI. TABLE OF CONTENTS THE SUM OF SAVING KNOWLEDGE 1. Our woeful condition by nature, 2. The remedy provided in Christ Jesus, 3. The means provided in the covenant of grace, 4. The...

Richard was a fairly recent convert to the Augustinian understanding of grace. One Sunday, he visited a church where the preacher seemed to go out of his way to show the congregation how utterly dependent on God they were for their spiritual life. There can be no self-reliance, he declared, no looking to ourselves; all goodness, all holiness flow from God to us. Why, even the very faith by which we believe and trust in God is itself His gift to sinners! ‘This is good,’ Richard thought. ‘The man has clearly grasped the sovereignty of grace in salvation. Augustine would...

"The righteousness which is of God by faith." --Phil. iii. 9. It has become evident that the question which most closely concerns us is, not whether we are more or less holy, but whether our status is that of the just or of the unjust; and that this is determined not by what we are at any given moment, but by God as our Sovereign and judge. In Adam's creation God put us, without any preceding merits on our part, in the state of original righteousness. After the fall, according to the same sovereign prerogative, He put us, as Adam's...

What God Requires of Youby John Hendryx "John tried to prevent Him, saying, "I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?" But Jesus answering said to him, "Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he permitted Him." Matt 3:14-15 Have you ever wanted to know God, the creator of all that is seen and unseen? ... or to know how you can approach this holy God so that He will accept you with open arms into His glorious presence? But if He...

God has recently given us the opportunity to discuss some theological issues with other Christians who believe differently than we do on a number of points, most notably the doctrines of grace. In such a circumstance, given the overwhelming supply of scriptural evidence that comes to bear on the topic, it seemed to me that the best approach would be a simple categorized scripture list: the fact that the entire paper would be scriptures, with the exception of a few brief explanatory notes, would underscore the truth that this is God's own word and teaching; and the fact that it...

Following hard after God My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me. Ps. 63:8 Christian theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace, which briefly stated means this, that before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man. Before a sinful man can think a right thought of God, there must have been a work of enlightenment done within him; imperfect it may be, but a true work nonetheless, and the secret cause of all desiring and seeking and praying which may follow. We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put...

As Mugabe offends the world at the UN food summit, his wife shops for Ferragamo shoes in Rome's luxury boutiques Last updated at 19:30pm on 04.06.08 Her husband's presence at a UN summit of food has sparked an international outcry, but that hasn't diverted Grace Mugabe from indulging in her favourite pastime - shopping for shoes. The 44-year-old was whisked away from the luxury hotel where she, her husband and his entourage are staying to splash out on luxury footwear. Mrs Mugabe has to make the most of her time in Rome, an EU travel ban means she might not...

This animated dove speaks with expounding joy. With Loony tune voices for humor.

In an episode of the sitcom, Will and Grace, the two end up as political adversaries when they back opposing candidates in a mayoral election.   Political naïveté finds Will backing a city-council candidate because he's gay, and Grace behind another because she's a Jewish woman.   To settle matters, the roomies host fund-raisers attended simultaneously by both aspirants.    After listening to each respective candidates stump speech, turns out one's cruel and heartless and the other's a racist.   Becoming disillusioned, they both decided not to vote at all.   But when Jack asks, "So, did you vote?"   Will answers, "We don't...

Q 1. Why do Christians struggle with legalism? There is an individual and a corporate dimension to this struggle. i. Individual struggles We struggle to accept that when Christ cried from the cross "it is finished" that the work of atoning for sin was completed (John 19:31). The righteousness that we need is found in him, it comes to those who do not work but trust God who justifies the ungodly (Rom. 4:1-8). But within us there remains a desire to earn God's approval, to contribute something toward our acceptance with him. This must be turned away from again and...

James Vs. Paul: Salvation by Grace or by Works? James Walker Is salvation by faith in Christ alone or in faith plus works? This is one of the most important questions that must be answered when Christians witness to those in the cults. Almost uniformly, cults teach that salvation is obtained through a combination of a person's faith plus works. In other words, the cults will almost always teach that eternal life is based at least in part on doing a certain list of good deeds or serving the organization with time or money. The challenge for the Christian, is...

GALVESTON — A Spring couple charged with injury to a child in the death of 2-year-old Riley Ann Sawyers were been indicted on charges of capital murder by a Galveston County grand jury Wednesday, said District Attorney Kirk Sistrunk. The grand jury deliberated for three minutes before handing down the indictments, Sistrunk said. Kimberly Dawn Trenor, 19, the mother of the 2-year-old girl, previously known only as Baby Grace, and Royce Clyde Zeigler II, 24, are accused of beating the child to death this summer. The little girl's body was stored in a plastic container in a shed for up...

In Brief: GRACE IS GONE stars John Cusack as Stanley Phillips, a former soldier whose wife Grace still serves in Iraq. Stanley is left taking care of their two daughters, Heidi, age 12, and Dawn, age 8. One day, two soldiers visit Stanley. They tell him that Grace has been killed. When Heidi and Dawn return from school, he decides not to tell them about their mother but take them out instead. Longing to give his children their last moments of innocence, he decides to drive them to Florida to visit Dawn’s favorite amusement park, Enchanted Gardens. As Stanley bonds...

I took a break from work this evening to enjoy a movie I have been meaning to watch since it came out a couple years ago. As is usually the case, I waited until it came out in DVD so we could rent it. The name of the movie is Amazing Grace, and it is the true story of William Wilberforce, the British Member of Parliament who spearheaded the long struggle to end the slave trade. My impressions: The movie was well written, directed, and acted, and although it was a bit slow in a couple parts, it held my...

  Grace, Faith, and Works    Real Audio Lessons on this Topic Justification by Faith Alone? IJustification by Faith Alone? IIJustification by Faith Alone? IIIJustification by Faith Alone? IVWhat it means to be born againAre you saved? The Catholic position on salvation can be summed up thus: We are saved by Christ's grace alone, through faith and works done in charity inspired by the Holy Spirit.Sola gratia! Grace alone -- but a grace we have to co-operate with. Thinking that all one has to do is pray the "Sinner's Prayer" once to be saved is wrong. Thinking that all...

DID I REALLY LEAVE THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH? The Journey into Evangelical Faith and Church Experience William Webster This article was first published by Moody Press in the book titled, Roman Catholicism: Evangelical Protestants Analyze What Divides and Unites Us in 1994. In light of the recent reversion of Francis Beckwith to Roman Catholicism I felt that perhaps the testimony of one who was Roman Catholic and is now a convinced evangelical Protestant might prove helpful to some. The arguments presented here as to why I could never become a Roman Catholic, based on the truth of Scripture and the...

Philipians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure;God works in converted men a will to that which is spiritually good; which is to be understood, not of the formation of the natural faculty of the will; or of the preservation of it, and its natural liberty; or of the general motion of it to natural objects; nor of his influence on it in a providential way; but of the making of it good, and causing a willingness in...

We are asking prayer for safety,well-being and release of the Korean hostages from Taliban terrorists. 2-3 of the hostages have been murdered! Negotiations for release are political, so the process is slow and painful. Please pray for families involved waiting for their loved ones. Thank You for your prayerful support. Hebrews 13:3..Remember the prisoners as if chained with them, and those who are mistreated, since you yourselves are in the body also.

Grace: How Strange the Sound Michael S. Horton As recounted in the recent film, the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton, not only knew about grace, but every line of the famous hymn was part of his experience. Born in 1725 to a Protestant mother and a mariner father who had been educated by Spanish Jesuits, John Newton was taught by his mother to read and to memorize the Westminster Shorter Catechism by the age of four. With his mother's death and a distant and stern father, Newton became rudderless and eventually captained his own slave ship. After reading Thomas...

Salvation And Its Importance In Your Life The assurance of salvation is the most important thing in life. It should be the number one concern of every human being. Sadly, too often it is not. The good news is, the Bible teaches that you can know for sure that you are going to heaven. I John 5:13 says: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE..." Notice that this verse doesn't say, "that ye may HOPE that you can GET eternal life."...

It's not going to be the best movie you see this year, but it might be the most important. Amazing Grace is the story of William Wilberforce, the man who was most responsible (though he certainly did not work alone) for abolishing the slave trade and, ultimately, slavery itself, beginning with the British Empire, but ultimately around the world. The trouble with a story like this is that while Wilberforce's effort was heroic, fighting in what seemed to be a losing cause — yet one that could not, morally, be abandoned — the great moments consisted of speeches and...

To start, I note that Ash Wednesday marks our One Year Anniversary of attending Christ Church Hamilton Wenham, and our first year in Anglicanism generally. One year ago yesterday Sarah and came to XC (Christ Church), which was my very first liturgical anything. As I have noted here before, one of the elements that I found missing in my Christian experience up to that point was the mention of sin. As I became more and more aware of my own sin, and, subsequently more aware of my ability to alter my actions, thoughts, and sinful desires, I longed to be...

Two faces of the Catholic imagination Father Raymond J. De Souza in Calgary National Post Thursday, February 01, 2007 It was a dash across the country from grandeur to simplicity, from the celebrated to the unremarked, from the soaring cathedral of Toronto to the parish church where I grew up. Tuesday began with the installation of the new Archbishop of Toronto, Thomas Collins, in the metropolitan cathedral of St. Michael's. It ended here in Calgary at my home parish of St. Bonaventure where we held the wake for Father John McNamee, 78, our parish priest from 1971-1986. The juxtaposition...

Park City, Jan 27: Last year`s big road-trip tale at the Sundance Film Festival was greeted with guffaws. This year`s has met with sobs. Both "Little Miss Sunshine" from last year and the current Sundance entry "Grace Is Gone" are highway heartbreakers, "Sunshine" showing a family that comes together through hilarious adversity, "Grace" depicting a family shattered by the cruelest of tragedies. Starring John Cusack, "Grace" tells the story of a stern, loving but emotionally distant father who learns his wife, an Army sergeant, has been killed in Iraq. Unable to tell his two young daughters, he takes them on...

In Christ we were made "a new creature" (2 Cor. 5:17). "Even when we were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ" (Eph. 2:5). "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 2:6). "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8). The Scriptures declare that the things above have already been done (past tense) to and for the believer in Christ! What part did we play in the above actions? Zero! Not only are the...

<p>The assurance of salvation is the most important thing in life. It should be the number one concern of every human being. Sadly, too often it is not. The good news is, the Bible teaches that you can know for sure that you are going to heaven. I John 5:13 says: "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE..." Notice that this verse doesn't say, "that ye may HOPE that you can GET eternal life." It says that you can know that you have it, as a present possession. How do you get it? Acts 16:31 says: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved..." Notice again that it doesn't say, "Believe and you will someday be saved." It rather says, "Believe...and BE saved." Of course, the word "saved" makes a lot of people nervous. A man told me once, "We don't speak in those terms at our church." But that's a shame, because the Bible uses this word over and over again. John Newton used it hundreds of years ago when he wrote that most beloved of all Christian hymns, "Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that SAVED a wretch like me." You've probably even sung that song! Well, it was written by a man who was saved, and you can be saved too. Ephesians 2:8,9 says: "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." Here we see that people are saved "by grace," and "through faith." By God's grace. Through your faith. Faith and believing are the same thing. If you believe something, it means you have faith in it. Notice also the contrast to "works." Works are things that we can DO. Most people think that they can be saved by the things that they do. If they don't do bad things, if they instead do good things, they think that they will be saved. The problem with this system is that you can never be SURE that you've done enough good things, and avoided enough bad things, to be saved. That's why the people who believe this are generally not sure they are saved. But Romans 4:16 says, "Therefore it is OF FAITH, that it might be BY GRACE, to the end THE PROMISE MIGHT BE SURE..." The only way you can be sure of salvation is by faith. If you had to do as little as lift your finger to be saved, you could never be sure that you had done it right. But by faith we can believe that the Lord Jesus Christ did it right. We can be sure that He lived a sinless life. He never did anything wrong, He did everything right. A person like that didn't deserve to die. The Bible says that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). But He was no sinner. Why did He have to die? Ah, He died OUR death. He died our death so that we could have His righteousness and be saved. II Corinthians 5:21 says: "For God made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." Two thousand years ago, God laid all of our sins on Christ as He hung on Calvary. But that doesn't mean that everyone is saved! Two thousand years later, WHEN YOU BELIEVE that Christ paid for all of your sins, God then takes Christ's righteousness and puts it on you, completing the transaction that must be completed for the redemption of your soul. I like to explain it this way. God says to us in the Bible that Christ paid for all of your sins. The only question is, Do you BELIEVE God when He says that all of your sins are paid for? Do you TRUST Him when He says that? If you do, the Bible says that you are SAVED. If you don't, well, you just have to go on trying to pay for your sins in your own way. By being good. By not being bad. But these are things the Bible says you can't do well enough to be saved. Romans 4:5 says: "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, HIS FAITH is COUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Titus 3:5 says: "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." That big word "regeneration" is just a big word that means to be "born again," as the Lord talked about in John 3. But in both of these verses, you can see that salvation is by faith alone, and has nothing to do with your conduct. Most people think that we are all born GOOD, and on our way to heaven, and that we have to do something REALLY BAD to blow it and go to hell. But the Bible teaches the opposite. The Bible teaches that we are all born bad, and have to get saved by faith to go to heaven. Sometimes when we explain this, people then ask, "Why then should I be good?" The answer to this question is, we should be good out of gratitude for God for saving us. Earlier I quoted Ephesians 2:8,9 to show that we are saved "by grace" and "through faith." But the NEXT verse in Ephesians 2 tells us where "being good" comes in: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10). When we are saved, we are made "new creatures" in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17). But Ephesians 2:10 here says that we were "created in Christ Jesus UNTO good works." That is, we were saved by faith, but we were saved FOR A PURPOSE, for a reason. God saved us and made us new creatures in Christ so that we would THEN do good works. Most people get the cart before the horse, as the saying goes. Most people think you do good works, then God saves you. The Bible teaches that instead we are saved by believing, then we SHOULD do good works. Right after Titus 3:5 says we are saved "not by works of righteousness," three verses later it says, "...these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful TO MAINTAIN GOOD WORKS. These things are good and profitable unto men." Do you see it? We are not saved by good works, but after we are saved by faith, we are told we should do good works to please the One who saved us. Romans 6:23 says: "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Here there is a contrast drawn between "wages" and a "gift." Wages are something that we EARN. We go to work, and work all week, and the boss pays us. If we want to be polite, we can say "thank you" when he hands us the check, but we don't have to. He OWES us that money, we EARNED it. But a gift is something altogether different. You can't earn a gift. If you did, it wouldn't be a gift. That's why the verses BEFORE Romans 4:5 says, "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." You can't earn a gift, you can only receive it. And the way you receive the gift of salvation is by faith, by believing God when He says your sins are paid for. Suppose you were a gambler, and racked up a debt of a million dollars to the Mafia. They threatened to kill you unless you paid up. A wealthy friend learns of your plight and comes to you and says, "Don't worry, I've paid your debt." Now in this case, you must REALLY BELIEVE that your friend paid your debt. You must really TRUST your friend when he says that. That's why the other word that the Bible uses besides "believe" is "trust." Ephesians 1:12 talks about people... "...who first TRUSTED in Christ "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" (Ephesians 1:13). If you DON'T trust that your friend paid your gambling debt, then you will most likely continue to make payments to your bookie or loan shark. But if you DO trust your friend when he says that your debt has been paid, then you will rest comfortably in that knowledge, knowing that you've been "saved" from an awful fate, and you will be forever grateful to the one who saved you. That's how salvation works too. In John 5:24, the Lord said: "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." Here we see that the Bible teaches that not only are you saved if you believe on the Lord, you already possess eternal life, and it is NOT POSSIBLE for you to ever be condemned for your sins, for you are ALREADY passed "from death unto [eternal] life." Remember, Acts 16:31 says, "believe...and...be saved." It DOESN'T say, "Believe and be good." It doesn't even say, "Believe and be religious." It just says believe and be saved. If you believe that Christ died to pay for all of your sins, and that you don't have to pay for any of them, the Bible says you are saved. In I Corinthians 15:1-4, the Apostle Paul identifies “the gospel” that he preached to the Corinthians, by which they were “saved”: “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” You too can be among those who are “saved,” if you will simply put your faith in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:25).</p>

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8, 9. "The word Metanoia is in every instance translated repentance. The word means a change of mind. The common practice of reading into this word the thought of sorrow or heart anguish is responsible for much confusion in the field of Soteriology ... This definition...

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing....” Rom. 15:13 It is most interesting to observe the effects of faith and unbelief upon the lives of God’s children. We see this especially in connection with the incarnation and the resurrection of Christ. The Incarnation Aged Zacharias doubts the divine promise as to the birth of our Lord’s forerunner (Luke 1:18) and is rebuked by the angelic messenger. “And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee, and to show...