Salvation is by grace, a gift from God.

• Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."
  (Paul is instructing the Romans in this verse, and also in the passages prior to this verse, how we were once enemies of God, but now we are reconciled to God. He explains how we have all sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God. He then explains that God's grace has freed us from the sin to which we had been enslaved. He further explains that we should not abuse God's grace by continuing in sin, but that we should "walk in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). He then goes on to say that we are now to yield our bodies as servants to righteousness, with the result that we bear fruit that is holy, and befitting holy people. He states that the end result of this grace is eternal life.
  Much argument exists concerning whether, and to what degree, our own personal participation is important in working for our salvation. Much debate and division exists over whether or not mankind has been given freedom of will to accept or refuse this gift of life, and, if accepted, how much participation we might have in determining our ultimate judgement or reward.
  Some will say that we have no say whatsoever in whether or not we are saved, that God has decided beforehand who will go to heaven and who will not. This is the "Calvinist" stance. Others will say that God extends the offer of salvation to all, and then decides whether or not we have earned our salvation by our good works and avoidance of sin when the final judgment comes and we stand before him. This approximates the "Arminian" stance.
  Both terms come from the names of two men who taught these doctrines many years ago, and the same names are applied to their followers today. This is a subject of which we cannot remain ignorant if we are going to work for unity. The one who would be a part of God's present work to bring about oneness will soon confront this doctrinal bomb. We must be prepared in advance, for it is a subject that tends to draw out the most anger and animosity, more than any other that I know.
  Most today seem to take a stance somewhere between these two ideas, and regard either as extreme. It is one of the most divisive and emotionally charged subjects that seems to beleaguer us. However, to the converted Christian, this argument is irrelevant to his own salvation.
  If one believes that his or her eternal destiny has been pre-decided and pre-judged, then that person simply accepts the blood of Christ as atoning permanently for their sins and is saved. If another one knows that they have accepted that same blood of forgiveness, and works to keep from being lost after having been chosen, then when he or she falls, they will petition for God's forgiveness and they are saved, also.
  The person in the first example sees his brother in the second example as being unnecessarily fearful and as not realizing the power of God to bestow life by his irresistible grace. The person in the second example will tend to be concerned that the person in the first example will be tempted to "play the system," sinning willfully since they believe that there are no permanent consequences.
  I don't profess to understand all the details of the workings of God concerning salvation, but I am aware of the scriptures cited by either side in favor of their argument. At this time, I do not believe that salvation is by any other means than grace. I don't think we can lose it by our own inadequacies. On the other hand, I also believe God created us with free will. That is the highest form of existance that he could give us, for that makes us truly in the image of God.
  I do not think that his grace is irresistible, for Satan was successful in resisting it. Also, there are many, many admonitions written in the Bible, addressed directly to Christians, that warn of the eternal consequences of willfully and willingly giving up your salvation.
  No one can earn their salvation. We are incapable of that kind of righteousness, as were the ancient Israelites. No one can lose their salvation, either. Let me try to make this clear. When we lose something, it is a mistake. It is not done on purpose. It is in this sense that I am using the word "lose." I do, however, believe that the Bible speaks plainly of a class of people who, knowing the truth, knowing the consequences, choose to reject salvation as a studied and permanent decision. This is the error of Satan himself, and those who choose to become the children of Satan are given the same right to choose death rather than life.
  Those in both the Calvinist and Arminian camps, and of every persuasion in between, are saved and will be saved if they indeed are the sons of God. It does not stand in the way of complete fellowship and communion in the church. This is a truth that any serious student of the Bible must admit, and it is the quiet voice of this reasonable fact, in the smoke and the fire of the rhetoric, that will make peace between the combatants.
  When this present evil age has passed we will know all the details, but now we only know "in part." Why is it so difficult to say, "I don't know all there is to know about it, but I'm sure that God has it all under control." I have told you what I believe, but I am not God, and I do not know all things as he knows all things. I am comfortable with that. In fact, I think it should make us very uncomfortable if we find ourselves beginning to believe that we, as humans, "know it all."
  After all, the Bible teaches that we are to "grow," and be "built up." Unity is part of, and essential to, this growing and being built up. It is written in Ephesians 4:12-13 that God gave the ordained offices of leadership and service to the church for the very purpose of "...the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until we all come into the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.")
• John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
  (This is the gift freely given, that results in life for all of us. He gives us life, but it is only because he first gave his son, Jesus Christ; and because Jesus, having authority to lay down his life, did so for us, his brothers and sisters. Our life is in his Son.)
• Ephesians 2:4-5 "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love with which he loved us, [5] Even when we were dead in sins, has made us alive together with Christ. By grace you are saved."
• John 1:14,17 "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us, (and we have beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [17] ...For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."
  (Truth is embodied by Jesus Christ, and so is grace. Grace is mentioned first.)
• Acts 15:5, 10-11 "But there rose up certain of the Pharisees that believed, saying that it was necessary to circumcise them (the Gentiles), and to command them to keep the law of Moses....[10] (Peter now speaks, addressing the issue:) 'Now therefore why do you put God to a test, to put a yoke upon the necks of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? [11] But we believe that through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.'"
• Romans 4:4 "Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned to be of grace, but of debt."
  (In other words, if we believe we are to receive, as some kind of a "reward," justification and righteousness as a result of our works, then we must believe that God is somehow indebted to us, and owes us forgiveness, justification, and an acknowledgment that we are righteous. We are erroneously thinking that we are therefore somehow worthy of salvation by our own efforts.
  The context here speaks of justification and faith. Justification is the complete forgiveness of a life of sin, and the faith being discussed is faith in the blood of Jesus to be a sufficient sacrifice for our sins. It is the reason we can now be saved.)
• Galatians 1:6-8; 2:20-21; 3:1-3 "I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel, [7] which is not another, but there are some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. [8] But if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you other than that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed....[2:20] I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. [3:1] O, foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been set forth as evidence, crucified among you? [2] I would like to learn this fact of you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?"
  (I invite you to read carefully and prayerfully all of Galatians. Paul is addressing the issue of "grace versus works" in the life of the Christian. It is not a new controversy.)
• Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men."
• Titus 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."
• 1 Peter 1:9-10 "Receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls, [10] of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you."
  
  Point: Honest misunderstanding of doctrines such as this one of salvation by grace may affect our Christian witness, or stifle our ability to live the full Christian life, or result in internal spiritual conflict, or have any number of results and ramifications, but it will never result in the loss of personal salvation. We must not insist that everyone agree before we admit that they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and accept them as such. We do not have to accept each others' beliefs in order to accept each other fully as Christian brethren.
  The Bible contains many examples, both of Christians who didn't "have it all right", and others, even though they knew the word of truth, because of problems with their own conscience could not accept and practice completely the freedom that is in Christ.
  Some gentiles were instructed to refrain from certain lawful and "doctrinally correct" activities that might offend the Jews. Others were instructed in how to deal with those who could not, in good conscience, eat certain "doctrinally correct" foods that God meant for them to eat. Others felt that the observance of certain days were to be regarded as more important to the Christian than other days. But God teaches that we can actually cause someone else to stumble in their Christian walk by insisting on their adherence to every doctrinally correct point.
  Probably the most important single scripture in this regard is Romans 14:23, which says, "And he that doubts is damned if he eats, because he eats not of faith, for whatever is not of faith is sin." God clearly taught that peripheral doctrinal issues such as these were not to be points of contention and division. (The argumentive person may claim that there are scant few peripheral issues, and that virtually all truth is central to, and necessary, for the believing Christian. I must say that this proposition begs the question, "Do we even know all truth?" Since the answer is obviously, "No," then the hypothesis must fall.)
  The early Christians were not instructed to be "in your face" with the truth, always shunning the "weak in faith." We are to manifest God's grace in our own relationships with our Christian brothers and sisters. To do otherwise is to "quench the Spirit," for it is the Spirit of grace.
  There are a very few things that God insists we all must believe. We must believe in Jesus Christ as our personal savior. We must believe that through his grace we are saved. We must believe that Jesus came forth from God. We must believe on him who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead. We must believe his gospel, the good news of eternal life in the Kingdom of God. We must believe that his word is truth, and Jesus is both the Word and the Truth. With this we can be one together in the Father and in Jesus Christ through the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace.)

(Please click on any of the highlighted boxes ( ) below to go to the in-depth study of each statement.)

Christian works are the acts of Jesus dwelling in us.
Jesus lives in the members of the church, and the church is his body in this age.
Everyone sins and breaks the spiritual law, even Christians.
To love God and to love our neighbor is the fulfillment of all spiritual law.
God's forgiveness is ongoing and limitless, and available to all who truly accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior.
God will never leave us, nor forsake us.

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