Salvation by His Mercy: Relation between Faith and Works too
The Quote in picture reminds me of these verses
(i) Regarding Salvation by Grace Alone (“His Mercy”) with “no” contribution by works in any way:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8 – 9)
“He saved us, not by works in righteousness that we did, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5)
(ii) Works as the ‘perfection’ of faith & as a proof of a faith that is living (active, “not dead”)
“You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;” (James 2:22)
“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:17)
Conclusion
In fact, the “Utmost work of God” to which we are called to do are ‘not’ good works ‘first’ but rather to believe ‘first’:
“Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29)
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.” (Romans 3:28)
P/S:
1) So, who then will be saved?
The one upon whom God shows Mercy (‘His Choice Alone’)
“For He says to Moses: “I will show mercy to whom I may show mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I may have compassion.” (Romans 9:15)
“So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” (Romans 9:16)
2) How is God fair then?
Will this ‘Salvation’ of God by His Grace (Mercy) eventually apply to “all” or ‘believers only’?
It will eventually apply to ‘all men’ (Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 2:4, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 5:19) as prophesied from ancient times itself (2 Samuel 14:14) & toward ‘all creation in the world’ eventually (Romans 3:23, Romans 3:19, Romans 3:22, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Romans 8:20 – 21) too as ‘His Mercy’ is for ‘all’ (Romans 11:32, 1 Timothy 2:6, 1 John 2:2) eventually and ‘all creation’ will be “born again” (‘given to birth again when the birth pangs or labor pains are over’, Romans 8:22) as ‘it is written’ too in verses below (‘beyond Judgment of the dead as well’, James 2:13, 1 Peter 4:5 – 6), listed in order below:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,” (Titus 2:11)
“Who (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:10)
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the (“same”) many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19)
“We will certainly die and be like water poured out on the ground, which can’t be recovered. But God would not take away a life; He would devise plans so that the one banished from Him does not remain banished.” (2 Samuel 14:14)
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” (Romans 3:19, KJV)
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22, KJV)
“namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their (‘the world’s) trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:20 – 21)
“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.” (Romans 11:32)
“Who (Lord Jesus Christ) gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper times.” (1 Timothy 2:6)
“and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)
“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now.” (Romans 8:22)
“For judgment is without mercy to the one who hasn’t shown mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:13)
“but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to the dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.” (1 Peter 4:5 – 6)
3) How will all be saved in the end?
By the Mysterious ‘Faith OF Jesus Christ’ Alone, hence All Glory to God Alone:
“and the righteousness of God is through the Faith OF Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, — for there is no difference,” (Romans 3:22, YLT)
4) What if some did not believe?
Unbelief (Habakkuk 1:5) merits Judgment in the Lake of Fire (Revelation 21:8) but it can never nullify the ‘Faith of God = Faith OF Jesus Christ’ (Romans 3:3 – 4, 22, 2 Timothy 2:13, James 1:17) to ‘Save’ them in the end, beyond Judgment:
“Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days– You would not believe if you were told.” (Habakkuk 1:5)
“But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” (Revelation 21:8)
“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the Faith OF God without effect? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if everyone is a liar, as it is written: That You (God) may be justified in Your words and triumph when You judge.” (Romans 3:3 – 4)
“Even the righteousness of God which is by Faith OF Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” (Romans 3:22)
“If we believe not, yet He abideth Faithful: He (Lord Jesus Christ) cannot deny Himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13, KJV)
“Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.” (James 1:17)
5) Gospel = Good News for “all creation” in the “whole world”
“And He (Lord Jesus Christ) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (Mark 16:15)
The Gospel includes this Great Secret or Mystery of the Reconciliation of “All things Created” (all creation) eventually as ‘it is plainly written in Holy Scripture’ too (Colossians 1:16, 20, 26):
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.” (Colossians 1:16)
“and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20)
“that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints,” (Colossians 1:26)
Hence, God ‘never’ changed from being the “Saviour of All” and Judgment is an intermediate process & not an end in itself.
*(Emphasis mine throughout)
Indeed,
“And all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.” (Isaiah 54:13)
“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied. “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me–” (John 6:43 – 45)
“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.” (John 3:35)
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” – Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:37)
“And they said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard Him (Lord Jesus) ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” (John 4:42)
“We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world.” (John 13:35)
“Jesus answered him, “You do not know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” (John 13:7)
Jonathan Ramachandran is founder at AnonymousChristian.org which serves as a Christian Blog discussing the Greater Hope of Biblical Christian in Christ Alone. He is also an IMO (International Math Coach) and a featuring Guitarist for many bands.
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