Body of Christ, I know that we have been taught a lot of things in our respective local churches, and many of those things are sound, one of the things that many of us have been taught is that we are saved by faith ALONE... usually based one one scripture in Eph 2:8-9... But I think many of us have come to know that we must take all scripture together to get the full picture... Therefore, I would contend that we are saved by faith and love. When we take all the scriptures together, they will show that we are saved by faith and love, we remain saved by faith and love, and we will be saved by faith and love, which all add up to obedience... So lets get started... First, Lets look at what Gods Commandment is... It reads.. (1 John 3:23-24 NASB) This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us. So then we see that faith is a commandment, and love is a commandment, and by both of these we know that we are in Him and He is in us... Now what does Jesus say about those that keep His commandments? (John 14:15 NASB) “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. So then when we keep the commandment to believe in the Son we show that we love Christ, thus, we are saved by faith and love.. Listen also to these... (John 5:24 NASB) “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (1 John 3:14 NASB) We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. So we see above that the one who believes AND loves has passed out of death into life... Now lets see if these both add up to obedience... The scripture says we received the Spirit through faith... (Eph 1:13 NASB) having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise The scripture also says God gives the Spirit to those that obey Him... (Acts 5:32 NASB) And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” So then faith amounts to obedience, and obedience amounts to love, thus, we are saved by faith and love which is obedience.. And all of this verifies the scriptures that say... (Ga 5:6 NASB) For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. (John 15:9 NASB) Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. (Heb 5:9 NASB) And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation (John 3:36 NASB) He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Faith, Love = Obedience = Salvation
Posted on: Sat, 05 Apr 2014 16:32:23 +0000
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