Page 243 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

ETERNAL SECURITY

salvation is a “gift” to be enjoyed (Ephesians 2:8-9). (3) 22:1-18). Abraham was saved by faith without works,
We know that Paul was not stating in Philippians 3 that but his salvation and his faith were EVIDENCED and
he was unsure he would be raised from the dead, because DEMONSTRATED by his obedience. Third, James’
in this very epistle and elsewhere he emphasized the teaching is no different from that of the other Apostles.
certainty of resurrection and the eternal security of the They all taught that true faith produces works. Consider
believer (Ph. 2:20-21; 1:6; 1 Co. 15:51-58). The Lord the classic passage in Ephesians 2:8-10--“For by grace
Jesus Christ promised resurrection to every believer are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it
(John 11:25-26). (4) Philippians 3:11 is explained in 1 is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should
Timothy 6:12 and 2 Peter 1:10-11, which teach that we boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ
“lay hold on eternal life” and prepare an abundant Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
entrance into Christ’s eternal kingdom by our service for that we should walk in them.” This passage puts faith
Christ in this world. It is speaking of rewards and and works in their proper order. It is faith alone which
crowns. connects us with the free salvation offered in Jesus
James 2:24. Roman Catholics, Cultists, and others Christ. This salvation is a gift. Our works have nothing
who deny the Gospel of the Grace of Jesus Christ, love to do with it, and cannot add to the completed salvation
to run to James 2:24 to “prove” that salvation is not by in Jesus Christ. Works, rather, follow after salvation and
Christ’s grace alone through faith alone, but that works are the product of it, being created by God in the
are necessary. Consider the following three believing sinner. Consider also Titus 3:4-8; Hebrews 6:9;
observations: First, context is crucial in understanding 10:39; 1 John 3:6; 3 John 11. This is exactly what
any Bible passage. To ignore context is to fill the Bible James teaches. He says there are two kinds of faith:
with contradictions. James was not addressing saving faith and false faith. The devils have faith but not
salvation; he was addressing the Christian life. Note saving faith (v. 19).
verse 14--“my brethren...” He is contrasting dead faith Some will counter that it is not important how one
with true biblical faith (verses 14-17). “Even so faith, if puts these things together. One man says works follow
it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (verse 14). He is salvation; another says works are a part of salvation.
saying that true faith is evident by works. Paul, on the What is the difference? The difference is ENORMOUS. It
other hand, addresses salvation directly in the book of is the difference between Saved and Lost, between
Romans. The sinner must trust exclusively in the grace heaven and hell. If I think that my works and my
of Jesus Christ for salvation. “Now to him that worketh righteousness and my obedience and my law-keeping is
is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to a part of salvation, even a tiny part of salvation, I am
him that worketh not, but believeth on him that denying the perfect sufficiency of Jesus Christ and of His
justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for Atonement. “For by one offering he hath perfected for
righteousness. Even as David also describeth the ever them that are sanctified” (He. 10:14). I cannot add
blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth one iota to this perfect salvation which is freely offered
righteousness without works” (Romans 4:4-6). There is through Jesus Christ. “Being justified FREELY by his
no contradiction if one considers the context of each grace through the redemption that is in Christ
statement. Paul is addressing the unsaved sinner’s Jesus” (Ro. 3:24). If works or church sacraments or law
perspective. The sinner must trust Jesus Christ keeping are required in any sense whatsoever for
exclusively for salvation; he must reject his own filthy salvation, it is not FREE and the Bible is a lie. To add
works (Isaiah 64:6) and all self-righteousness (Romans anything to the gospel of the grace of Christ is to bring
9:30-33) and lean totally upon the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s curse (Ga. 1:6).
trusting wholly in His perfect and complete redemption. 1 Peter 1:9. First, let us consider what this verse does
James, on the other hand, is addressing the Christian’s not mean. It does not mean salvation is a process or that
perspective. The Christian claims to have faith in Jesus salvation is uncertain. The context overthrows such
Christ. He is therefore to diligently serve God and to teaching. Verses 3-5 tell us that the believer’s salvation
walk in His commandments. Those who live in rebellion is settled and sure. The believer is born again, has a
and who ignore the Word of God demonstrate that they lively hope, possesses an inheritance that is already
do not possess true saving faith, that they are deceiving reserved in heaven, and is kept by God’s power. When
themselves. Second, James and Paul are addressing two the Bible speaks of the believer’s hope, it uses the term
different events in Abraham’s life. Paul, in Romans 4:1-4, differently than the way hope is commonly used today.
refers to Abraham’s salvation which occurred early in his The believer’s hope has no element of uncertainty. In
life and which is recorded in Genesis 15:5-6. James, on Hebrews 6:18-19 it is described as “a strong
the other hand, refers to Abraham’s testing which consolation” and “an anchor of the soul, both sure and
occurred 20 years later (James 2:21-24; Genesis stedfast.” The reason the believer has such confidence

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