ONLY BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH
Brother James, OIC
Ephesians 2:8-10
8-10 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.For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 John 1:6-9
6-9 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1John2:1-2
1-2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1John2:12
12 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake
The Unmerited Favor of God saves us through Faith. They are the essential elements of Salvation that is found when we walk the Narrow and Difficult path. It is possible to Fall from Grace by being Faithless.
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
To be justified by the law is when you believe it is something you do or do not do that saves you BUT in Truth it is only Trusting what He has already done on the Cross. Faith is the receptor of Grace. We learn Truth which Makes us Free and Faith His Promises until we become Partakers of the Divine Nature.
2 Peter 1:4
4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Faith never works on what we see but what we do not see. And though the Promises have been done since the foundation of the world we who are growing in Christ must Faith them to Receive them as they are our inheritance.
Hebrews 6:12
That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Slothfulness is our trusting mans fallen accomplishments for our solutions. Then many call them of God not discerning God is not in them. For example Teen Challenge a Christ Centered Scripture Based Recovery Program has a Success Rate exceeding 70%. While 12 Step Programs average 3% to 5%. Yet it amazes me how many Churches today allow AA/NA and other 12 Step Programs tio operate within their walls when Total Recovery is found in Gods Word.
This bringing me to the that Grace through Faith is all we need as opposed to a Religion of Works whether its Working 12 Steps or Self Emulated Good Works.
In the Spiriruality of Christ all Religion dims in its Light and Recovery. How many can claim a risen Savior that in Whom you Totally Trust What He Has Done then the things yoou slip and do are insignificant at least to God the Creator. In Religion if you fall you are judged and have to start the work over but in Christ just acknowledging in you heart the error of the fall, that is confessing (saying the same as God) about your sin you realize it was forgiven before it was acted out.
False Doctrines those Little Foxes that Spoil the Vine of the Preemeninence of Christ have to be guarded against and organized religion will march these things before you with all its best selling books that are in reality tickets to hell.
