questioning eternal security

[37818]

I am not aware of anybody on this thread teaching salvation by works. I gave you 15 of 57 "believe" present participles which all teach that the kind of faith which saves is "continuous faith." John 3:16 is the best known. Its ignored present participle teaches that whosoever "continuously" believeth should have everlasting life.

In Ephesians 2:8 the gift is being "saved."

 

[MMDAN]

His sheep have eternal security because His sheep keep on hearing His voice and keep on following Him.

His sheep keep on hearing and following because they truly are His sheep in contrast with unbelievers who are not His sheep. (John 10:26)

 

[MMDAN]

In Ephesians 2:8 the gift is being "saved."

Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God.
(AMPC)

 

[Craigbythesea]

Ephesians 2:8 - For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God.
(AMPC)

Baptist fundamentalists very frequently quote this verse but they very seldom, if ever, quote it in context creating an erroneous interpretation of it. In all of Ephesians chapter two Paul is teaching the Gentile believers in Christ that although they are called “the uncircumcision” by the Jews, Christ Jesus has “broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility” between the Gentiles and the Jews having in his flesh made both groups into one. Therefore, the Gentiles have no need to be circumcised or to keep the Law in order to be saved. Indeed, they have been saved through faith rather than by being circumcised and keeping the Law and performing the works required in the Law.

Therefore, Ephesians chapter two is not a polemic against the need to do what is good; it is a polemic against the need to be circumcised and to perform the works required in the Law. Indeed, Paul uses the word circumcision 23 times in 20 verses. Furthermore it is not a polemic against what James taught, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone,” but rather the teaching of James is a polemic against the denial of human responsibility.

 

[Blank]

Here’s my go to verse…

Philippians 1:6 NKJV
being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

 

[MMDAN]

Baptist fundamentalists very frequently quote this verse but they very seldom, if ever, quote it in context creating an erroneous interpretation of it. In all of Ephesians chapter two Paul is teaching the Gentile believers in Christ that although they are called “the uncircumcision” by the Jews, Christ Jesus has “broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility” between the Gentiles and the Jews having in his flesh made both groups into one. Therefore, the Gentiles have no need to be circumcised or to keep the Law in order to be saved. Indeed, they have been saved through faith rather than by being circumcised and keeping the Law and performing the works required in the Law.

Therefore, Ephesians chapter two is not a polemic against the need to do what is good; it is a polemic against the need to be circumcised and to perform the works required in the Law. Indeed, Paul uses the word circumcision 23 times in 20 verses. Furthermore it is not a polemic against what James taught, “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone,” but rather the teaching of James is a polemic against the denial of human responsibility.

Those who promote salvation by works/works righteousness will typically try to explain away Ephesians 2:8,9 by saying Paul was merely speaking about specific works of the law, but not works in general. The end result is saved by “these” works (good works) and just not “those” works (works of the law) but that argument is bogus.

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul went on to say that we are created in Christ Jesus UNTO/FOR good works. We are saved FOR good works and NOT BY good works. Elsewhere, Paul said that it's not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us.. (Titus 3:5). Paul also said that He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works.. (2 Timothy 1:9). Paul NEVER said that we are saved by faith and works of any kind.

In regard to James 2:24, James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)