Featured Salvation Formula

I am sorry I failed to present the gospel in a manner you could grasp. Two others thought the effort helped.

In any event the title of the OP presents the equation, and then in the post I described and defined each term of the equation. Why you, and others, moved "good works" from one side of the equation to the other, in spite of my saying they were accomplishments after salvation boggles my mind.

But now that you seem to grasp it, do you see any problem with the presentation, theologically.

 

I may be presenting scriptural truths that you deem "too complicated" but there is a scriptural basis for every term in the equation. To leave one or more out would be to present an incomplete gospel, and that would be wrong.

Revealing Grace = hearing and understanding the call through the gospel of Christ, presents the same truth presented in Acts of the Apostles 28:28

 

Think about aborted babies, did they hear and understand the gospel? Scripture says God "manifests" himself, and that revealing is grace. No one would seek God unless they believed He exists and rewards those who seek him.

No, Christ died for all mankind, the whole world, 1 John 2:2, He became the propitiation or means of salvation from God's wrath, for the whole world.

I am claiming man cannot respond to the gospel unless he/she hears it and understands it. The fall did not disable anyone, but the practice of sin will disable some, the first soil of Matthew 13.

Gods revelation, by what He has made, and through the witness of the inspired scripture, provides the grace of revealing God.

 

I am sure you are implying something, but what could it be? Why not specify if you think the above verse implies born anew believers are predestined to produce "good works."

What does we are His workmanship mean? It means we are a new creation, created for good works.
When did God prepare these "good works" for us to do? Does God's redemption plan include progressive sanctification, as we live out the rest of our physical life after we have been born anew?
What are the good works, be ambassadors for Christ, witness and plant and water? What does the Bible say?

And if anyone wrongly believes our good works are predestined, what happened to those entering heaven as one escaping from a fire?

 

Thanks for your post. Let's delve into it.

God's foreknowledge refers to His redemption plan formulated before creation. No problem.

His election refers before creation to the Word individually and those the Word would redeem corporately. No problem.

His predestination refers to the two things that occur as a consequence of being transferred into Him, (1) the redeemed are predestined to be conformed to the image of the Son, and (2) the redeemed are predestined to be adopted (the redemption of our bodies) at His Second Coming. No problem.

In my opinion, the order of your next terms is wrong, so I will present them in the order that I believe is biblical.

The call of the gospel (Revealing grace). No problem

Our changing our mind (repentance) and our believing in Christ (faith). No problem.

Not listed in your sequence God crediting our faith in Christ as righteousness.

The sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit - where God sets us apart individually in Christ, our individual election. No problem

Once transferred into Christ we are made alive together with Christ (regeneration) our new birth. No problem.

After being made firm in Christ, we are sealed in Christ with the Holy Spirit as our comforter, guide, and promise of our resurrection in glorified bodies, our adoption.

But after we are positionally sanctified (in Christ spiritually) we undergo "progressive sanctification" where we (1) continue to be conformed to the image of Christ, and (2) engage in "good works" such that we enter heaven "abundantly."

Lastly comes our adoption in our glorified body at Christ's second coming.

 

Here is one of the passages that presents progressive sanctification requirements.

Thessalonians 4 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Sanctification and Love
4 Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to [a]walk and please God (just as you actually do [b]walk), that you excel still more. 2 For you know what commandments we gave you [c]by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from [d]sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to [e]possess his own [f]vessel in sanctification and honor, 5 not in [g]lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 and that no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we also told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but [h]in sanctification. 8 So, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, 12 so that you will [i]behave properly toward outsiders and [j]not be in any need.

Footnotes:

1. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
2. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 Or conduct yourselves
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:2 Lit through the Lord
4. 1 Thessalonians 4:3 Or fornication
5. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 Or acquire
6. 1 Thessalonians 4:4 I.e. body; or wife
7. 1 Thessalonians 4:5 Lit passion of lust
8. 1 Thessalonians 4:7 I.e. in the state or sphere of
9. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit walk
10. 1 Thessalonians 4:12 Lit have need of nothing

And as a side note, Christians are told to be self reliant, whereas atheists tell us it is ok to be unwilling to work. Christians are told it is better to be free than slave, whereas atheists tell us to become slaves to the state. No wonder the godless left attacks the Bible.

 

Most of the fallen can hear and understand the gospel message. The Bible says only a "few" find the path to eternal life. Those of the first soil (Matthew 13) are unable, but some of the rest have their faith credited as righteousness.

Mat 7:14
“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.