Originally posted by Frank:
Chem:
Just because one faithfully obeys God does not mean he earns salvation. I have posted the scriptures that teach us there are many types of works. They do not earn my salvation. However, gifts must be recived. John 1:12,13. Salvation is received by an obedient active faith. Hebrews 11:6, Romans 16:26 Eph. 2:8,9 Gal. 3:26,27. Gifts may be received or rejected. John 5:39,Acts 2:38-41.
I do not respect false teaching. Psalms 119:104.
Frank
[4] Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
[5] But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. - Romans 4:4-5 KJV
If you described to me a dog but when the animal walks by you call it a cat, that does not turn the dog that you described into a cat, instead the dog stays a dog. Likewise, you can claim that your system of salvation is not based on merit but it will not change the fact that it is. You system of salvation says that we have to be good enough to be saved, it is based on the same principle as the law is.
[12] And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. - Galatians 3:12 KJV
[5] For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
[6] But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above
[7] Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.)
[8] But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
[9] That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
[10] For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
[11] For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. - Romans 10:5-11 KJV
From dictionary.com:
v. mer·it·ed, mer·it·ing, mer·its
v. tr.
To earn; deserve. See Synonyms at earn1.
v. intr.
To be worthy or deserving: Pupils are rewarded or corrected, as they merit.
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[Middle English, from Old French merite, reward or punishment, from Latin meritum, from neuter past participle of merre, to deserve. See (s)mer-2 in Indo-European Roots.]
Salvation is not earned by being good enough, it is a free gift, it is received through faith, not faith plus being good enough to deserve it, just faith.
[15] But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
[16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
[17] For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
[18] Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
[19] For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
[20] Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
[21] That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 5:15-21 KJV
