Tradition:
"I can work my way to Heaven"
Truth:
"For by grace are ye saved through
faith"
There are only two kinds of
religion in the world. Those that are based on salvation by works and the one
that provides salvation by the grace of God through faith. If performing works
are the way to Heaven, just how many works does it take to pay the sin debt you
owe to the God of Heaven? The Catholics say you must be baptized to be cleansed
from original sin and keep the 7 sacraments in order to go to heaven.
The Jehovah Witnesses teach that what men have done and their obedience
or worthiness is what saves them. Mormons (Latter Day Saints) teach obedience
to the gospel, baptism, and laying on of hands, plus a life of good works is
necessary for salvation.
The Seventh Day Adventists teach the keeping of the law must be
accomplished as evidence of salvation. Many of the mainline denominations,
Lutherans, Methodists, Episcopalians etc. have abandoned the Bible as their
source of doctrine and instead preach a "social gospel" teaching that
doing good deeds or works for the way of salvation.
However, the Bible clearly teaches that salvation is provided solely by
the grace of God:
"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."(Ephesians2:8, 9)
"Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He
saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior; That being
justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of
eternal life."(Titus 3:5-7)
"For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly,
righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope
and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who
gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto
Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."(Titus 2:11-14)
So, then the grace of God is the prime mover in salvation, faith "not of ourselves" is the activity
of man, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior of all mankind through His
atoning death on the Cross which paid the sin debt every man owes to God the
Father. The Scripture also states: "The
wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ
our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Even though man owes God the debt of sin, God, Himself, provides the
gift that no man could work for to provide payment, no man except the God-Man,
the Sinless Son of God, the only one Who could provide a sacrifice acceptable
to God was God in the Flesh our Savior Jesus Christ!
God provided a Gift that man must receive: "But, as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the
sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." (John 1:12) By faith we believe and receive the gift of
God which is eternal life through Jesus Christ!
Which one will it be for you, The Tradition of Works or the Truth of
Grace? It will most definitely determine your eternal destiny! Believe God and His marvelous Truth of Grace
found abundantly in His unchanging Word: "For
by grace are ye saved through faith".
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