Two World Religions | Matthew  

You are so welcome!

My pleasure!

What most people don't understand is the huge problem the church faced when the Gospel of Jesus Christ was opened up to the Gentiles in Acts 1:1-8. The Jews were deeply ingrained in traditions and in the works of the Law of Moses. The Jews wanted the new Gentile converts to adhere to Jewish traditions and the Law of Moses. For example, they wanted the Gentile converts to be circumcised. Galatians 5:6, 6:15, Romans 3:28-30, 1 Corinthians 7:19, Colossians 3:11 - The old law has been fulfilled and the new Gentile converts don't have to abide by it. A large portion of Paul's writing were dealing with this topic and he had to tell them over and over again that the works of the Law of Moses are no longer required and the new Gentile converts don't have to abide by the Law of Moses or Jewish traditions. Works are an ingredient to salvation but they aren't the key. Works demonstrate our faith to God. So Paul was correct in saying that we are saved by grace through faith. Works don't save us but they demonstrate our faith and love for God. "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified" this came from Paul also in Romans 2:13. We learn from James that "faith without works is dead" James chapter 1 through chapter 3. "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. John 14:15,21-24 "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21. We are saved by grace through faith. As explained throughout the New Testament, works demonstrate our faith to God. True faith leads to following the teachings of Christ. Romans 8 is often used to justify the "once saved always saved" false doctrine. Jesus saved us from the law of sin and death, conditional on our exercise of faith in Him. If we are truly converted and become a child of Christ, we walk with Him, accept Him, and follow His teachings. When we become truly converted unto Christ, we no longer sin because we simply have no more desire to do so. We can become perfect in Christ through the Savior's infinite atonement. This requires effort and daily repentance! When we repent, our sins are washed clean. When we accept Christ into our lives, we form a partnership with him. Jesus is, by far, the senior partner and we are the junior partner. In the grand scheme of things, we add very little to the partnership. But because we are yoked with Christ, he does all the heavy lifting and will exalt us in due time as long as we pull with him while yoked together (Matthew 11:29-30). Jesus's parable of the talents found in Matthew 25:14-30 illustrates this point profoundly. The Savior gave every man according to his ability/talents. He expects all of us to use and expand our talents, or in other words, be a profitable servant. Jesus condemned the man who hid his talent in the earth, not because he only had one talent, but because he refused to try. Some Christians falsely believe that it can't be grace if there are any requirements, that once they accept Jesus Christ as their Savior they are saved forever in the kingdom of God. Not so. This doctrine is very pleasing to our ears but it isn't what Jesus taught. The only way to come to this conclusion is by cherry picking several versus out of the bible and misunderstanding or twisting them. "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:2 We gain access to God's grace through our faith in Him. Paul further explains: "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:21 God gives us his grace freely but we have to accept it and act upon it. In other words, we must exercise our faith. Righteousness is only possible when we become partners with Christ. His works, His righteousness, and His grace make up the difference for our sin and shortcomings, conditional on repentance and exercising faith in Him! Some Christians stumble over the following versus: "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Romans 11:6 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 2:21 As I discussed earlier, Paul had a huge battle on his hands with the Jews wanting the new Gentile converts to become "Jewish" by adhering to the Law of Moses and Jewish traditions. Paul was referring to the Law of Moses in the above versus, not the works of Christ's new gospel. Without a deep investigation into the epistles of Paul, his writings are easily misunderstood. Even Peter declared as much: 15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 2 Peter 3:15-16 If Paul's writings were "hard to be understood" back in 33-68 AD, with their knowledge of the language, customs, and traditions of the time, and in their own language (not a translated text like we have today), what chance do we have today? The answer to that question is through the Holy Spirit and taking into account EVERYTHING that God has said in the bible and not cherry picking specific versus to fit a narrative (I'm in no way accusing you of doing so). There is grace that we will ALL receive. Christ is the firstborn of those who slept (Colossians 1:18) and because of His resurrection from the dead, we will rise again after death in the resurrection. So in this instance, we are all saved, each and everyone one of us. Christ overcame sin and death. The resurrection is a free gift to everyone who has lived on this earth, but salvation from sin requires faith, effort, and daily repentance on our part. Us being sent to earth as children of God is an act of grace. The creation of the world is an act of grace. We received grace before we were ever worthy of it. God the Father sacrificing his only begotton Son on the cross (for us sinners) was such a huge act of grace that we cannot fully comprehend it. So yes, we are all saved by grace many times over! This however, does not translate or mean salvation in the kingdom of God (eternal life). I keep hearing of one preacher online who constantly says that eternal life, by it's very definition, means that "once saved, always saved". Not so. Eternal life is defined as everlasting life in God's kingdom or God's presence. Eternal life doesn't take place until after the resurrection. We don't receive eternal life here on the earth, hence the confusion, although we can qualify for it in this life. Two different teachings are being blurred here to come to the "once saved, always saved" false doctrine. In conclusion, we are saved by grace through faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Works don't save us (only Christ can do that) but they do demonstrate our faith and love for God. We are commanded to love God and keep his commandments. This isn't a mere suggestion. If we truly love God and have faith in Him, we will do what is asked of us. God will not exalt those who don't follow Him, but even after our best efforts, it is only through the grace of God that we are saved! As explained in the parable of the talents, we have to be faithful and try! "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" 1 Corinthians 6:9 "And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." Matthew 10:38

Right! It is impossible to share the entire gospel message in a five minute video. What you wrote would be an hour and a half sermon. But it was very good! I didn’t agree with you at all points, but thanks for sharing! Franklin Graham hits the essence of the gospel in 30 seconds. But there’s a lot of stuff he leaves out. We do the best we can with the time we have!

Obedience to the law is still a struggle. See Romans 7. Grace is for our failed attempts at keeping it the law. Grace is not a license to sin. But grace covers all our sins.

@@daveahlman6627 Spoken like a TRUE HEATHEN... See ROMANS 6: 1-2 ROMANS 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in SIN ,so that GRACE may abound ⁉️ 6:2. God FORBID . How shall we,that are dead to sin, live ANY LONGER THERE IN.

We are saved by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ alone. Our good works are result of our faith relationship in Jesus.

@@daveahlman6627 TRUE... However, GRACE does not cover backsliding or continual SIN which is the PROBLEM most so called CHRISTIANS have in my estimate.