Are We Doing These Things?

[tsth]

It would seem that there needs to be a clarification here as to the difference between being saved and salvation as applied to the complete process which includes justification, sanctification and glorification.

Justification is how one is saved. It is the beginning of Salvation. It is not salvation in its entirety. When one is saved, there is still a race to be run, a prize to be claimed, a destination to be reached. Justification does not guarantee one of finishing the course, and receiving the prize. Through justification, one has been forgiven of all past sin, and now has the Holy Spirit dwelling within, but now the war between the flesh and Spirit begins. This is the fight of faith which all are required to fight. This is where faith either grows strong and conquers the flesh or withers and dies by giving into the flesh. This is where the will is exercised in works that either demonstrate living faith or dead faith. Thus the works play a vital role in Sanctification which is an integral part of the Salvation experience.

Thus works play no part in justification, being initially saved, but a very large part in Sanctification, or living the saved life which is an integral part of the Salvation process, thus a part of Salvation. Justification does not guarantee that the one justified will continue on in the Sanctification required for ultimate Glorification. He is not now a robot of God, but is to walk in faith, which is what faithfulness is all about. Only those justified who are also faith-full and progressively grow up to the full stature of Christ will receive the prize.

It is the teaching of OSAS that attempts to make works of no importance in the Salvation process. This makes God totally responsible for the outworking of obedience, with no responsibility of the saved one to choose to ignore the flesh and walk in the Spirit.

Thus to be saved initially, which is justification, requires no works. They are not a part of the justification process. The reason there are no works required is because justification is the work of a moment, the work of God in forgiving the repentant soul and changing him, giving him the 'new heart', to battle the sinful nature, the moment he believes.

Now that he has the 'new nature' by faith, he is equipped to fight the good fight of faith, doing the works of a faith-full child of God conquering the sinful nature which is still with him. This is not a part of his initial saving, but a working out of that which God has worked in by faith in warring against the flesh.

So in summation,

Works have nothing to do with initial Salvation, that of being saved.

Works of faith, have every thing to do with continuing in Salvation, which will determine whether we are saved at the end of the race that Paul speaks of.

It is nice to be saved, but even better to continue on to Glorification. There will be many disapointed people who were 'Once Saved', but who find out in the end, that they were not 'Always Saved'. Tis better to examine oneself now and save a whole lot of pain and anguish when it is too late to examine.

God Bless,

Dennis

I agree Dennis, lest the rest of the passage of 2 Peter, regarding blindness and falling................

9 But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. 10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

.............would have been unnecessary and pointless. It is a warning to heed, and not to dismiss.

In His Love,

Suzanne