Is Salvation by Grace or Deeds?
I believe that salvation is by grace AND deeds. It is by grace that
one is called, because no one comes to the Messiah unless the Father draws
them:
John 6:44 (NIV) "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent
me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. [Our salvation is
actually received "at the last day." Currently, we really only hope for
it. - Romans 8:24,25]
We can do nothing to cause the Father to draw us; it is a gift of Yahweh
(Eph 2:8). We must answer the call with faith that produces works acceptable
to Yahweh:
Jame 2:17 (KJ) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me
thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one Elohim; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works,
when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith
wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Phil 2:12 (KJ) Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not
as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling.
Matt 22:14 (KJ) For many are called, but few [are] chosen.
I do not believe that every human being is called. Gene 3:15 (KJ) And
I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and
her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. [It
seems the devil has seed!]
Roma 9:22 (KJ) [What] if Yahweh willing to shew [his] wrath, and
to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels
of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known
the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy,
which he had afore prepared unto glory, [It appears not all vessels
were of mercy "afore prepared unto glory."]
John 8:44 (KJ) Ye are of [your] father the devil, and the lusts of
your father ye will do. [Perhaps these were some of the devil's seed.]
Although not perfect, as King David was not perfect, we must always
strive to answer the call with honest hearts toward Yahweh. We must try
our best to be obedient to his commandments and keep faith in Yahshua as
our atonement and as our advocate when we stumble:
Reve 14:12 (KJ) Here is the patience of the saints: here [are] they
that keep the commandments of Yahweh and the
faith
of Yahshua.
1Joh 2:1 (KJ) My little children, these things write I unto you,
that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Yahshua Messiah the righteous...
Also see: "Atonement and Justification - Faith and Works" in
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