How Are We Saved?

[Selah7]

Ephesians 1:3-12 (KJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
…
Selah’s thoughts: ”accepted in the beloved“ = The elect have already been accepted in the beloved, which is Jesus Christ. because God Himself did it before the foundation of the world. And He has already given us “eyes to see and ears to hear” — an understanding/wisdom—because He has already made it known to us! This is why the elect of God, once they hear the gospel, will always follow their Shepherd. They will always answer His call.

 

[Manfred]

How are we saved?

Through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The word teaches that we are saved by grace, through faith...
How is this grace and faith received you may ask.

We are convicted by the Holy Spirit of God when hearing the gospel message, and God the Holy Spirit who is the power of the gospel opens our hearts and minds to understanding our need of salvation through a perfect savior.
He leads us into repentance, and grants us faith through His grace and thereby imputes the righteousness of Christ to us.

Your poll is lacking in my opinion.

 

[brightfame52]

its about salvation/the cross /Christ paid the price. not Calvinism or baptist our any other church denomination doctrine. Jesus way truth life. the apostolic teach baptism for remission of sins . in which they are wrong no amount water saves us.

So does everyone Christ died for receive remission of sins on the merits of His death/Blood alone Matt 26:28

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

 

[ChristB4us]

I believe One is saved by the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is His Work in His Obedience unto death saves completely those He died for, providing them both legal and Spiritual Salvation 1 Pet 2:24-25

24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Quoted for your question in your last reply to me below;

So did you understand my post with the scripture reference I made ?

Yes.
I had asked; How does one receive the remission of sins provided by Him?
To wit you had replied;

They receive it by imputation first and foremost.

I agree when in context with below scripture but as for your following comment.

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Yes then they receive it by Faith, after they are born again, then they believe.

I am pretty sure there is no temporal order to that when it is simultaneously done since faith in Jesus Christ as that fruit of the Spirit upon receiving after hearing the gospel is believing in Jesus Christ.

Thank you for sharing.

 

[ChristB4us]

wow here i thought who so ever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved

Well, for them to do that, they have to believe first, right? And yet faith comes by hearing the word of God and yet the Holy Spirit fell on the Gentiles that heard the word that by believing in Him is how they receive the remission of sins and so by the grace of God as a manifested work of God, we believe in Jesus Christ upon our being born again of the Spirit.

Still wrapping my head around that one. The Lord is enabling me to receive it by applying that truth to Acts 8:5-25 for how and why they did not receive the Holy Spirit yet even though they were water baptized in Jesus's name.

Acts 8:5-25

There was a shift from the infamous Simon to the famous Philip in the area for why the people & even Simon was following Philip around in wonderment to see the signs and miracles but not by the Lord doing it, but by Philip. So they believed in the "things" about the kingdom of heaven and the name of Jesus thus learning about Him but all eyes & the focus of their following was seemingly on "Philip" performing miracles.

So that mentality shifting from the infamous Simon the sorcerer that was responsible for bewitching the people in that area, went to see Philip as doing those miracles for why they were following him around. The Lord was patient with them as they are not to see the Holy Spirit as coming from him but rather the Father in Jesus's name.

In spite of the Lord sending Peter & John down to lay hands on them so they would not credit Philip for that salvation, Simon still had that mentality and had thought he could buy that power from Peter & John to give the Holy Ghost to people. Peter & john had to rebuke him by lifting his sight higher to the Lord.

And by doing that as well for the people, they were coming to Jesus Christ and by Him was how they were saved as the father gave them the Holy Ghost and thus that faith in Jesus Christ as that explains why they were not saved yet even though water baptized in His name out of fandom towards Philip, thinking the miracles were coming from him rather than by Jesus Christ.

It certainly explains a lot to me that they were not give the Holy spirit at water baptism because they were not coming to in order for the Father to enable them to believe in Jesus Christ thus born again of the Spirit.

 

[ChristB4us]

when a person calls upon the Lord for salvation from a true heart they are saved the who so ever will/shall. see all through the years man has tried to improve the plan of salvation. when the Holy Spirit draws/speaks to us. the night i got saved i asked God to save me.. 3 simple word God save me. no big prayer no one saying repeat after me simply God save me and he did . when i got saved i knew nothing about the elect or anything else// i knew i was lost and need to be saved/ no 3 step plan Just me and the preacher and the Lord. i didnt even say Lord forgive me i am a sinner just God save me .

It is the Father that does the drawing, not the Holy Spirit.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Father hides the truth from the prudent and reveals the truth to even the babes.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Our believing in Jesus Christ is a manifested work of the Father.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Anyway, I believe the moment you believed in him to call on Jesus Christ to save you, you were saved because you would not have called on Him to save you unless you had believed first.

That ought to put mute people at ease for not being able to call on Jesus out loud to save them when believing in Him is God having saved them so they can believe.

 

[civic]

It is the Father that does the drawing, not the Holy Spirit.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Father hides the truth from the prudent and reveals the truth to even the babes.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Our believing in Jesus Christ is a manifested work of the Father.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Anyway, I believe the moment you believed in him to call on Jesus Christ to save you, you were saved because you would not have called on Him to save you unless you had believed first.

That ought to put mute people at ease for not being able to call on Jesus out loud to save them when believing in Him is God having saved them so they can believe.

Not entirely true.

John 12:32
“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

 

[ChristB4us]

ezra said:
when a person calls upon the Lord for salvation from a true heart they are saved the who so ever will/shall

Depends on your definition of a TRUE HEART. An R.C. for instance would define a TRUE HEART as including the need for baptism for the forgiveness of sin. The thread is about the aspects of a TRUE HEART.
Like, I can say a person who DOES THE RIGHT THING will be saved, but what is THE RIGHT THING.

Psalm 51:10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

I see this as explaining how sinners gets saved by how they can believe and call on the Lord to save them after having been saved to do that.

 

[ChristB4us]

Not entirely true.

John 12:32
“And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”

In context;

John 12:32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. 33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
Aligns with this reference below:
John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I understand, but in light of the scripture, this would align with His words as the necessity for the cross for how the Father draws men unto the Son.

So the Father has to be seen as the One that gives us to the Son for the Son to save us.

John 6:37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Unless you have any further correction by the scripture, I believe this is rightly dividing the word of truth here, but I am open to correction since those who are fruitful like you & me by the grace of God, can be pruned to bear more fruit.

John 15:1I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

We never stop growing & learning in the Lord till He brings us Home perfected by Him to be like Him.

 

[ChristB4us]

Ephesians 1:3-12 (KJV)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
…
Selah’s thoughts: ”accepted in the beloved“ = The elect have already been accepted in the beloved, which is Jesus Christ. because God Himself did it before the foundation of the world. And He has already given us “eyes to see and ears to hear” — an understanding/wisdom—because He has already made it known to us! This is why the elect of God, once they hear the gospel, will always follow their Shepherd. They will always answer His call.
View attachment 124

That includes those that have gone astray that the Lord enables to hear Him & His words to recover them from any snare of the devil before the Bridegroom comes when we apply the elect to those as firstfruits of the resurrection to be partakers of the pre great tribulation rapture event.

2 Tmothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; 26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

The saints left behind that did not depart from iniquity or the lies that turned them away from believing in Him any more, are still saved but shall be resurrected after the great tribulation as vessels unto dishonor in His House, vessels of wood & earth, to serve the King of kings on earth.

 

[ChristB4us]

Through the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

The word teaches that we are saved by grace, through faith...
How is this grace and faith received you may ask.

When we are born again of the Spirit after hearing the gospel, then we have that fruit of the Spirit, "faith" to believe in Jesus Christ. It is not on us as believing, but on the Father enabling us to believe by giving us the Holy Spirit upon hearing the word that by believing in Him is how one receives the remission of sins thus they are born again of the Spirit to be able to believe in Him.

We are convicted by the Holy Spirit of God when hearing the gospel message, and God the Holy Spirit who is the power of the gospel opens our hearts and minds to understanding our need of salvation through a perfect savior.
He leads us into repentance, and grants us faith through His grace and thereby imputes the righteousness of Christ to us.

It is the Father that does the drawing, not the Holy Spirit.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The Father hides the truth from the prudent and reveals the truth to even the babes.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

Our believing in Jesus Christ is a manifested work of the Father.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
What the Holy Spirit will convict of is the unforgivable sin of never having believed in Jesus Christ.

John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Your poll is lacking in my opinion.

I am sure the Lord can lead others to make a better poll since I am not perfect yet. Feel free yourself to be led by the Lord to create a better one.

 

[brightfame52]

Quoted for your question in your last reply to me below;

Yes.
I had asked; How does one receive the remission of sins provided by Him?
To wit you had replied;

I agree when in context with below scripture but as for your following comment.

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

I am pretty sure there is no temporal order to that when it is simultaneously done since faith in Jesus Christ as that fruit of the Spirit upon receiving after hearing the gospel is believing in Jesus Christ.

Thank you for sharing.

Seems to me there is much in post 7 that you by passed, you sure you understood it ? Please articulate the points made so i can be sure. Thanks

 

[ChristB4us]

Seems to me there is much in post 7 that you by passed, you sure you understood it ? Please articulate the points made so i can be sure. Thanks

Post # 11.

If that is not satisfactory, you can always articulate what it is that you believe I am missing.

 

[brightfame52]

Post # 11.

If that is not satisfactory, you can always articulate what it is that you believe I am missing.

You call that discussing my points ? Dont worry about it, its all good.

 

[Eleanor]

Out of those choices I picked 1 which is part of the gospel but not the entire gospel message. The Resurrection is central to the gospel and without it our faith is in vain but it includes His death for our sins, burial and raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures and He was seen over 40 days by many people/witnesses and last of all appeared to Paul.

 

[Eleanor]

Out of those choices I picked 1 which is part of the gospel but not the entire gospel message. The Resurrection is central to the gospel and without it our faith is in vain but it includes His death for our sins, burial and raised on the 3rd day according to the scriptures and He was seen over 40 days by many people/witnesses and last of all appeared to Paul.

Yes, faith his blood is part of it (Ro 3:25).

 

[Eleanor]

I go along with these 2 quotes which makes one contemplate the question all the more IMO:

Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion: We shall now have a full definition of faith if we say that it is a firm and sure knowledge of the divine favor toward us, founded on the truth of a free promise in Christ. Knowledge of faith consists more of certainty than discernment.”

Herman Bavinck – Reformed Dogmatics: There is a danger in reducing the faith to quantitative measurement. Such an arithmetic of belief obscures the qualitative, gracious, person, organic relation to Christ. Faith is trust in the grace of God and not calculable. The content of faith is not reducible to an arithmetic addition of articles. All believers, in principle, share the same knowledge and trust in the grace of God to save.

So I believe one is saved by faith which must have content; something to believe. I believe the content consists of three things:

1. Jesus has the power to save me
2. Jesus is Lord; He calls the shots
3. Jesus is God (John 20:31; 1 John 5:31)

So, I only picked the top option of the poll but that has one caveat: I don't believe that one must believe that God raised Christ from the dead to be saved. Obviously, God did raise Christ from the dead and there is theological issues if that is not the case ... but technically and hesitantly I don't think one has to believe that fact to be saved. If I had to argue against my stance I would use 1 Cor. 15:4.

Saving faith includes trusting on Jesus atonement (blood, Ro 3:25) for the forgiveness of your sin, which is salvation from the wrath of Go (Ro 5:9).

 

[Eleanor]

We are saved by grace through faith as @Selah has correctly and succinctly pointed out.

The multiple choice points above didn't put it together enough for me, and seem to be a bit of begging the question.

Salvation begins with repentance and belief which are evidence of, and go hand in hand with true conversion. Romans 6; John 5:24; 1 John 5:1; John 8:34-36 &c.

Which is by the sovereign new birth of the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:3-8).

 

[Eleanor]

Something I had learned from the Lord while discussing with some members in the forum.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26 Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27 All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.

John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
From these passages, I understood that our believing in Jesus Christ is the work of the Father, but I learned just how much it is.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Since faith comes by hearing the word of God and the Holy Ghost came on the Gentiles that heard the word, and seeing how the fruit of the Spirit is singular thus alluding that when you have the Holy Ghost, you have the faith; hence our believing in Jesus Christ.

So when the Father gave us to the Son to save us; by baptizing us with the Holy Ghost at the hearing of the gospel is how faith came also.

But in Acts, were not some who were baptized with the Holy Spirit some time after they believed, showing that baptism of the Holy Spirit is not regeneration, which is a ministry of the Holy Spirit required for faith, but separate from his baptism, which given both as a witness to the gospel, and as a special empowering, as in the apostles on Pentecost at the birth of the church?

 

[Eleanor]

We are saved by God’s GRACE. …Selah

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.

- Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

Through faith.