ARE YOU SAVED BY GRACE????

by: Pete Vacca

   Why is it that some folks read and search the Scriptures looking for the simplest and shortest way to say or do something? Salvation seems to be one of those things that fall into that category. Why would you want the shortest definition to the most important thing in your life?

   If you ask the man on the street just coming home from Sunday services, “how are you saved,” he will tell you, “I’m saved by grace.” Then he will go on to tell you, “You can be saved according to Ephesians 2:8, By grace through faith are you saved, not by works lest men should boast. So there’s no need to keep all those laws any more.” Well, let’s take it one thing at a time—first, the saved by grace question. 1.) What is grace? Answer: It is an unmerited gift. 2.) What is that unmerited gift? Answer: Grace. And as many times as you ask those questions, that is the same answer you will receive, over and over again. Well, I happen to believe there is a little more to it than that.

   I happen to agree fully that grace is an unmerited gift and is the answer to the first question. But I have a much better answer to the second question. What is that unmerited gift? Let’s let the scripture interpret the scripture to prove that all things can be found in the Word of Yahweh. All you have to do is search a little.

   For the grace of Yahweh that brings salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying unrighteousness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and good in this present world (Titus 2:11-12). Any idea yet what or Who Grace is?

   Let me continue: 1 Timothy 1:14 says, ...and the grace of our Heavenly Father was exceedingly abundant with faith and love, which is in our Messiah Yahshua. Is it starting to get clearer now? Let’s put the frosting on this cake. Titus 3:4-7 says, ...after the kindness and love of Yahweh, our Saviour toward man appeared; not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us by the washing of generation, and renewing of the Holy Spirit, which He shed on us abundantly through Yahshua the Messiah our Saviour. None of the above would have been necessary if people would read Scripture in context. You see Ephesians 2: 4-7 answers verses 8 and 9.

   Now for the second part. “There is no need to keep any of those laws any more; you just need faith in grace for salvation.” Once again, let’s search the scriptures to find the answers. I would like you to read James 2:8-26, summed up with verses 17 and 24, but it would be good for you to read it all. Verse 17 says, ...even so faith, if it has not works is dead being alone. And verse 24 says, ...you see then how that by works a man is justified and not by faith alone.

   Paul asks a very interesting question in Romans 3:31, Do we then make void the law through faith? Yahweh forbid, yea we establish the law. In Romans 7:7, Paul asks, What shall we say then, is the law sin? Yahweh forbid. I would not have known sin but by the law. He says in verse 12, The law is holy and the commandments holy, just and good. Please notice that Paul mentions the law and the commandments are two distinct things.

   The law tells you what is good and what is bad. See Galatians 5: 19-23. Here are listed things that are good and things that are bad. 1 John 3:4 tells you what sin is—the transgression of the law. 1 John 1:8 also tells us, If we think we have no sin we deceive ourselves. And, of course, Ezekiel 18:4 says, The soul that sins shall die.

   How then are we saved? I suggest you read the following scriptures. We are saved:

1. By Yahweh’s love for us and our love for Him according to John 3:16, 14:21 and 15:9-10; 1 John 3:16 and 5:2-3; Jude 21 and Romans 5:8.

2. By faith according to Luke 7:50; Ephesians 2:8 and Hebrews 11:6.

3. By fear according to Jude 23.

4. By hope according to Romans 8:24 and Titus 1:2.

5. By repentance according to Psalm 34:18; Mark 1:14 and 15 and 2 Peter 3:9.

6. By grace according to Acts 15:11; Ephesians 2:5-8; 1 Corinthians 1:4 and Titus 3:7.

7. By baptism according to Acts 2:38, and Mark 16:16.

8. By preaching according to 1 Timothy 4:16 and 1 Corinthians 1:18.

9. By The Holy Spirit according to Titus 3:5 and 1 Corinthians 12:13.

10. By the Name of Yahshua according to Matthew 1:21; Acts 2:21, 4:12 and 16:31; Philippians 2:9-11 and Revelation 22:4.

11. By works according to James 1:23-25 and 2:14-24; Titus 1:16 and 3:8 and Romans 2:13.

12. By Yahshua’s death, blood, and resurrection according to Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 15:20 and Ephesians 1:7.

13. By keeping the commandments according to Matthew 7:21-23 and 19:17; Luke 10:25-28; John 14:21 and 15: 9-10; 1 Corinthians 7:19; Hebrews 10:16-17; 2 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:3-6 and 3:22-24, 2 John 5-6 and 9; and Jeremiah 31:33-34.

14. By endurance according to Matthew 24:13 and Revelation 14:12.

   So you can see for yourselves that all of these scriptures together will lead you to Salvation.

HalleluYAH!