Rom 4:
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed,
through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the
seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the
father of us all,
Rom 11:
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works,
then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
2 Cor 11:
3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds
should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4 For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive
another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well
bear with him.
Just so we are all clear on this one Absolute: **GOD'S GRACE COMES THROUGH FAITH/HEARING**, and never by anything 'we' may do, according to Paul!).
THEREFORE, EVERY OTHER GOSPEL BUT THE ONE PAUL PREACHES IS AN 'ACCURSED GOSPEL'!
I have added this note because there most certainly are "Baptists", "Catholics", "Methodists", "Lutherans", etc. who are taught to believe that WATER BAPTISM is a "Necessary" part of their Salvation, and if they are not water baptized then they are being disobedient to God and it is very doubtful (to say the least) that they are saved.
NOW - Either one *IS* already saved by Grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (and thus have entered into their blessed rest, being crucified with Him), or one *ISN'T* saved and therefore is NOT at rest, thus they feel they must continue to "Keep on doing/working" for their salvation, ever coming just short of it, ever needing to perform one more thing, as "proof" that they aren't fully "Satisfied" with Christ's Perfectly Finished Work on the cross to appease God for us to "His" absolute satisfaction and approval! Period.
(You most definitely can tell a tree by its fruits, when you begin by examining it's leaves closely as to what they believe, and what you hear/receive from that tree will be either "pleasingly good fruit" (sown of the Spirit) or "bitter decayed fruit" (sown of the flesh) from it, through their God-given knowledge -OR- lack of knowledge of Christ!)
And so, through the workings of the flesh (but attributing in their mind, such "works" as being necessary and obedient to God) they ADD a million and one other laws (no matter if they are OT or NT Laws) to Saving Grace as being "Necessary" to it, as they add their water baptisms, penances, scapulars, charitable works, rosaries, repetitious prayers, good luck charms, statues, crucifixes, other images, incantations, religious icons, tithes, bodies to be burned, castrations, no eating of meat, Bible readings for one hour a day, all their goods to feed the poor, becoming a member of and go to church and obey their laws, and/or anything else that will make them "Believe" that they are doing the right thing in "outwardly" obeying God and thus "help them" to **WIN** **EARN** **MERIT** for themselves their own Salvation, is nothing more than entering the Wide Way via the WORKS OF THE FLESH!
THE ABOVE IS AN "ACCURSED GOSPEL"! and Paul says: "Those who preach it are accursed as well!"
The religious works of the Flesh (Babylon the Great Whore, doing so because their understanding remains darkened to God's Grace) remain as one work (of unbelief) against God having but One purpose, standing united in order to: "ADD something to (*DESTROY*) God's Grace" through "Unbelief": through their belief that CHRIST *DID NOT* pay it ALL IN FULL ONCE AND FOR ALL and left something behind UNDONE for us to also do in order to "MERIT" the Free Gift of God's Grace through faith in Him alone = "ALL" we ever need!
As I said in the past: All that matters is whether or not one has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through the true saving revelation knowledge of Him, and continues on having a living relationship with Him... through GRACE, and not put Him in some box of laws and necessities and operate out of that box one has made in order to appease the flesh in works, as if it was the "box" and those who held it that had the power to give out or assure one of receiving 'Grace'.
(Seems to me several of the Popes did this as well (only for money), by selling "indulgences" to those ignorant of God's Grace! There is no difference today, really. A box is a box, no matter what denomination it may belong to. From inside the box we always hear the same voice: "God's Grace is NOT enough, God's Grace is NOT enough! "You" need to do MORE. So, ADD to it, ADD to it!" All such gospels are 'anathema'!)
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;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
"Saved according to 'HIS' mercy" ... "NOT by any works of righteousness which we have done!"
So, if you believe that God commands us to be "water" baptized, then at best this could be called "A Work
Of Righteousness", and at worst "A Work Of Unbelief" (as I have explained above)!
THEREFORE, THIS "WORK" (or any "work") IS **NOT** WHAT SAVES US OR KEEPS US SAVED!!!
Either one is saved by Grace through faith in Christ and has entered into their rest - OR - one isn't and
therefore needs to have "More" than merely trusting in/having Christ.
It is a fact (Titus 3:5) that adding "Water baptism" or anything else to one's faith is "MORE" than the need of having Christ alone, and so, by adding it or even by not adding it; ** if your motive behind it is in order to 'help' you get saved**, then this ('doing it') will in turn NOT save you (but prove your unbelief in "His" Finished work for you), and becomes an outward "law" (i.e. something we MUST DO in order to Help "earn" it).
However, as anything, it is allright to do so as long as "You" do not allow yourself to be brought under "condemnation" (and thus be brought back under the life of the flesh that is condemned by the law) if you DON'T do it...
(Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.)
Rom 4:14-16
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all
Eph 2:8-9 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.
Rom 11:6 And if (salvation is) by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. (Gal.3:6)
May the Lord bless you with this same knowledge!
Biff
