Tag: salvation

gospel · Theology

We Are Justified by Faith.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Those who say that we are justified by our works, or obedience to the law, are deceived, and going about deceiving. Those who say that unless our faith produces good works it is not true faith, are not lying. Our works are not an effectual piece of the justifying work of Jesus. Our works are a necessary effect of the cause. That cause being, the new birth.

There is a category that holds all the subcategories of the process. The category of salvation has under it the doctrines within the ordo salutis. (order of salvation) It is a logical progression. If you would like to read about that, you can do so here. Specifically discussing the doctrine of justification, it is the judicially declaring a person free from their debt to God via the sin expiating, and propitiating, work of Jesus on the cross.

When we say that a person is justified by faith, we are simply saying that they must believe in who Jesus is, and what He actually accomplished on the cross. Justification is part of the salvation process. After being justified to God, which this cannot be undone, a person begins the sanctification process. This is one by which the person is set aside for God’s holy use, where He conforms them to the character of His Son Jesus.

As we consider the entire ordo salutis, we must make clear in our minds the distinction between justification, and salvation. Otherwise we end up in endless arguments about loosing our salvation, or the other error of antinomianism. When someone talks about being saved, or losing their salvation, they are usually being sloppy in their theology, and not making the distinction. They mean justification, but say salvation.

The following from Romans should make it exceedingly clear to even the most rank Roman Catholic, or Orthodox, heretic that justification is by faith alone.

Romans 2:12 – 5:21
(LSB Strong’s)
12 For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law, and all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. 13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. 14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15 in that they demonstrate the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.
The Jew Is Judged by the Law
17 But if you bear the name “Jew” and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18 and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19 and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20 a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, 21 you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22 You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23 You who boast in the Law, through your transgression of the Law, do you dishonor God? 24 For “THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU,” just as it is written.
25 For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law, but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. 26 So if the uncircumcised man observes the righteous requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? 27 And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the Law, will he not judge you who, through the letter of the Law and circumcision, are a transgressor of the Law? 28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29 But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.
There Is None Righteous
​1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Great in every respect. First of all, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief abolish the faithfulness of God? 4 May it never be! Rather, let God be true and every man a liar, as it is written,
“THAT YOU MAY BE JUSTIFIED IN YOUR WORDS,
AND OVERCOME WHEN YOU ARE JUDGED.”
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is the God who inflicts wrath unrighteous? (I am speaking in human terms.) 6 May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? 7 But if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, why am I also still being judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.
9 What then? Are we better? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; 10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN TOMB,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”
19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are in the Law, so that every mouth may be shut and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law NO FLESH WILL BE JUSTIFIED IN HIS SIGHT, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
The Righteousness of God through Faith
21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith, for a demonstration of His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that faith, is one.
31 Do we then abolish the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.
Abraham and David’s Faith Counted as Righteousness
​1 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about—but not before God! 3 For what does the Scripture say? “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes upon Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
7 “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
8 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”
9 Therefore, is this blessing on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, “FAITH WAS COUNTED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 10 How then was it counted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.
13 For the promise to Abraham or to his seed that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith has been made empty and the promise has been abolished; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no trespass.
16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be according to grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the seed, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all— 17 as it is written, “A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU”—in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR SEED BE.” 19 And without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to do. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written THAT IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be counted, as those who believe upon Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over on account of our transgressions, and was raised on account of our justification.
Results of Justification by Faith
​1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we boast in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man, though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
The Gift of Righteousness in Christ
12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the trespass of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
15 But the gracious gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the gracious gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were appointed sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be appointed righteous. 20 Now the Law came in so that the transgression would increase, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Likewise, those who properly understand James’ words, will not negate the work of God in you, to good works, as a product of that regenerating, justifying, and sanctifying work He is doing. This is an effect of the cause, it is not part of the cause, or the cause. Anyone teaching that is a deceiver.

James 1:19-27
(LSB Strong’s)
Doers of the Word
19 Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, laying aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in gentleness receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But become doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he looked at himself and has gone away, he immediately forgot what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of freedom, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this man will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious while not bridling his tongue but deceiving his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

James 2:14-26
(LSB Strong’s)
14 What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; and I have works. Show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected. 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

After reading just this small amount of scripture, it should be obvious to any honest person, that sola fide is the truth. Only people with a demonic tradition would lead you away from this truth, to enslave you again to the law. The Word of God teaches thoroughly on this idea. If you deny it, you deny the very gospel itself, and Christ the one Who suffered for you.

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A.I. is Scary.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Ok, people. I asked A.I. to do this, “Write an article in the literary style of the articles on http://www.snyderssoapbox.com that explains the differences between the Biblical ideas of justification, and salvation. Utilize the Koine Greek meanings of the lexical root words of those ideas. The article should be between 1000 words, and 1500 words long.” The following article was written completely by A.I. I don’t think it reads like something I would write. I also noticed some areas where nuance was missed in favor of flowery language. I’m curious what you all think about how A.I. did? Here is the article.

Below is a literary-style article in the spirit of Snyder’s Soapbox—reflective, rich in language, thoughtful—on the difference between justification and salvation in the Biblical sense, rooted in their Koine Greek lexical origins. It’s around 1,200 words for a comfortable read.

“Justification and Salvation: Two Streams Beneath One River”

In the grand tapestry of Christian theology, two great threads run side by side: justification and salvation. Often spoken of in the same breath, these are distinct yet intertwined, like two rivulets that flow into the same vast river. Each bears its own weight, its own flavor, in the narrative of redemption. In this exploration, we will follow each stream back to its Greek source, excavating the rich soil of meaning that lies there.

1. Dikaiōsis — Justification

The term justification comes from the Greek δικαίωσις (dikaiōsis), rooted in δίκαιος (dikaios)—“just,” “righteous,” “in the right.” To justify is to declare righteous, to pronounce someone as in the right in the courtroom of the cosmos. Within the Koine usage, a jury’s verdict, a judge’s sentence, a person’s standing being affirmed: these are the echoes that reverberate through dikaiō—to render or reckon righteous.

In the Pauline corpus, especially in Romans and Galatians, justification is an instantaneous legal verdict. The guilty sinner stands accused, yet the Judge in heaven, through the death and resurrection of Christ, declares: “You are righteous.” Here lies a cosmic forensic drama: our sins, laid upon Christ, are paid for; His perfect righteousness is imputed unto us. The moment we believe, we are justified—not because we have done anything to deserve it but because we trust in what Christ has done. This is not progression; this is position. Dikaiōsis is a once-for-all declaration.

We might say that justification is the hinge upon which the door of reconciliation swings. No more do we stand accursed, condemned, or alienated. The verdict resounds: “Not guilty.” The scales of divine justice are balanced by grace.

2. Sōtēria — Salvation

Salvation, on the other hand, springs from the Greek σωτηρία (sōtēria), anchored deeply in σῴζω (sōzō)—“to save,” “to deliver,” “to preserve.” Where dikaiōsis is declarative, sōtēria is dynamic. It suggests movement, rescue, healing. In the New Testament, salvation speaks of more than a verdict. It carries with it rescue from peril, protection from harm, restoration from disease, and arrival at safety’s haven.

Already in classical Greek, sōtēr was a savior, one who preserves life. Thus sōtēria is a deliverance, a rescue operation. In the Christian Scriptures, salvation is used in varied registers: being saved (from wrath—Rom 5:9), being kept (from stumbling—Jude 1:24), being healed (Mark 5:34), being made whole. It encompasses the past, present, and future: saved by faith (Eph. 2:8), being sanctified (2 Thess 2:13), and awaiting full deliverance at Christ’s return (Romans 13:11).

While justification is fixed and decisive, salvation is ongoing and cumulative. One might say that it is justification in motion—in the realm of sanctification, perseverance, and final glorification. Salvation is holistic: rescue touches mind, heart, body, community, cosmos.

3. What the Stream Analogy Reveals

When one enters the stream of justification, one receives a verdict that cannot be undone. The moment of justification, the kairos of faith, is like stepping on a rock in the river—unchanging, immovable. Walking on water, if you will; once you’re on the rock, you’re safe from drowning.

Salvation is the current flowing around the rock. You are with a community, with the Spirit, carried toward maturity. Grace repairs what sin broke; faith tends the wounds, love restores relationships; hope presses you forward.

One is declarative, forensic, instantaneous.
The other is declarative plus transformative, restorative, and eschatological.

Though intimately linked—they share the Greek root of sōzō—it is the suffix -teria, the journey component, that gives salvation its dynamism.

4. How the Epistles Weave Them Together

  • Romans 5:1–2: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God… and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
    Justification brings peace in the present, hope for future glory—it bleeds into salvation’s territory.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:18: Paul says Christ “is unto us that believe… salvation.” In context he calls Him both our power and our wisdom—saving us fully—reckoned righteous and made new.
  • Philippians 2:12–13: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you.” Believers are exhorted to co-labor with God in the process of salvation—sanctification, yes, but the engine comes from the Spirit.
  • Hebrews 9:28: “So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” The cross declares our righteousness once; the return consummates our rescue once and forever.

5. Why the Distinction Matters

It matters deeply—for the soul and for the ecclesia.

A. Assurance
Justification gives us immediate confidence: we are no longer condemned (see Romans 8:1). We need not fear God’s courtroom, because in Christ a verdict has been issued. The heart that understands this rests; the conscience that grasps this is at peace.

B. Growth in Grace
Salvation reminds us that the journey isn’t over at justification. We are called to grow: more like Christ, less like sin; more loving, more gracious, more sacrificial, more aware of injustice, more sold-out for the unreached. Salvation drives us forward.

C. Eternal Hope & Contextual Meaning
Salvation spans dimensions—spiritual, physical, cosmic. It shapes how we live now. We breathe differently because we are being renewed. We serve differently because a divine purpose undergirds life’s meaning. We die differently because our tent is being folded into an immortal mansion. The drama of the gospel flows from justification into salvation: it begins with verdict and ends with homecoming.

6. Biblical Nuances in Greek

Let us unpack the Greek roots a little further:

  • Δικαίωσις (dikaiōsis) – from δίκαιος (dikaios), meaning “just,” “upright.” The verb δικαιόω means “to make just” or “to declare just.” It was used in legal contexts—judicial rulings.
  • Σωτηρία (sōtēria) – from σῴζω meaning “to save,” “to heal,” “to guard.” It was used in common Greek of rescue (shipwreck, illness, captivity). The noun captures the rescue event or the state of being saved.

Notice how dikaiōsis is about verdict. Sōtēria is about delivery, about life lived and life rescued.

7. The Metaphysical Implication

Our spiritual DNA is altered at justification—our position before God is changed. But this changed position now unfolds into a pilgrim’s journey of salvation. You might picture an architect’s drawing (justification) and then the construction site (salvation). The blueprint says, “You’re in the house.” The ongoing labor brings into existence the inhabitable, lovely space where we live and love.

8. Common Confusions Clarified

  • “Once saved, always saved?”
    Yes—with respect to justification: once justified, always in Christ. But salvation—the ongoing experience of grace—can be hindered if we resist the Spirit; the New Testament includes warnings against falling away or quenching the Spirit.
  • “Faith vs. works?”
    Justification is by faith apart from works (Romans 3:28). Salvation—not the initial verdict, but the walk—is evidenced by works (James 2:17–18). Good works are not the root of our justification, but the fruit of our salvation.
  • “Are we saved already or not yet?”
    Paul echoes this tension: “saved” (past), “being saved” (present), “will be saved” (future). The tension holds in salvation’s temporal flow. Justification is not a tension—it is complete and certain.

9. A Personal Word

For the weary saint who lies awake at night haunted by regret—let your heart rest on justification. The verdict does not hinge on performance. It hinges on Christ. For the pilgrim who longs for growth, for glory, for more of God—lean into the currents of salvation. Ask for perseverance, holiness, joy, endurance.

They are two aspects of the one great deal of grace. One opens the door; the other directs the journey within the house of grace.

10. A Short Glossary

Greek TermEnglishMeaning Highlighted
δικαίωσις (dikaiōsis)JustificationDeclared righteous in God’s courtroom
δικαιόω (dikaiōō)To justifyTo make right, to treat one as just
δίκαιος (dikaios)Just / righteousUpright, in alignment with right
σωτηρία (sōtēria)SalvationRescue, healing, deliverance, wholeness
σῴζω (sōzō)To saveTo rescue, heal, preserve
sōtēr (σώτήρ)SaviorRescuer, deliverer

11. Conclusion: Two Gems of Grace

To press these definitions into one’s soul is to grasp the gospel in both breadth and depth. Justification—a legal declaration that our record has been wiped, that God accepts us in the Beloved. Salvation—the unfolding of that acceptance into a life that is healed, delivered, shaped toward eternal beauty.

How the Spirit mysteries quarantine these two truths in our hearts:

  • When burdens rise—rest on justification.
  • When growth falters—drink deeply from salvation.

And through both—give your life away, with gratitude, in hope.

In the words of the apostle Paul, “He saved us, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy… born again… living hope… reserved in heaven…” (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3–4). Two springs—one source of mercy. Drink deeply.

I hope this captures the tone and depth you’re looking for. If you’d like more focus on Pauline passages or a more poetic framing, I’d be glad to revisit it.

After reading that, do you get the sense that it sampled other writings, and emulated different theologians?

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Augustine of Hippo on Justification by Faith Alone.

Bob Snyder2 Comments

Augustine of Hippo (354–430 AD) is often regarded as a pivotal figure in Christian theology, particularly concerning doctrines like justification by faith. His works frequently discuss salvation, grace, and faith, and many of his writings align with the concept of justification by faith alone—even if the term itself was not explicitly used in his time. Below are 10 citations from Augustine’s writings that support the doctrine of justification by faith alone:

1. On the Spirit and the Letter (c. 412 AD)

“For what is the righteousness of God, except that by which we are justified, not by works of the law, but by faith in Christ? For the law is not of faith, but the promise is of faith, that it might be by grace.”
(On the Spirit and the Letter, 22.41)

2. The Enchiridion (c. 420 AD)

“For it is by the grace of God that we are justified, and through faith, not by works. We are therefore justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
(Enchiridion, 102)

3. On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins (c. 411 AD)

“If justification comes from works, the free gift of grace is no more. But it is through faith that we are justified, by grace, through the blood of Christ.”
(On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins, 1.2)

4. City of God (c. 426 AD)

“We are justified by faith in Christ and not by the deeds of the law. For, as the Apostle says, ‘A man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.’”
(City of God, 16.9)

5. On the Gospel of John (c. 416 AD)

“But faith is the means by which we receive justification, not by the works of the law, for by grace are we saved through faith.”
(Expositions on the Gospel of John, 8.4)

6. On the Predestination of the Saints (c. 428 AD)

“It is not by our own works, but by the grace of God that we are justified, for the grace of God is freely given and received by faith.”
(On the Predestination of the Saints, 19.1)

7. On the Grace of Christ (c. 427 AD)

“Our works are not the cause of our justification, but the grace of God which justifies by faith. For what else is it that justifies, except the grace of God through Jesus Christ?”
(On the Grace of Christ, 3.8)

8. Against the Donatists (c. 400 AD)

“It is not the law that justifies us, but the grace of God received through faith. For the law can only point to sin, but grace, through faith, brings salvation.”
(Against the Donatists, 5.20)

9. On the Nature of the Good (c. 400 AD)

“Therefore, it is by faith alone that we are justified before God, and not by any works that we perform. For the good that we do comes from the grace of God.”
(On the Nature of the Good, 12.15)

10. Sermons (Sermon 212)

“What else is it that saves a man, except the grace of God received through faith? Works can never justify us before God; it is faith that justifies, not works.”
(Sermons, 212.2)

Summary Table

SourceCitationFocus
On the Spirit and the Letter (22.41)Justification by faith, not works of the law.Faith as the means of justification
The Enchiridion (102)Justified by grace through faith in Christ.Grace and faith over works
On the Merits and Forgiveness of Sins (1.2)Justification by faith and grace, not works.Grace and faith for salvation
City of God (16.9)Justification by faith apart from works of the law.Faith over law-based justification
On the Gospel of John (8.4)Faith is the means of receiving justification.Faith over works
On the Predestination of the Saints (19.1)Justification by grace, through faith, not by works.Predestination and faith
On the Grace of Christ (3.8)Grace justifies us by faith, not works.Grace alone
Against the Donatists (5.20)Justification through grace and faith, not by the law.Grace and faith vs. the law
On the Nature of the Good (12.15)Justification is by faith alone, not works.Faith alone
Sermons (212.2)Salvation by grace through faith, not works.Faith as the means of salvation

Conclusion

Augustine was deeply concerned with salvation by God’s grace, and his writings frequently emphasize that justification is by faith alone, a concept rooted in God’s grace and the work of Christ, rather than human effort or adherence to the law. These citations reflect Augustine’s understanding that faith, not works, is the key to justification before God.

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Christianity Did Not Come From Any Other Religion.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Numerous times I’ve read that Christianity came from Judaism, or Protestantism came from Roman Catholicism. Some even go as far to say that muslims, roman catholics, jews, mormons, and jehovah’s witnesses, all worship the same God. Well they don’t, and that is why I didn’t capitalize them. They are all cults. None of them have the true God. Only the one true faith has the one true, and living God. That one true faith has been known by different names throughout history.

At the moment God created a creature that could have faith in Him as their Creator, and Savior, there was the one true faith. That creature is man. Adam, and Eve knew God in the garden, but that knowledge was from knowing Him face to face. They talked with the preincarnate Jesus, who is the eternal Son. When they sinned, and were cursed by God, He cursed the serpent by saying that Eve’s seed would crush the head of the serpent. Whether you believe it is necessarily a reference to a singular seed, representing the protoevangelium, or that seed being the collective of elect individuals representing humanity up to the incarnation, with Christ being the culmination, and fulfillment of the protoevangelium, you still end up with the faith of antediluvian people being in the coming Savior who would set things right, and deal with their sin.

We know that Noah found favor in the eyes of the God because of his faith. How do we know he had faith? He built the ark. God in the Old Testament was followed, and worshipped by the Patriarchs. These men truly believed. People who followed them, may not have, but we know the one true faith existed in those times. It has never ceased. We follow this true faith in God, and His telling of a coming of the specific Messiah through the Old Testament. We read of Abraham, Isaack, Aaron, Jacob who became Israel, the people of Israel, and so on. Inside of the works righteousness, self-righteous, oppressive religious system the jews developed, there was always a group of them who truly believed the scriptures, and the prophecies. They were waiting for their Savior.

When the eternal Son condescended from the majesty of Heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, and live among His sinful creatures, it was to finally deal with sin, and cleanse for Himself a bride, for the glory of God. Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6 (LSB) “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” According to Acts 4:12 (LSB) “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”

The Jew says the Savior has not come yet, even in light of the fact that the first Christians were the Jews from Jerusalem. He loves his self-righteousness, his laws, his ceremonies, and detests the true Savior. They seek to save themselves. The muslims are the same. Of course they are. They plagiarized the Old Testament, and added all the demonic doctrines of Moo Ham Head their satanic prophet. He was nothing like Jesus. Moo Ham Head was a murderous, thieving, lying, slave owning, pervert, pedophile who died, and went straight to Hell. Jesus is alive! Jesus is thrice holy, righteous, good, true, just, and loving. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (LSB) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Our God sacrificed Himself, His only Son, the second person of the Trinity, to justify us to Himself, for His glory, and our good! Moo Ham Head never did that. He never dealt with sin. Romans 5:8 (LSB) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus never taught that baptism into the Roman cult saves a person. He never taught that you must be baptized to be saved, or that it has any actual efficacious results on our justification at all. His word never teaches that either. It is one of two sacraments we have as Christians. It is for the public profession of your conversion. We identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Rome, the Eastern churches, the Mormons, and many other cults, mandate a work of man, like the observance of a sacrament, to attain justification, or maintain it.

Roman Catholics make a blasphemous mockery of Christ’s atoning work on the cross with their mass. It is one of the most blatantly satanic, antichrist, man made doctrines, I’ve ever learned about. Read Romans for crying out loud. I don’t know how anyone, even a lost person, can read the book of Romans, and decide that salvation is partially caused by the works of the person claiming to be Christian. It is the most deceitful reading of the text. The text, over and over again, obviously argues for salvation being by faith alone. Works are a product of being born again, and justified by God. They are the product, not the cause. That kind of self-righteousness is disgusting, and only equaled by the other cults like mormonism, and the JW’s.

The hubris of man to think he can merit God’s favor by the work of his filthy hands. This is the pride, and self righteousness, on display for all to see. Why, they don’t even really need a Savior… They could just obey, and earn their way… Not! God says in Romans 6:23 (LSB) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All men are sinners. How are you going to deal with your sins? Are you going to try to make yourself as holy, and righteous as God? Because that is His standard of good. You’d have to be as good as God, which means you’d have to be God. You can’t!

In Christ you can have His goodness as God, imputed to you by faith in Him, and His grace. Turn from these false religions that cannot save you! They cannot deal with your sins! Only Jesus laid down His life to take the hell that you deserve. He took the punishment that His people deserve on Himself, on the cross of His crucifixion! Moo Ham Head didn’t! Joseph Smith didn’t. None of the Popes did! Marry didn’t! The watchtower didn’t! Buddha didn’t! Repent, and put your faith in the singular seed from God who finally, and thoroughly dealt with sin! You can start living eternal life today. Don’t wait for tomorrow!

Christianity is the modern name of the one true faith. It does not find it’s origins in any other religion. It is the continuance of the one true faith founded at the creation. Many people have co-opted it, renamed it, made up their own doctrines, made up their own gods to fit their needs, but nonetheless, it is apart from all the lies. The ancient self righteous jews didn’t wait for the Savior. The ones who had the true faith were already putting their faith in Him for their eternal peace. Roman Catholicism came out of the Holy Roman Empire. It co-opted Jesus from the true faith, and built a self-righteous, works righteousness system around Him. The muslims co-opted Jesus but reduced Him to be simply a profit. They too made a works righteousness system. The same is true of all the other systems that claim the name of Jesus, but make man responsible for his own justification in part, or in whole.

A prayer from the penitent heart.
Apologetics · Theology

A prayer from the penitent heart.

Bob Snyder1 Comment

its

A prayer from the penitent heart.

Dear Lord, I did, “it” again. I feel so pathetic and weak. I hate that I don’t even fight that hard against, “it.” I hate that I do, “it” over and over again. Each time I come to you in my failure, asking your forgiveness again. I don’t even think about your suffering on the cross when I do, “it.” If it does come to mind I push it out. I let the temptation take hold. Then it rushes into my mind to fill it. It becomes a compulsion. I can’t stop, “it” from being my only consuming thought. At the time, I know, “it” is not good, and I willfully choose to do, “it” anyway. I have a mortal idea of what, “it” cost you on the cross, but I disgustingly disregard it so the sinful compulsion can run its course. I know that after, I’ll come groveling to your feet again like some worm, some unreasoning beast, who has no self-control. Why don’t I have victory? Why can’t I stop, “it?” Is it because I am trying in my own power? Is there a lesson I’m supposed to be learning? Am I being humbled? Is this sin to keep me from being proud? Or am I truly saved? Am I a false convert? How can I have assurance? None of my Christian friends are dealing with, “it.” They all have it together. I never see them struggle. Lord! Help me! I’m so sick with, “it.” Sick of, “it.” I’ve prayed and prayed for you to take, “it” away from me, yet, “it” remains. I can’t take, “it” anymore. I just want to be completely obedient to you, but I can’t. “It” won’t let me. It keeps assaulting me over and over. I keep giving myself to, “it” when all I want is to be yours. Please forgive me again?

Have you ever felt like this? Replace, “it” with whatever sin it is that you are constantly being overcome by. We hear lots of things as Christians that can cause us doubt. Many different voices speak into our lives. Some of those are lying, some are accusers, some are genuine convictions. There is unhealthy shame and there is good shame. One shame leads to a legalistic self-flogging over and over again that is never good enough. One leads you to the feet of the one Who took the floggings and the wrath that you deserve. He can justify you once and for all time. He can make right every, “it” you’ve committed, and every, “it” you will commit. I it sounds weird to think about Jesus paying for sins you haven’t even thought of committing yet. He is God in the flesh. Like it says in John 1:1-14, He created everything there is and ever will be. Don’t you think that God would know everything that you would do?

Justification is a fancy theological word that means God has made your record clean for all time. He paid for all of your sins.  On judgment day, He will see His own perfect righteousness when He looks at you, instead of your, “it” that you are so ashamed of. That, “it” is gone! That is what you are free of. He has nailed it to the cross and by faith you have been crucified with Him. Your old self loved the, “it” all the time. You never gave God a single thought. You didn’t care what He thought. If you have come to a place where you do care, where you have been broken over how disgusting, “it” is, where you care about Jesus’ suffering for you on the cross, and it has caused you to hate the, “it” like the person praying that prayer above, if you have turned from your love of all the, “its” in your life, to love Jesus for His work to save you from the punishment that all the, “its” make you deserving of then through repentance and faith in the work of Jesus who loves you, you are justified! You are saved, once and for all, and Jesus will keep you saved, He will keep saving you like a cleansing rain pouring over you continuously, for the rest of your life. What He makes clean never gets dirty again. He is God and can’t loose what He has hold of. He has hold of you. Your grip might be weak, and your grip will fail, but His never will.

Sometimes we let our failures become His failures. This doubt and lack of faith usually comes from listening to the voice of the accuser and not listening to God’s word. Sanctification is another fancy theological word that just means, God is maturing you. He is separating you from your old love of the, “its” and is helping you to love Him more instead of all the sin. This process takes the rest of our lives. It is only finished when we go to Heaven. I’m not telling you to go on sinning and letting the, “its” run your life. If we love Jesus we won’t do that. We will fight against them. Some of them will fall easily and others will make us feel like an ant punching an elephant’s toe. Keep in mind when the giant, “it” squashes you, that Jesus has already won the war. Your little battle doesn’t determine who the victor is in the war. There is no power anywhere that could defeat our Savior. We fight because we love Him. Even if our efforts seem like they are pathetic and useless. We carry on, knowing that He has justified us and will keep sanctifying us. Just have faith and love Jesus more. Turn from the, “its” at all costs. Fight them with all the strength of Heaven at your disposal. When you fail, know that He has got the victory for you and cling to Him who saves you.

Apologetics

Mormons believe that salvation comes through Joseph Smith!!! No, I’m not kidding, it is on this website.

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

Mormons believe that salvation comes through Joseph Smith!!! No, I’m not kidding, it is on this website.http://www.mormonhandbook.com/home/salvation.html#joseph

Salvation through Joseph Smith – Salvation – | – Mormon Handbook
To understand the LDS view of salvation it is helpful to first understand these LDS views: God …
MORMONHANDBOOK.COM
marriage · Theology

All arguments in favor of gay marriage are invalid.

Bob Snyder1 Comment

Regardless of the revisionism that is going on with the liberal, “ahem… theologians” a gay marriage is not an acceptable marriage according to God Himself and His word.  In this few verses spoken by God Himself, incarnated as the Word made flesh, He said in Matthew 19:3-6 in the New Testament, “…3 Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” 4 And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, 5 and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’? 6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”…” Oh and if you’re curious that is God/Jesus quoting Himself when God spoke in Genesis.

In Genesis 1:27-28 God says that He created male and female for the purpose of reproduction and that for His glory as more humans equates to more image bearers. Genesis 1:27-28, “…27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” …”

In Genesis 2:24 we have the definition of marriage ordained and officiated by God, “…24 For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh…”

So any union devised by the darkened heart of sinful humans that isn’t the God ordained and defined union of one man to one woman for life is by Biblical definition not a marriage. You can call it what you want, but it isn’t marriage.  Since Biblical marriage is a religious union the government has no business in it other than protecting our 1st amendment rights.  We should never be forced to condone homosexual marriage or facilitate one, be it in business or our personal lives.  It is an obvious abuse to do so.

Any sexual relations outside of a Biblical marriage are sinful. Homosexual desires are sinful.  Heterosexual lusts are sinful outside of a heterosexual marriage.  Desiring your spouse in a heterosexual marriage is not sinful.  Desiring someone outside of your heterosexual marriage is sinful.  These are very simple concepts people.  God is very clear in His word people.

So since you can’t be married unless it is a heterosexual marriage, and all sex and lust outside of that marriage are sinful, you can see that homosexual lusts and unions are sinful and not to be condoned or in any otherwise facilitated by the Church.

The only people that have problems with this are the ones who want to condone, endorse, and otherwise approve of perversion. “Hey! I don’t like being called a pervert or thinking of myself as a pervert!  I know!  I’ll twist God’s word around or completely disregard it and live in disbelief of Him.  That way I can justify my perversion instead of repenting and being forgiven.”  Wow! What a mess.

Listen folks every Christian is no better than the vilest offender. The Bible says we all deserve to be killed by God, sent to Hell, and to have God’s wrath poured out on us for all eternity because we are sinners.  Romans 3:23, “…23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, …”Even just a lie makes you worthy of hell.  Revelation 21:8, “…8 “But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”…”  Proverbs 12:22, “…22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight…”  God sees a lustful thought as adultery.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:28, “…but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart…”

We don’t hate liars and we don’t hate homosexuals. There are Christians who were once liars, and homosexuals, but they have repented of their sins and put their faith in Jesus to save them.  1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “…9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. …”

Why would anyone being saved by grace hate a person who hasn’t been? Maybe you haven’t experienced hate from a Christian; maybe they have just told you the truth in love?  Proverbs 27:6, “…6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy…”  We don’t want you to die and go to hell for being an unrepentant sinner.  We just want you to experience saving grace through saving faith and repentance given by God.

Forgiveness of sins is available to you. Jesus, being fully God and man, lived a perfect sinless life, one that you could not live.  He earned all righteousness by obeying the law of God.  He went to the cross and there was crucified, enduring the horrendous torture.  Upon the cross the wrath of God that has been stored up for you upon the Day of Judgment was poured out on Jesus.  He paid your penalty.  Justice has been satisfied for you so that you don’t have to go to Hell and suffer, Jesus suffered for you.  Only He could take the suffering of infinite punishment and survive until it was complete as He is God.  The man Jesus then died, was buried, and resurrected of His own power, thus conquering death and sin.  All we must do in response is to admit that we are sinners who deserve Hell, turn from our sins and begin to fight them, turn towards Jesus, and believe that His work of atonement on the cross paid our sin debt, and set us free to live for Him.  Repent, and believe!  It is that simple to be born again and made into a new person.

Lost, Saved, Baptized, Rinse and Repeat.
Apologetics · Church · Theology

Lost, Saved, Baptized, Rinse and Repeat.

Bob Snyder3 Comments

Have you ever heard anyone say, “I got saved and baptized when I was a kid, but then I walked away from my faith, and now that I’m an adult, I have come back?” Then, they get baptized again and share their testimony. After a few months of being, “back” they walk away again/backslide. A while later they decide they need to recommit their life to Christ, so they come back to Church and get baptized again. I don’t know how many times, in the Nazarene Church I attended, I heard someone say this, but it was a lot. I didn’t know how to understand this then. I didn’t have the Biblical knowledge to know this was wrong. I knew it was wrong intuitively, but couldn’t build a case Biblically.
I struggled with this myself. Was I really saved that time when I was 19? If so, why am I still fighting these temptations to sin in my life? The Nazarene Church taught, “Entire Sanctification” back then. It was a doctrine that said it was possible for a person to mature spiritually, in this life, to the point where they no longer sinned. I got so frustrated with my constant failings. I cried out to God and told Him, “I can’t do it! I can’t stop sinning! If You want me to stop you are going to have to stop me!” So then came about a 10 year period where I gave up fighting the sins that were too hard to stop on my own. Sure I gave the outward appearance of being a Christian when I was at Church, but at work I still acted like a child. I used profanity all of the time, I told dirty jokes, I engaged in low humor, I entertained hateful thoughts against others because of their political beliefs, and I liked what I saw on television, except I would still cringe when a show used blasphemy. I knew I was doing wrong. I knew from what the Bible said, I was doing these things because my heart desired to do them. I also knew in my head that I didn’t want to keep doing them.
The Church also taught that you could become apostate or lose your salvation if you continued to sin after being saved. This was the doctrine of, “Apostasy.” I remember asking the Pastor about what it said in Hebrews 6, about not being able to be saved after losing your salvation by continuing in willful sin. He explained that was correct. I asked him how anyone can stay saved if that was true. Another person quoted the passage about forgiving 70 times 7. They were trying to tell me if I repent, Christ will keep forgiving me, but if I didn’t repent, and then died, that I would go to hell. All of this didn’t jive with what I was reading in the Bible. It seemed as if people were just cherry-picking passages out of the Bible to justify the way they wanted to live.
The denomination had its own definition of sin. I couldn’t justify it with what I had been reading in the Bible. I knew I was a sinner. I knew I kept committing sins. I felt powerless to be holy like the Church said I must be. My best efforts kept failing. That is why I gave up. The Church said sin was a willful transgression of a known law of God. I asked, “What if I fell into traffic, looked up to see a truck coming, cussed, and then was killed before I could repent?” I was told that was just a mistake, not a sin. So I asked, “What if, I blasphemed instead of cussed, in the same scenario?” I was told I might go to Hell. I was having a difficult time understanding being saved if it was always precariously perched on the narrow ledge of my flawed capacity.
I went down the roads of, “Easy Believism” and “Cheap Grace.” I rejected the doctrines of, “Entire Sanctification and Apostasy.” While I was confused and erring I still knew and was strongly convicted that this was not right either. There is something I am missing. I was going through a very difficult time in my life.  I didn’t trust God with my money, I didn’t trust God with my marriage, and I proved I didn’t trust God by my actions.
A good friend suggested I read the book, “Crazy Love” written by this, Chinese American Pastor from California, with a shaved head. I was not at all anticipating the affect it would have on me or my life. Francis Chan’s book was a kick in my guts. It wasn’t a cruel kick, but rather one that was used by God. He got my attention and exposed how I was lukewarm. I was going to be told, “depart, I never knew you.” It was also about the same time this new radio program was playing on the local A.M. station. This funny, yet serious man named, “Todd Friel” with, “Wretched Radio” kept chipping away at what I had been told by the Church, with truth from the Bible. He was presenting a Reformed view of soteriology. (salvation) It was rocking my world. I was also listening to a local theologian on the same station. His name was Matt Slick. At first I was like, “What’s with this clown’s name? Is he a used car salesman or what?” So I was curious. I went to his website, “CARM.ORG” I read many of his articles and listened to his program and Todd Friel’s program intently and found myself nodding in agreement with them. I got on the internet and watched video after video from Matt Chandler, David Platt, Paul Washer, John Macarthur, R.C. Sproul, Leonard Ravenhill, Martyn Lloyd Jones, and so on. It was like I had this table with a billion puzzle pieces on it, and I only had a couple of corners figured out with some clouds, and these two men were helping me put the pieces together faster than I had ever done before. One day after most of the pieces were put together it was like someone nudged the table and the remaining ones fell into place. It was one of those epiphany moments you have in life.
I don’t want to forget to mention the affect that, “Witness Wednesday” on, “Wretched Radio” had on me. I heard Ray Comfort and Todd Friel presenting the real gospel message to people on the streets and on college campuses. I finally heard the gospel after 15 or so years of believing I was a real Christian. Instead of hearing, “You’ve got a Jesus shaped hole in your heart. Won’t you let Jesus in? God is a gentleman and won’t come in unless you ask Him. He is waiting at the door of your heart, won’t you let Him in?” I was in a state of shock. It was so simple. Why hadn’t anyone preached this to me before?!? Why? Why? Why?! I was so angry with the Church, my friends, and most of all me. How could I not get it? Faith and repentance! Du!
What I had known to be the Christian faith was off by just a scant amount, it seemed Christian, but it was out of phase. Through all of these influences in the middle of my suffering, I heard about real saving faith and repentance that are granted by God. Faith I couldn’t force myself to have in 15 years of trying. Repentance I couldn’t force myself to do, and the effects of these two things. I found myself running headlong into a study of Reformed Theology, the Reformers, the Puritans, and God’s sovereignty. My wife would ask me if we could talk about something other than religion. My co-workers were probably wondering what was going on with me. I would talk about my faith with everyone I met and share the gospel with them. I started evangelizing wherever I went. I actually read my Bible from cover to cover with a reading plan from R.C. Sproul’s Ligonier. I consumed scripture like I had never done before. The word of God became alive to me. Doctrine after doctrine fell into place in a harmony I had never before experienced in all of my piece-meal Bible reading.
I’d be remiss, if I didn’t tell you about the great help Dr. R. C. Sproul’s book, “The Holiness of God” was to me. He corrected the low view of God, the high view of man’s abilities, and the marginal view of sin that I had. It fixed in my head how holy God is, how helpless man is, and how offensive sin is. With this knowledge firmly ensconced in my mind, I could finally put the false teachings behind me.
You see, people don’t get saved and then lose their salvation. They don’t get resaved over and over again. You get saved ONCE! If your life isn’t characterized by growth in knowledge of personal sin and in holiness you aren’t saved. It never happened. Do you read your Bible regularly? Do you hate sin in your life, the sin you used to make room for? Do you love to go to Church and be with God’s people and worship Him together with them? Do you trust Jesus alone for your salvation and righteousness? Do you love to do good works, not out of a sense of duty or obligation, but rather do… YOU… LOVE… to do the good things God has prepared for you to do before creation?
A saved person is a new person. They are a different person. They have a different nature. They are born again. They died to themselves and were resurrected with Christ a new person. I never got this in all those years. I suspected there was more to this religion, but I couldn’t grasp it. I couldn’t comprehend it… yet! Then God worked a double miracle in my life of regeneration, and justification. I trust Him to complete the sanctification that He has started in me. I desire to be conformed to His word and will instead of shrinking from it. I love Jesus! I hope you will to.  Watch the video to get the gospel presented to you.

Uncategorized

I’m really rotten

Bob SnyderLeave a comment

I’m really rotten. When I am weary, people can catch a whiff of the corpse that is with me. I can try to perfume my corpse and cover it with ornate raiment, but that stench permeates and exudes forth in my futile efforts to conceal my corruption. It might not be evident to all, but it is ever before me, haunting my conscience with the knowledge of all I’ve done wrong and failed to do good.  Only the continual washing of grace can cleanse the festering corruption. One day that rotten body of death will no longer be with me. I will be glorified in Heaven with God. I will be finally free from sin in all of its forms.  By the obedient loving work of Jesus on the cross and the Holy Spirit in my regeneration in accordance with the Fathers will, I will know what it is to be free from sins corruption for all eternity, an ageless age!  O how I love Jesus!  Praise His name!  The one who saves the hopeless and gives victory over sin!

If You Could Lose Your Salvation, You Would.
Theology

If You Could Lose Your Salvation, You Would.

Bob Snyder20 Comments

eternman

I’ve heard from many people that salvation isn’t sure. They believe that your salvation is only actual once you die and are judged. If you had done enough good, stopped sinning, kept on believing and repented enough, then you get finally saved. If you haven’t done enough good, sinned once too often, faltered in your faith, or failed to repent of that last sin, then you are finally damned. Usually I hear this from cults like the Mormons and the Roman Catholics. Of course the Mormons don’t believe in a Hell, just a lower realm of Heaven.

I am not trying to misrepresent their position. When someone says that they believe you can lose you salvation this is how I understand what they are asserting. This type of doctrine can only come from a person with poor hamartiology. Their understanding of sin and their culpability before a thrice holy God is not right. If they understood just a little bit of how exceedingly sinful people are, they wouldn’t adopt this works righteous doctrine. Here is a story of what I did out of my own prideful attitude, I woke up one morning and thought, “I will see how long I can go without sinning.” I was brushing my teeth and realized that at that very moment where I presumed to be able to not sin, I had sinned. You see my sinful pride and self-righteous attitude produced a sinful thought.

The thought that a human could even live just a moment without sinning shows how utterly lacking their knowledge of their own personal sin is. In the span of one second we fail and commit sins in an amount approaching infinity. You might not like this, but it is true. Think about God. How holy is He in His infinite and perfect holiness? If He is that holy how can you succeed in obeying the first commandment sufficiently to please Him? Look at the rest of the commandments and ask yourself the same questions. When you steal His air and don’t thank Him for every breath, when you take for granted that He is keeping you alive every nanosecond, when you are angry and hate someone even though you didn’t actually kill them, then you try to justify it because you didn’t… really? God sees our hearts and our thoughts in truth as they are. Hatred in the heart is seen as murder by God.  We can only perceive and reason through senses corrupted by the curse of the fall. If just for a moment you could see how utterly hopeless and wretched you are, it might then bring you to the conclusion that if you are to be saved it must be completely the work of God from beginning to end.