How Salvation does not Happen

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8, 9

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” Titus 3:3-7

There is two-fold teaching in these two paragraphs on salvation. They tell us how salvation does not happen.

1. Not by works, so that no one can boast
2. Not because of righteous things which we had done.

The major non-Christian religions of the world teach that salvation is based partly on the “righteous” things we do. And all of the private personal religions that people have made up in Christian countries are also based on a relative view of goodness. These “do” religions do not save; they are false.

The paragraphs also tell us how salvation does happen.

1. Grace, Faith, Free Gift
2. Mercy, Rebirth, Holy Spirit, and Grace

Salvation is all of God and none of us.

(Taken from Good News/Bad News, 2005)

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