Can you comment on salvation?
Introduction. This question basically involves commenting on the different views regarding man's salvation. All the divergent views essentially can be reduced to three.
#1 Man merits salvation. Some religions and most cults advocate that man can save himself primarily by performing good works. Those who so believe view man as having the ability to rise to such a spiritual level where God owes him salvation. Such a view is clearly false (Tit. 3: 5; Eph. 2: 8-9). Man's salvation cannot be not earned (Rom. 4: 1-11).
#2 Man's salvation is wholly of God. The cry of many Protestant reformers was "Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone." Those who believe this believe man is so depraved that he is totally helpless to participate in his salvation and that God does it all - even faith is said to be directly given by God. According to the scriptures, this view is also false, as seen in the examples of conversion throughout the Book of Acts (Acts 2:40-41).
#3 Man's salvation requires unworthy man's participation. This view emphasizes God's part, but also makes man responsible and active in his salvation. Faith is said to be made possible by God (who provides the evidences per John 20: 30-31), but man must exercise himself in order to believe (Rom. 10: 17). God's grace is so effective that man's works of righteousness are dulled (Tit. 3: 5). However, man must accept God's gift. This acceptance is man's obedience (Heb. 5: 9; Matt. 7:21). This is true salvation by grace (God's part) through an active, obedient faith (Eph. 2: 8-9; James 2:14-26).
Conclusion. The Bible refers to man's salvation as great (Heb. 2: 3). Man cannot merit salvation, but neither is he a helpless victim. Truth is often between the extremes, as is the case here. As the Holy Spirit through Paul writes: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Gal 5:6)
#1 Man merits salvation. Some religions and most cults advocate that man can save himself primarily by performing good works. Those who so believe view man as having the ability to rise to such a spiritual level where God owes him salvation. Such a view is clearly false (Tit. 3: 5; Eph. 2: 8-9). Man's salvation cannot be not earned (Rom. 4: 1-11).
#2 Man's salvation is wholly of God. The cry of many Protestant reformers was "Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone." Those who believe this believe man is so depraved that he is totally helpless to participate in his salvation and that God does it all - even faith is said to be directly given by God. According to the scriptures, this view is also false, as seen in the examples of conversion throughout the Book of Acts (Acts 2:40-41).
#3 Man's salvation requires unworthy man's participation. This view emphasizes God's part, but also makes man responsible and active in his salvation. Faith is said to be made possible by God (who provides the evidences per John 20: 30-31), but man must exercise himself in order to believe (Rom. 10: 17). God's grace is so effective that man's works of righteousness are dulled (Tit. 3: 5). However, man must accept God's gift. This acceptance is man's obedience (Heb. 5: 9; Matt. 7:21). This is true salvation by grace (God's part) through an active, obedient faith (Eph. 2: 8-9; James 2:14-26).
Conclusion. The Bible refers to man's salvation as great (Heb. 2: 3). Man cannot merit salvation, but neither is he a helpless victim. Truth is often between the extremes, as is the case here. As the Holy Spirit through Paul writes: "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." (Gal 5:6)