Part of a letter below;
Now I will respond to some of the answers you gave to my questions. First the wrath from which Jesus has delivered us and the tribulation are not the same thing. In the book of Revelation the tribulation comes first and the wrath comes later (it also appears that the tribulation is caused by the ungodly and is against the believer, and that the wrath is from God and is poured out on the ungodly). Now I will come to a point we both agree on and go from there.
We cannot save ourselves. I believe that both faith and grace are gifts from God alone (neither are anything we do or can boast in). Further, repentance is merely a result of faith in God. It is God who brings us to repentance when we have faith, repentance is not something we do. If only a shallow belief was required than even the devils would be saved for “they believe and tremble” (James 2:19). Anything we do that pleases God is not an act of ours. Inotherwords we can take no credit for any good works for “no flesh can please God”(Romans 8:8) and “whatever is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). I believe, as the Bible and the apostle Paul himself clearly teaches that when the Father saves us through faith in Christ by Grace that we have no choice but to do good works (we just end up doing them, as a result of faith, if we do have faith). Good works are a result of being saved and we cannot even take credit for doing good works BECAUSE it is NOT we that do them but CHRIST in us. I believe that the Bible clearly teaches that all men in all time have been, are, and will be required to repent and also that all men have been, are and will do good works if they have been saved. Faith/Belief and repentance have always been the way to come unto God this is shown throughout the scriptures. Now I think that perhaps when you said that repentance was not required that you misunderstood what repentance is. Please be patient by brother and consider the following scriptures. In Romans 2: 4-10 we see that “the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance.” In Psalm 51 we see faith/belief in God and repentance (vs. 17) we also see that sacrifice (not done in faith) is not what God delights in, nor is it what he desires (vs.16). In 2 Corinthians 7: 9-11 we see that “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation,” and that this godly sorrow is sorrow which need not be repented of. In Acts 2:38 we read “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In Romans chapter 3:21-26; in verse 21 when it says being witnesses by the prophets and the law I believe this is speaking of how Christ and the salvation which would come through him was made known in the law and the prophets - so it was no new thing. And in verse 25 I believe that it means that the sacrifice of Christ and faith in his blood was set forth by God to take the wrath of God which would otherwise be on men for their sins, and that this righteousness through faith in his blood is for the sins of the past, even the old testament believer since God had forbearance (was patient) until Christ should be made an atonement for all sin. In Habakkuk 2:4 we see that “the just shall live by faith.” In Isaiah 53 we see Christ and his sacrifice for the sins of the people clearly prophesied. Two (of the many) examples are John 12:38 which quotes Isaiah 53:1 and Acts 8:32-35 which quotes Isaiah 53:7-8. In Hebrews 10:4 we read that it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. In Psalm 106:23-24 we see that the Lord wanted to destroy them because they did not believe. In Psalm 78:22 we see that God was angry with Israel because they believed not in God and trusted not in his salvation. In Psalm 73:24 we read that HE guides me and receives me unto HIS Glory. In Zechariah 9:9 we see a prophecy of Christ and the salvation he will bring. In Job 19:25-26 we see Job declaring that he shall see his redeemer in the latter days upon the earth. In John 8:56 we read that Abraham saw Jesus’ Day. In Genesis 22 we read of Abraham’s faith and his seed (compare Genesis 22:17 to Galatians 3:16) Abraham is the father of those who have faith as Abraham did. In Psalm 14:3 and Psalm 16 we see how no man doeth good and that the Lord will save those who trust in him. We see how faith saved the old testament people in Hebrews ch.11. Again in Psalm 53:2-3 we see that there is none that doeth good (meaning again that no one is saved by works). In Numbers 14:11 we see that the Lord is upset because of their disbelief in him. In 2 Kings 17:14 we read that Israel did not believe in the Lord and that because of their unbelief the Lord testified against them. In Romans 4 we read of Abrahams faith and that it was counted unto him for righteousness (also see Genesis 15:6). The sole requirement for salvation is that man exercise faith by the method which God has taught him to do. Man has been taught to exercise faith somewhat differently in different times. In Galatians 3 especially verses 11, and 19 we see that no man is justified by the law, and that the law was only temporary until “the seed should come to whom the promise was made” That seed being Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:16, Genesis 22:17) (Also see Acts 26:15-20, Romans 4: 13-25)
“Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” - Galatians 3:19
Now again it is important to realize that faith alone saves us, but that if we are saved by faith we will do good works. In Ephesians 5:5 Paul says that No unclean person can inherit the kingdom Christ and of God. Now if you read this verse in context you will see that Paul is talking to those who have already professed Christ as there Saviour. So merely professing to serve Christ is not enough, not because it is not enough, but because if it brings about no action toward good works then it was not a true profession, it was not sincere. For in verse 9 we read that the fruit of the spirit is all goodness, righteousness and truth. If we have saving faith we will have good fruit. Jesus himself taught this same thing in the gospels.
In Titus 1:16 we also see that; they profess to know him, but in works they deny him and they are abominable, and disobedient because their works deny him. In Hebrews 5:9 we read that Christ became the author of salvation unto who? Unto them that obey him. In Romans 6:16-17 we read that we are the servant of whom we obey (either sin unto death or of obedience unto righteousness). In verse 6:22 we see that we will have fruit unto holiness if we are servants of God. In Acts 10: 34-35 we see that God does not respect persons but that “he that feareth him and worketh righteousness is accepted.” In 1 Peter 1:22 we read that Christ did no sin and that he is our example. In Isaiah 26:3 we read that he who trusts in the Lord will be kept in perfect peace.
I believe the above verses clearly show that repentance and good works are a necessary part of the faith which is of salvation (studying the above verses should allow this to be understood properly). Further these verses show that Salvation has always come through Faith (belief and trust). Salvation is a gift of God only, at the same time we cannot disregard Philippians 2:12 or 1 Timothy 4:16. But knowing it is only Christ in us through whom we are saved and we ourselves can do no good thing. The reason some of this sounds confusing is that on the surface it may appear contradictory. Because it cannot be received by nor stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (see 1 Corinthians 2:5). But as we study the scriptures it should become clear to us, not by viewing it through some vain philosophy of man, but by the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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