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JD: We are saved by grace throught faith
apart from our working of the Law. Our/His
faith is reckoned as if it were personal righteousness -- and
we are saved, in part, because of that consideration on the part of
God. Few - many? Well, I believe scripture, Linda. A
whole bunch of people will be saved via the gracious
consideration of the Lord. A whole bunch more will be
lost, choosing
to serve the created rather than the
Creator.
jt: What does "saved by grace
through faith" look like?
Abraham is given as our example of one who had
saving faith the kind that is reckoned as righteousness -
but Abraham
also passed the ultimate test. Is it really possible to be saved by "gracious
consideration" aside from any corresponding action on our part?
Is it all of God with little
or no response from us?
We are told the law was a shadow of
good things to come; it could never make the people who sacrificed
perfect because then they would have ceased to be offered
because the worshippers once purged should have had no more
conscience of sins; but in those sacrifices there is
a remembrance again made of sins every year (at Yom
Kippur). For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should
take away sins. (Hebrews 10:1-4). But when Jesus (our example) came into the world, he said "Sacrifice
and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared for
me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no
pleasure. Then said I - Lo I come in the volume of the book it is
written of me to do thy will O God
(Psalm 40:7,8) ... and Vs. 14 For by one offering he
hath perfected for ever them that are
sanctified.
The apostle Peter tells us that He
left us an example that we should "follow in His
steps" and he goes on to say that "If we sin
wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there
remaineth no more sacrifice for sins but a certain fearful
looking for of judgment and fiery indignation which shall devour the
adversaries. He that despised Moses law died without
mercy under two or three witnesses. Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye,
shall he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of
God and hath counted the blood of the
covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unholy
thing and hath done despite unto the Spirit of
grace? V.31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living
God. jht
