"For in GRACE, through faith, are you SAVED, and this is not out of you; it is God's gift, nor of works, lest anyone should be boasting." (Ephesians 2:8)
Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to life. This salvation from death shows the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus the Messiah.
"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest...yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and lack the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-25)
The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous "in Christ Jesus".
Salvation from death is freely granted to sinners as a "gift" to all for "Jesus Christ's faith". We deserve to perish (stay dead), but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to trust and proclaim.
Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to life. This salvation from death shows the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus the Messiah.
"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest...yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and lack the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-25)
The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous "in Christ Jesus".
Salvation from death is freely granted to sinners as a "gift" to all for "Jesus Christ's faith". We deserve to perish (stay dead), but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to trust and proclaim.
"Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing. For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead. For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 28)
The cross of Christ is sufficient. Those who require sinners to become righteous in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".
"...for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed." (Philippians 3:18-19)
Those "enemies" think sinners must DO something themselves to become righteous, therefore denying the sufficiency of the cross. They are...
“...hypocrites, for they are fond of standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the squares to be praying, so that they may appear to men. Verily, I am saying to you, they are collecting their wages! Now you, whenever you be praying, enter into your storeroom, and, locking your door, pray to your Father." (Matthew 6:1-6)
In seeking God with all our heart we find "the righteousness of God" in "Jesus Christ's faith". We find what the sinless Jesus did for sinners according to the will of God - He made peace with God for on our behalf.
"...God was in Christ, reconciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
God has a plan for sinful humans. Our only "hope" is HIS plan, not the plans conceived by political or religious institutions.
"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
All will one day joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory to God our Father.
"God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee shall be bow, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue shall acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11).
"...for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and whose glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed." (Philippians 3:18-19)
Those "enemies" think sinners must DO something themselves to become righteous, therefore denying the sufficiency of the cross. They are...
“...hypocrites, for they are fond of standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the squares to be praying, so that they may appear to men. Verily, I am saying to you, they are collecting their wages! Now you, whenever you be praying, enter into your storeroom, and, locking your door, pray to your Father." (Matthew 6:1-6)
In seeking God with all our heart we find "the righteousness of God" in "Jesus Christ's faith". We find what the sinless Jesus did for sinners according to the will of God - He made peace with God for on our behalf.
"...God was in Christ, reconciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)
God has a plan for sinful humans. Our only "hope" is HIS plan, not the plans conceived by political or religious institutions.
"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
All will one day joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory to God our Father.
"God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee shall be bow, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue shall acclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11).