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Joe May's avatar

Matt,

In reading over this article and thinking about our good works, it occurred to me that each of us has bills to pay each month. We grudgingly pay some of those bills and try to pay as little as possible (esp. on April 15!) while for other bills (think gas and eating out) we think nothing of the money spent, but rather the enjoyment it will bring to us. My mind goes back to Cain and Abel...of Abel's acceptable sacrifice ("Lord, here is what I have set aside for you; I only wish I had more to give...) and Cain's unacceptable sacrifice ("Lord, here's your cut. Man, this sure hurts my bottom line...")

Our good works should not be thought of as something we must do X times per month to stay saved, but rather as something that's such a natural occurrence that we do not even think much of it. That's what I hear you saying.

Grace is something I struggle with---and for the very reasons you mention. We in the Restoration churches have not been taught correctly nor have we ourselves communicated in correctly to others. Thanks for your articles that plainly drive home this concept.

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John Morris's avatar

A brother once wrote: "The word “believe” often stands for the entire response to the gospel of Christ...."

Would you agree? It seems to me that has to be the case; otherwise, the Scriptures are in hopeless contradiction:

Belief saves (Ac. 16:31), and yet baptism does, too (1 Pet. 3:21).

Belief brings about remission of sins (Ac. 10:43), and yet baptism does, too (Ac. 2:38; 22:16).

Belief is the precursor to receiving the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13), and yet baptism is, too (Ac. 2:38; cf. Mt. 3:16).

I have thought of it this way: The belief under consideration in all these passages is a belief/faith that is "perfect"--that is, that has been completed by obedience (Jas. 2:22). If interested, some thoughts on this same topic can be viewed here: https://bibletruths.substack.com/p/faith-salvation-right

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