In other words, "by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves -- it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)
"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes ..." (Romans 10:4)
Don't believe me? Read what the scripture saith, and understand that there remains a remnant in this current time frame according to the election of grace. Know too that the scripture foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, [was] preached before the gospel unto Abraham -- "In thee shall all nations be blessed." (Galatians 3:7-8)
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." (Galatians 3:29)
"So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham, for as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse, for it is written, "Cursed is every one that continues not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, "The just shall live by faith." And the law is not of faith; but, "The man that does them shall live in them." (Galatians 3:9-14)
Let me say that again -- "But that NO man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, "The just shall live by faith." And the law is NOT of faith; but, "the man that does them shall live in them." (Galatians 3:11-12; Habakkuk 2:4)
But for those who believe on the name of Jesus by faith, and accept Him in their heart as Lord and Saviour, we can know that "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us." (Galatians 3:13)
For it is written, "Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree." That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians 3:13-14)
Thus, we receive the gift of salvation, not as a consequence of the good works that we do, but because the Lord Himself has chosen and ordained us to be His people -- even before the world was formed. While we were yet His enemies, the Lord was already establishing a plan of salvation to bring us back to Him. To redeem a people that were not originally His people, and still afar off.
Why? So that we could be justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:24)
"Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; neither by the blood of goats and calves, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies to the purifying of the flesh: how much more shall the blood of Christ who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And for this cause, He is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is of force after men are dead; otherwise, it is of no strength at all while the testator lives. Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood ..." (Hebrews 9:11-18)
But God's plan of salvation was not yet made manifest while as the first tabernacle -- the first covenant with its ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary was yet standing.
"The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing." (Hebrews 9:8)
Oh, how He must have suffered since the foundation of the world, "but now once in the end of the world hath He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself." (Hebrews 10:26)
He who knew no sin became sin for us. He paid the price with His precious blood on the cross, so that we could be set free. And He did so, all because of the sin of the first Adam in the garden.
"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned. (For until the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude [likeness] of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift; for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one -- Jesus Christ). Therefore, as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:12-19)
"Moreover, the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound ... that as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)
"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus ..." (I Timothy 1:14)
But what about Abraham?
"What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory [boast] but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (Romans 4:1-3)
"By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." Still, by faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise, for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God." (Hebrews 11:9-10)
So once again, from whence comes our salvation?
"Now to him that works is the reward not reckoned of [or according to] grace, but of debt. But to him that works not, but believes on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also described the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputes righteousness without works, saying, "Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin." (Romans 4:4-8)
"And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise, grace is no more grace." (Romans 11:6-14)
Let those with ears to hear, hear. Stand in the offering plate.
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