A CHRISTIAN VIEW
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GRACE IS NOT A MANDATE
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
A. Because of God's grace all men are afforded the opportunity to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, that is being saved through faith.
B. Ephesians 2:8 does not state or imply the that men are saved by grace alone.
C. The gift mentioned is, salvation. The gift is not, imputed faith, from God to those who have been preselected, by God, for salvation.
Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men....
Does this mean the grace of God promises universal salvation? Of course not, it means all men have the opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ. YES, all men.
Titus 3:4-7 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, 5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
A. God saved us according to His mercy. How? By the washing of regeneration (water baptism) and renewing by the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38, John 3:5.
B. Men are afforded grace only through faith in Jesus Christ.
C. We are justified by God's grace. Without God's unmerited favor of forgiveness through Jesus Christ no man can be saved.
GRACE IS NOT EARNED. GRACE IS NOT MANDATED FOR A SELECT FEW. FAITH IS NOT IMPUTED TO MEN, AS A PRODUCT OF GRACE.
ALL MEN WHO HEAR THE GOSPEL PREACHED HAVE A CHOICE TO ACCEPT GOD'S GRACE BY FAITH THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.
The terms for pardon because of God's grace are:
1. FAITH: John 3:16
2. REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19
3. CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10, Acts 8:37
4. WATER BAPTISM:1 Peter 3:21, Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38, Acts 22:16
GRACE IS MERCY-NOT A MANDATE!
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