Common disputes about grace salvation that believers have if they fail to rightly divide

Common disputes about grace salvation that believers have if they fail to rightly divide

The following is a reply to clarify the common disputes that believers have if they fail to rightly divide the scriptures. This is a classic argument of a person that mixes, or blends, all the conditions of both the Kingdom and the Grace gospels into one, confusing the matter and creating contradictions concerning salvation. Some of the objections they raise concerning my article are as follows:

• The road to salvation has ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME .
• We must OBEY Christ’s commands since He came.
• Those who repent will be saved. Those who do not repent will perish.
• The idea of being saved merely by belief in God is refuted by James.
• Hebrews, and elsewhere, warns of falling away.
• You HAVE TO BEAR FRUIT, You HAVE TO STAY CLOSE to God/on the vine. Or you will not be saved.
• Revelation 3 warns that "Those who endure to the end will be saved."
• Once saved, always saved is a heresy.
• Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father.

I encourage you to read the article in full to remain sharp on what arguments and disputes people raise when they do not rightly divide and become familiar with how one can inform these people with contextually correct answers.

I remind you of two simple, but profound statements for us in this grace dispensation, penned under inspiration by Paul to Timothy. Keep this in mind as you read through this article.

1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

Let’s begin with the first statement that this person writes as they comment on one of my posts.

 “The road to salvation has ALWAYS BEEN THE SAME and always will be from Adam and Eve until the end of this world.”

From the above statement on, I have a different view, as I do not merge everything into one formula for salvation. This following paragraph you write has all the conditions for salvation, from different dispensations, but you have simply blended them all together into one BIG all-inclusive condition. It does not work that way, and I’ll tell you why below.

Your blended version says, “REPENT of our sins and turn to God. Which means genuine sorrow for our sins and committing to follow God instead! Yielding to the Holy Spirit to guide us, strengthen us, and comfort us. OBEYING Christ’s commands since He came. And believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the atonement of sins since it happened if we are aware of this.”

Allow me to explain, starting with, “OBEYING Christ’s commands since He came.”

Jesus instructed His disciples the following:

Matt 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

He also said,

Matthew 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Paul says,

Romans 15:8 Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:

These verses clearly state that Jesus came for Jews ONLY during His earthly ministry. The prophetic purpose of Jesus was to save the Jews because prophecy tells that Jews will be the light and salvation of the Gentiles. So, the emphasis was for Jews to get saved and then be God’s blessing towards the Gentiles. BUT this never happened as the Jews were rife with unbelief. However, prophecy will be fulfilled when they believe and take up the prophesied responsibility in the Millennial Kingdom after Jesus second advent.

This earthly ministry of Jesus was so Jewish orientated that even Paul mentions the following,

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.

How can Paul say such a thing? Well, it’s because it’s true. Jesus came for the Jews and everything Jesus taught and did was under law and to fulfil prophecy. The dispensation of grace that you and I live under today is not a dispensation that is under law or connected to prophecy. So, how can what Jesus said and did in His earthly ministry be connected to us? Don’t get me wrong now. There are some generic things that Jesus said that we can learn from and that has application for today, but the greater part and purpose of His earthly ministry was for Jews only. This is why Paul says, we do not know Jesus after the flesh, that is, after the example of His earthly ministry.

So then, how do we know Jesus today? Notice what Paul says here,

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

We are to know Christ according to the revelation of the mystery. This means that we know Jesus according to the doctrine that Jesus revealed to Paul after His resurrection. In essence, Jesus ministered to Paul from a heavenly position. His earthly ministry was for the Jews, who will inherit the earth. His heavenly ministry is for the Body of Christ, who will inherit the heavens.

So, to come back to your statement that we must OBEY Christ’s commands since He came, which I understand as His commands in His earthly ministry, is wrong. Why? Because they were issued to Jews who were under the law. We today are not under the Mosaic law, but under grace, Rom 6:14. The example Jesus set was in accordance with law and prophecy. This is why Jesus instructed the Jews saying, “follow me”, Matt 16:24; Matt 19:21; Lk 18:22; Jn 10:27; Jn 12:26. This is not the example we follow. Now notice what Paul says,

1 Corinthians 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.

1 Corinthians 11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Philippians 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

Why does Paul say this? Well, Paul received instructions from the risen Lord concerning a new dispensation called, Grace. These instructions were not bound to law and prophecy. They were a completely new way of living. Paul continues to say,

1 Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Paul’s life and message is a pattern for us to follow and imitate. It is not a pattern under law, but one under pure grace of God through Christ. Let me remind you of this verse again,

2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Did you notice what follows. If any man be in Christ, (not the earthly format of Christ to the Jews, but the heavenly format of Christ), that man is a new creature. The old pattern is passed away, and now it is the new format of grace, with Christ in us, creating a new spiritual body, made up of everyone who has been quickened in spirit by the grace gospel.

In conclusion of this point, Jesus was a pattern for the Jews, and He taught the Kingdom gospel of repentance from their idolatry and unbelief in order to prepare them for the coming Kingdom he would soon establish. This gospel and pattern were for the Jews, to fulfil prophecy. It is NOT the pattern for us today. We do not follow after the commands of Jesus which was specific for the Jews. Today, we follow Jesus according to a new pattern, that of grace, which comes from the example that Paul sets and teaches. It is important to recognise and understand this division. We have to rightly divide the Word of truth.

By the way, I’m just reminded now what Paul says about the law. Read Romans chapters 6 and 7, which says that Jesus died to free us from the law, that same law that he taught and promoted in His Jewish ministry. His death has freed us from that so that we might serve another master, that of grace and liberty in the Spirit as maturing sons of God, not as children who need the law. Of course, this is a journey of sanctification, in which we grow in knowledge of His Word and allow it to purge out sin, renew the mind and influence us to godliness.

The last part of your statement above, where you say, “believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection for the atonement of sins”, is exactly what I believe for salvation today. Nothing more to add here.

Now, let’s continue with other things you said.

You said, “Jesus is the Judge. Jesus is the one that can save ANYONE. He said He wants to save everyone who repents. Those who repent will be saved. Those who do not repent will perish. This is not a change throughout the Bible.”

I agree with this. Absolutely, Jesus is the Judge. He will judge both the quick and the dead. He will be the Judge, jury, and executioner of ALL mankind of all generations and dispensations and resurrections. And as you say, to those who choose Christ, they will live, and to those who rejected Christ, they will die.

1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Let’s continue,

You say, “The idea of being saved merely by belief in God is refuted by James in James, Paul in Romans, and throughout the Bible, almost every book, with repentance as always necessary for salvation.”

I do not argue with repentance. A humble and contrite heart is precious to God. The gospel message, when receive sincerely, will bring a person to repentance. As for saved by belief only, this is perfectly valid for this grace dispensation. Notice what Paul said to the jailer in Acts,

Acts 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The difference is in the two gospel messages of the Kingdom and Grace. In the Kingdom message, faith and works was required to be saved. Faith saved, but that person had to do works to maintain that faith. John the Baptist mentioned, to the Jews being baptised to, “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:” Matt 3:8. As you say, James chapter 2 speaks of works that proves one’s faith and that faith without works is dead. This was 100% correct for the Jews. They had to prove their faith with conditional works. Jesus said that he that puts his hand to the plough and looks back is not fit for the Kingdom, Lk 9:62. This is why Jesus, and the 12-apostles speak of enduring to the end. All this is the works that is required, as part of the Kingdom gospel, for salvation. The Jew had to get baptised, then filled with the Spirit, according to Jn 3:5.

As for the Grace gospel, it is faith ONLY without works. We do not need to add works to our faith. Why? Because through the cross, Jesus did the works on our behalf. The works Jesus did are imputed to our account freely because we could not fulfil them ourselves, Rom.4. The work of the cross was so complete and perfect that Hebrews 1:1-3 tells us that after Jesus purged our sins, He sat down. So, if this is the case, why would anyone want to add works to that completed work. All the work is done. All we need to do is believe in Jesus Christ and trust that His work will purge our sins. As a matter of fact, according to Galatians, if one tries to add to the gospel of grace, it nullifies the cross. Adding your own works shows that you do not believe that Jesus did it all. When doing this, one shows more faith in one’s own work and ability than the completed work of Christ for you,

Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. 2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised [do any works], Christ shall profit you nothing. 3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised [does adding works], that he is a debtor to do the whole law. 4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

The grace gospel only requires one to hear the gospel and believe it. To sincerely trust that one’s only means of salvation is faith in the cross work of Christ is the only thing we need for salvation. Thereafter, as the word starts to work in that believer, as their mind is renewed by the truth, they will start to produce good works as the Father works it into them, Phil 2:13. These are works as a result of salvation, not works to add to or qualify salvation.

The above will also answer all of the following that you say,

“Hebrews, and elsewhere, warns of falling away. John 15, Jesus says to STAY CLUNG to the vine. If his followers, any Christian, falls away and/or stops bearing fruit, eventually will be cut off the vine and burned. That means anyone could stop repenting and think only belief will get them to heaven. But you HAVE TO BEAR FRUIT, you HAVE TO STAY CLOSE to God/on the vine. Or you will not be saved.

Revelation 3 warns that “Those who endure to the end will be saved.” Once saved, always saved is a heresy. Not that you mentioned it, but I think dispensationalists usually believe in that heresy as do too many other “Christians”. But in reading the Bible, you can’t miss the calls to repent and for discipleship.

Jesus says, “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of the Father.”

That means EVERYONE, all times, if you want to get into heaven.”

All the above is specific to the Kingdom gospel. Clinging to the vine, branches bearing fruit, being cut off if no fruit is found, enduring to the end. All this is the works that the Kingdom believe must do to prove and maintain their faith and confession. They had to do these works. In the grace gospel, God imputes the work of Christ to the believer. As Paul says,

Romans 5:1-2, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We have ALREADY, by faith in the grace gospel, been justified. We have peace with God through the finished work of Christ. We have access to this grace wherein we stand. What more works can be added to this. It is faith alone that we need to have.

Thus, “once saved, always saved” is a truthful quality of the GRACE gospel. Since in other dispensations, works were necessary by the believer to do to maintain and endure in their salvation, and giving up or turning back would forfeit their faith, we in the grace gospel as saved by the faith and the work of Christ. We are sealed into his body, (2Cor 1:22; Eph 1:13; Eph 4:30) and we can have complete peace to know that our lives are hid with Christ in God, Col 3:3. Why do you think this gospel is called the grace of God. He did the work for us to save us. The cross and His subsequent resurrection did it all. All we must do is believe.

Rom 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Remember, it is a change in dispensation. The conditions changed between the Kingdom and the Grace gospels. The Kingdom dispensation was under law and prophecy. The Grace dispensation is a completely NEW work of God and is by grace and under mystery, not prophecy. We must be careful to NOT merge or blend these dispensations into one. This skews doctrine and produces a false narrative. This is why Paul says,

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Keep these dispensations separate and it will keep your doctrine clear and correct. Israel under law and prophecy is separate and distinct from the Body of Christ under grace and mystery. When you blend these together it produces confusion, contradiction, and contentions.

I trust that this long reply contains some thought-provoking advice. Search the scriptures, read through my references, and confirm for yourself that there are two parts (programs) in the one full plan of God for the redemption of humanity and the restoration of creation.

God bless.