Sure for salvation. For our personal salvation. Jesus sacrifice on the Cross was enough to save every man that has ever existed and will exist. But not every man will be saved. Why?
Scripture is clear, because we must apply those graces by patient continuance in good deeds:
Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
St. Paul put it another way:
Colossians 1:24 *
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:*
Not according to the Bible.Man is justified by God Himself through FAITH alone;
I guess you’ll have to show me that one in the Bible. Because I see where the Bible says:
James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not byfaith**
only.
justification being gifted through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus - the crossRom 3:23-24 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”
Rom 3:27-30 "Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Or is God {the God} of Jews only? Is He not {the God} of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.
Well, I’m glad you’re in Romans, because St. Paul goes on to explain what he means in detail. Lets move on to Chapter 4:
Romans 4:2
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
This verse is troublesome for Protestants because obviously, it seems to directly contradict St. James:
James 2:21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
But St. Paul goes on to explain more:
*10How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. *
What does that mean? Well, circumcision is a work. Yet, Abraham was reckoned righteousness before the work of the law, the law being the covenant of circumcision.
But, does St. Paul recognize that Abraham worked? Sure he does. First of all, St. Paul teaches the obedience of faith:
Romans 1:5
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
Secondly, still in Romans, St. Paul recognizes that only the doers of the law are justified:
Romans 2:13*
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.*
Third, even a person unfamiliar with Scripture knows that Abraham worked. Just go to Genesis 12. This man left his home and family to travel to places unknown based simply on God’s promises:
Hebrews 11:8*
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. ** 9By 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:
*
And this is not all, lets finish Romans 4:
17(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.* 18Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.** 19And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:**
20He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; **but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ****** 21And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. *
**
cont’d
