Class Notes: 1/31/2016

Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; The doctrine of witnessing part 44

In our study of the doctrine of witnessing Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8; we are examining the doctrines that undergird the gospel so that we can understand how and why it is God alone who made it possible for our so great salvation exclusively by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. Eph 2:8-9;

As part of the study we are presently reviewing the content of the Gospel message itself under the category of the "Doctrine of the Gospel that we last studied in 2013." 1Cor 15:1-4; John 3:16; Acts 16:31;

When we ran out of time last time we were looking at John 3:15-18; and John 3:36; "He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not believe (does not obey) the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

In this verse the Greek preposition "eis" plus adverbial accusative of respect from "huis", translated "in the Son in the NASB," clearly states that the action of the verb, "to believe", relates to the Son.

But some refuse to orient to God's grace policy by believing God's Word so they add something to faith alone in Christ alone. The action of the verb, to believe, refers exclusively to Jesus Christ."

Does not obey " is translated from the Greek verb "apeitheo." Peitheo is a word for obedience "apetheo means to disobey. While Jesus was presenting Himself in His unglorified humanity salvation was presented in terms of obedience.

To obey Him was to believe in Him. To disobey Him was to refuse to believe in Him. John 6:47; This was what our Lord demanded by way of obedience: "Truly, truly, I say to you (I am giving you an absolute truth): he who believes has eternal life."

John 11:25-26; "Jesus said to her (Martha), `I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me shall live even if he dies. And everyone who lives (is physically alive) and believes in Me shall never die."

John 20:30-31; "Many other attesting miracles, therefore, Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples which are not written in this book;

v31 but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God, and that believing you may have life through His name."

John tells us that he only wrote about a few of Jesus' miracles. The ones he wrote about focused on the Messiahship of Jesus Christ as well as His being the only Savior of mankind.

Verse 31 explains that he wrote about miracles so "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God and that by believing in you may have life in his Name (His identity as the Son of God)."

John wrote about Jesus' miracles to witness to unbelievers about who Jesus was so that that they would believe in Him and have eternal life.

He also wrote about Jesus' miracles to strengthen the faith of believers by reminding them that the miracles certified that Jesus was in fact the Son of God and that their faith in Jesus resulted in their having eternal life.

The last 3 words in verse 31 are the Greek preposition "en" plus the instrumental of the dative "toi" and "onoma" that are translated "in His name" in the NASB could be translated, "through or by means of His unique person or identity."

The only way anyone can have a relationship with God is by faith in Christ who is the unique Son of God. This is supported by many passages of scripture.

Rom 3:22; "Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. For there is no distinction between Jew or Gentile." Salvation is the same for everyone regardless of race.

Rom 3:28; "For we maintain that man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law."

Rom 4:1-4, "What shall we say then, that Abraham, our ancestor, according to the flesh has found?

v2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to brag about, but not before God.

v3 What does the Scripture say? ( in Gen 15:6;) `Abraham believed God, and it was imputed to him for righteousness.'

Rom 4:4; Now to the one who works (for salvation), his compensation is not credited on the basis of grace but on the basis of what is owed."

Rom 5:1, "Therefore, having been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

These verses clearly state that at the very moment anyone believes in Jesus Christ, in the moment that they acknowledge in their thinking that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God instantly irrevocably conveys the forty things and transfers them out of darkness into His marvelous light as members of a new species. 1Pet 2:9;

These passages clearly state that it is by faith and faith alone that this occurs clearly showing us that salvation is exclusive of any kind of commitment or works by the believer.

This means that anyone, anywhere, can believe in Jesus Christ at any time for salvation it is the same in every period of history or dispensation.

No matter how good or evil a person may be, no matter how large the accumulation of sins or self-righteous works, no matter what false Gospel is being taught like faith plus some kind of works or commitment that is being taught today.

All members of the human race have been and continue to be saved in exactly the same manner, faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, as He is revealed in that dispensation, generation or period of time.

None are excluded because they are too evil, sinful, or guilty. None are accepted because God considers them to be "righteous" or "good." None are righteous no not one. Rom 3:10; All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23:) and all of our "righteous" or "good" works are like filthy rags. Isa 64:6;

When it comes to salvation being "good" has no advantage over being evil. What you are when you hear the Gospel is not an issue; it is believing in who Jesus Christ is and what He did for you on the cross that is the issue.

These days evangelism has a tendency to make an issue out of what people are rather than out of what Jesus Christ is, and what people do instead of what He did for us on the cross.

For the evil person, no system of contrition, penance, or moral reform is necessary for salvation. Only personal faith in Jesus Christ is required.

Since salvation is exclusively by faith it is appropriate to define what exactly faith is. Faith is a non-meritorious state of mind. It is a system of perception where the subject has no merit and the object of faith has all the merit.

This is the way most of the things in life are learned beginning at a very young age. We are told something and we believe it because we trust the source.

In salvation, the subject is anyone, "whosoever," with no merit. The object of faith is our Lord Jesus Christ who is the quintessence of merit, Col 2:9; and the source is the immutable Word of God.

Therefore, faith is a non-meritorious system of perception based on the confidence, the authority, and the veracity of another without regard to perception that is based on one's own knowledge or reason.

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