One of the Devil's most successful devices is to get men to trust something other than JESUS CHRIST or in addition to JESUS CHRIST for Salvation. He gets some to trust in their own righteousness; others to depend upon church membership; others to depend upon sacraments. Some he leads to trust in reformation, and others he gets to depend upon baptism.
While there are hundreds of different religions in the world, there are really only two teachings regarding the matter of Salvation--Salvation by grace or Salvation by works.
Those who believe in Salvation by grace teach that GOD saves the individual and that Salvation is totally unmerited. Man can do nothing to earn it. His only part is to receive by faith what GOD has done.
Those who teach Salvation by works teach that man saves himself by some form of works. Some teach that man is saved by works he performs before Salvation in order to be saved, while others teach that a man is kept saved by works that he continues to perform after Salvation.
Salvation Is NOT by Works
Most who teach Salvation by works claim that they really believe in Salvation by grace through faith, but their teaching clearly contradicts the claim. To say that one must do certain things in order to be saved, or continue performing good works after he is saved in order to keep Salvation, is Salvation by works.
Ephesians 2:8-9 plainly says: " For 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. "
Salvation Is NOT by Faith and Works
Salvation cannot be a combination of grace and works. Romans 11:6 plainly says, " And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. "
It is impossible to mix grace and works. Either GOD saves a man by grace, or man saves himself by some form of works. Those who teach that one must be baptized in water in order to be saved, teach Salvation by works.
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