Some of you mentioned the different meanings of the word "save(d)" we find in the Bible.
As far as I have studied the Bible, the word is used for (at least) 3 different meanings:
1) In the Old and New Testament this word is often used for Gods protection/rescuing from enemies, illness, death etc. (eg. Psalm 106:10; Luk 18:42).
2) The word "save(d)" is also used for describing the unchangeable state of men at the second coming of Jesus, when we forever will be together with Him, and are forever saved from death and this sinful world (Matt 24:13).
3)The Bible also uses this word to describe the change from spiritual death to spiritual life. From a life in sin to a life in righteousness. Everybody who has experienced forgiveness and the cleansing of the heart (the experience in the court yard), is saved from their previous sinful condition.
Let me give 2 examples from the last category and compare them with the expression "not by works", we also find in both these texts, to see if there are some contradiction between this expression and the meaning of salvation (category nr. 3).
Please compare these two passages from Eph. and Tit. They are very similar in their message.
Eph. 2:1-5:
"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
But because of his great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions, it is by grace you have been saved." v.8: "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith, and it is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works..."
I have heard so many quoting v.8 out of its context, saying that this verse tells us that salvation is something outside man, something which was done 2000 years ago.
For the first, this verse are not talking about the final salvation, it is describing the change from sprirtual death to christian living.
Secondly, we would do well to understand what is included/excluded from the expression "not by works" in v.8. Does it exclude from the salvation the change of our character, or does it only exclude the method in which the change cannot take place?
Let us look at Tit. 3:3-7. Here we can clearly see that the renewing of the heart is not excluded in salvation, by the expression "not by works".
"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.
But when the kindness and love of God our saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done (= not by works), but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become hears having the hope of eternal life."
Here Paul tells us that He was not saved from His previous sinful condition by His own works, but by Gods works, through the work of the Holy Spirit. By the blood of Jesus and the work of His Spirit Paul became justified and become "heir having hope of eternal life."
To know what is included/excluded by "not by works" can be very helpful when one study other Bible passages, eg. Romans and Galatians. Many exclude from salvation (both category 2+3) everything that has to do with character and renewing of the mind, by using the expression "not by works" in a wrong manner.
"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" (Gal 2,16).
"...if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law" (Gal 3,21).
Only Jesus can give us life. Let us beleive in him!
Allan F
[This message has been edited by Allan F (edited 07-22-2002).]