Views: 1<\/p>
The billboard beside the church building contained six words, setting forth the congregation\u2019s basic creed:<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Grace Only<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Faith Only<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Scripture Only<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apparently, these words were also intended to convey how men might come to God for salvation through His Son.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Obviously, the church responsible for the billboard failed to comprehend the meaning of the word only<\/em>: \u201c\u2026with no other one or anything else besides.\u201d Therefore, by definition, it is impossible to have more than one<\/strong> \u201conly\u201d ingredient for any entity, including salvation. One may as well say that water is composed of \u201chydrogen only\u201d and \u201coxygen only.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 If God saves men by \u201cgrace only,\u201d then \u201cno other\u2026thing\u2026 besides\u201d grace is necessary. This dictum eliminates any human response to God\u2019s will, either mental or physical (even faith) on the part of sinners. Inadvertently perhaps, but truly, those who chant the \u201cgrace only\u201d mantra imply universal salvation, for God\u2019s grace is available for all (Tit. 2:11). If even one sinner can be saved by \u201cgrace only,\u201d so can all, for \u201cGod is no respecter of persons\u201d (Acts 10:34; Rom. 2:11).<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On the other hand, if God saves men by \u201cfaith only,\u201d then \u201cno other\u2026thing\u2026besides\u201d one\u2019s faith is necessary. This dogma not only eliminates all other obligations toward God; it also eliminates God\u2019s grace. When pressed, many who profess<\/strong> to believe in salvation by \u201cfaith only\u201d agree that sinners must do more than merely believe (e.g., repent of their sins). The moment they allow the necessity of even one<\/strong> element involved in salvation besides faith, they have destroyed their \u201cfaith only\u201d contention. If salvation is by \u201cfaith only,\u201d it cannot be by \u201cgrace only,\u201d and vice versa.<\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What about \u201cScripture only\u201d? This statement is correct, and if one respects it, he will abandon both \u201cgrace only\u201d and \u201cfaith only\u201d creeds. Scripture only<\/em> repeatedly teaches that we are saved by grace (Rom. 3: 24; Eph. 2:5, 8; Tit. 2:11; 3:7 et al.), but never by \u201cgrace only<\/strong>.\u201d<\/strong> Scripture only<\/em> also teaches repeatedly that we are saved by faith (John 3:16; Rom. 3:28; 5:1; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8; et al.), but never by \u201cfaith only<\/strong>.\u201d <\/strong>Salvation by faith includes belief in God\u2019s grace through His Son and obedience (i.e., works) to Him (Heb. 5:9). The Bible explicitly opposes the \u201cfaith only\u201d doctrine: \u201cBy works a man is justified, and not only by faith<\/strong>\u201d (Jam. 2:24; emph. DM). Scripture only<\/em> demands removal of only<\/em> after grace<\/em> and faith<\/em>. Sinners are saved \u201cby grace through faith\u201d (Eph. 2:8).<\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/em>Denton, TX, October 9, 2009].<\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner, curator, and administration<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1The billboard beside the church building contained six words, setting forth the congregation\u2019s basic creed: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Grace Only \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Faith Only \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Scripture Only \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Apparently, these words were also intended to convey how men might come to God for salvation…<\/p>\n