The Cross of Christ Alone Can Save

[mfblume]

Originally Posted by Jeffrey

This is where you're just wrong, Blume. You see, we CAN'T keep up our end of the bargain.

The new covenant has a part for us to play and we certainly can keep it. That is why we read in Heb 8 that the new covenant solved any problem in man not being able to continue.

But you totally missed my point. The point was that any given covenant has two parties. Us and God, in this case. And we have a part to play. Acts 2:38. And God promised to save BY HIS CROSS those who take part in that covenant.

That was obvious since Abraham on... that's the beauty of the Gospel. The covenantal part of that is God original covenant continued, he'd save those who believe in him by faith. He's made that possible through Jesus. To employ new ways of entering into covenant is simply in error.

Where are you getting this "new ways" thing from? Peter, not me, said Acts 2:38. Jesus, not me, said Luke 24:47-49, the elements of Acts 2:38.

Repentance is what one does BECAUSE OF faith, not to prove their faith.

Strawman argument.

Faith has already happened. We stand justified at that moment.

Only if it is faith that WILL WORK.

The cross makes all the difference in the world. What has not changed is God's everlasting and eternal covenant with His people, which was redeveloped in the New Testament to finally include Gentiles, part of God's plan all along (not just a Plan B repudiation against the Jews).

Nothing was redeveloped. God planned the gentiles to come into this thing since before Adam. Where are you getting these ideas? Redeveloped? The fact is that the new covenant has a part for us to play, and your accusation that baptism and Spirit infilling with tongues being salvation by works is simply and blatantly wrong, since those things are no more salvation by works than faith is. This keeps getting brushed aside, but it is the real issue.

Mike, Is circumcision equivalent to baptism, in terms of it being/or not being a "work?"

What is all this? The simple issue is baptism saves and only because it is reliant upon the cross. Period.

The issue is that we feel we can do something to earn salvation, when in fact, those who have received salvation did so after God chose them -- the Spirit called them, they responded with a heart of faith.

Which is where baptism comes in. It is a necessary response by faith.

I would say that if I spoke in tongues and then was vindicated as saved, I feel mighty proud of my own participation in my salvation.

You refuse to listen. Tongues can IN NO WAY be a means of salvation by works. God gives the utterance. How many times mus we say this?

If I toiled for 5 hours at an altar to search through evils in my heart, I feel like I earned my salvation. If I were to whip my back in an effort to make me more morally disciplined, I certainly would feel like I've earned my place.

Removing things FROM our lives does not save us. God alone saves. Salvation is THINGS ADDED to our lives, and we can add nothing. All we can do is remove to clear the way for God to add.

Mike, the blood has already been applied once for all people. It was offered at the time of the Messiah's death. The access key has been turned. We enter into that covenant by faith alone.

Wrong. Faith alone is NOT the covenant. Why did Peter not say "What must you do? Simply have faith!" in Acts 2:38?