What Does It Mean To Be Saved By Grace?

Ephesians 2:8

"For by grace you are saved through faith and this not of yourselves [it is] of God the gift." (Greek Interlinear Bible)

First of all let's define the words 'grace' and 'saved'.

1) Grace - Strong's Concordance

Charis: grace, kindness
Original Word: χάρις, ιτος, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: charis
Phonetic Spelling: (khar'-ece)
Short Definition: grace, favor, kindness
Definition: (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness.

2) Saved - Strong's Concordance

Sózó: to save
Original Word: σῴζω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: sózó
Phonetic Spelling: (sode'-zo)
Short Definition: I save, heal
Definition: I save, heal, preserve, rescue.

Ok, now that we have the meaning of the two words we can begin to understand what Paul was saying to the Ephesian saints.

The first thing we need to understand is that Paul preached to some disciples in Ephesus on one of his missionary journeys and they were converted to Christ by believing the word Paul spoke and then being baptized in water and the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:1-7

"And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?” So they said, “Into John’s baptism.” Then Paul said, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.” When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. Now the men were about twelve in all." (NKJV)

Now we can also understand that the epistle to the Ephesians was initially written to those who were already converted to Christ by obeying the New Covenant ordinances of baptism in water and the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:1

"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:"

Now let's come back to Ephesians 2:8 and apply the definitions of 'grace' and 'saved', and apply what we have learned above to this text so we can understand what Paul wrote.

"For by grace you (Ephesians) are saved through faith and this not of yourselves [it is] of God the gift."

Paul is saying, 'brethren, by God's favor, and His kindness, He saves you, you are healed, you are preserved and rescued from danger, death, and His wrath'.

Nowhere in these scriptures is Paul telling the Ephesian saints what they should DO in order to be saved or converted to Christ like he told the disciples he met when he entered Ephesus! (Acts 19:1-7)

So those who quote Ephesians 2:8 today, as proof text of their salvation are in error and should repent!

To be saved (healed, preserved, rescued), by God's grace (favor, kindness), is a daily blessing and provision for those who have been truly converted to Christ, who abide in Him, and are faithful to Him everyday.

The salvation of the soul is also a future blessing for those who endure until the end.

Matthew 24:13

"But he who endures to the end shall be saved"

There are many who say 'I got saved at this time', or 'I've been saved for x amount of years', etc... those are cliché phrases that are taught and quoted by those who do not understand what it really means to be 'saved by grace!'

In Jesus,
Tyrone

Are You Oppressed (Audio)

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In Jesus,
Tyrone

Are You Oppressed?

Acts 10:34-38

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

Unless you are walking in complete sanctification of your body, soul, and spirit, without any spot, wrinkle, or blemish, then you have some oppression in one or more areas.

The word oppression in the Greek means:

2616. katadunasteuo kat-ad-oo-nas-tyoo'-o from 2596 and a derivative of 1413; to exercise dominion against, i.e. oppress:--oppress.

1413. dunastes doo-nas'-tace from 1410; a ruler or officer:--of great authority, mighty, potentate.

As a result of sin and iniquity, Satan gains access to our lives and our flesh. He becomes a ruler over us, exercising dominion against us as long as we remain unrepentant and disconnected from the life of Christ.

Even after being born from above and contrary to popular belief, we are not instantly holy when we enter the kingdom of God. In most cases, (including mine) the Lord does not deliver us from everything immediately, we must all take part in the sufferings of Christ and go through chastening, pruning, and washing in order to be transformed into the image of Christ. This is called the process of sanctification, or to be made holy.

We must be healed by Jesus from the years of oppression by Satan who held us in bondage to do his will. We can be oppressed in many different ways, for example, we can have an evil spirit of infirmity like the woman who was bent over and bound for eighteen years. Many would look at her and think that her condition was just physical, but Jesus saw in the spirit that she was being oppressed by Satan.

Luke 13:10-17

"Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.  But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”  And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him."

Also contrary to popular belief, it is possible for a born again believer to have an evil spirit and darkness in the flesh at the same time the Holy Spirit indwells your heart. Understand that the Holy Spirit does not enter the physical heart or the organ that pumps blood to our bodies, but He enters the spiritual heart that's in our soul.

The thorn in Paul's flesh gives us scriptural proof of this truth. 

2nd Corinthians 12:7-8

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me."

The Greek word for messenger means:

32. aggelos ang'-el-os from aggello (probably derived from 71; compare 34) (to bring tidings); a messenger; especially an "angel"; by implication, a pastor:--angel, messenger.

The scripture tells us clearly that Paul received a thorn (something that causes distress or irritation) in the flesh and that thorn was a messenger (or angel of Satan) to buffet him. We know it must have been very painful to him because he pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from him!

For further insight into the topic of Christians having demons in the flesh, check out Derek Prince's message, "How To Be Delivered From Evil Spirits or Demons" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ed8j33e8viE

The good news is Jesus can and desires to deliver us from all our oppression so that we can walk in purity and holiness!

1st John 3:8 "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Open Mic!

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Call in and receive the soul liberating ministry of the Lord as He works through our earthen vessels to minister His love, grace, and mercy to all who call on His name!

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In Jesus,
Tyrone