Romans 3:27) Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay; but by the law of faith. 28) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:13) For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14) For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:……………………….20) He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21) And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. 22) And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23) Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24) But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25) Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 5:1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; 2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 9:31) But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. 32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone;
Romans 10:4) For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth……………………..9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved……………..13) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Romans 11:6) 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.
Galatians2:16) 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.
Colossians 2:6) As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him; 7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
I have a story about leading a Catholic to salvation I'd like to share. He was a friend of my brothers. My husband had to have surgery and I had gone to stay at hospital as I always sleep in the chair next to bed and do not leave until check out day. (quite a few surgeries) So my brother called to check on surgery update and told me Andy is in hospital dying of bowel cancer. It happened very suddenly. He was going fast. I asked for phone no. at hospital down there and he gave me his cell no. and said call that instead.
I called Andy and shared the gospel with him. He told me he was a Catholic. I told him it is not about your own goodness, your own abilities, your own works. You cannot enter the kingdom of heaven unless you are born again.
I told him you are going to accept this gift of salvation by believing and confessing with your mouth - I believe Jesus shed blood does pardon my sins and I believe Jesus died on the cross, rose from the grave on the 3rd day and is seated at the right hand of the Father. I repent of my sins and ask Jesus to forgive my sins and accept me as His own. Andy understood this, accepted Jesus as his savior and we hung up.
That night as I was praying the Holy Spirit said to me Andy is not saved. I said what? How is that possible? He said the Sinners prayer and was very sincere! The Holy Spirit gave me one word - Unforgiveness. Somehow I knew it was his ex wife although I'd never met his ex wife - didn't know anything about his ex wife that was the impression the LORD left me with.
The next morning the nurses come in and tell me I have to leave room as they are going to put in pic line - that had to be redone - I said, that is fine, I'll go to lobby.
I took my cell phone down to lobby and called Andy back. He answered. I said, Andy? Remember when we prayed last night and you accepted Jesus Christ as your savior? He said, yes I said that isn't happening until we deal with the unforgiveness. I reminded him of the Lords Prayer where we pray Forgive US as WE forgive others....... I told him the Lord says you have unforgiveness towards someone. Is it your mother, an ex wife, a......... he said, EX-WIFE! THE WHORE! He then went into a very long story of all this woman had done and said, you have no idea! You never met her! She destroyed me!
I told him I can certainly understand having a hard time forgiving someone and that is why we need to sometimes say, Lord? I can't forgive them but I am willing to allow you to forgive them through me. Change my heart, Lord! That gives Him permission.
I asked him are you willing to do that? He said, SURE! The moment he said, SURE! I knew his salvation was sure. So we prayed God please forgive this woman through Andy. I was so excited, I said Oh! Praise God! You are now saved, Andy! It's done! You are saved and God is writing your name in the Lambs book of Life right now! He cried out, I know! I see his hand writing on a tablet of granite....it says Andrew...
Yes. God gave Andy a vision of His Hand writing his name in the Lambs Book of Life - on a tablet of granite. Talk about a beautiful salvation.
Andy died shortly after that but he told me he was healed that day and never felt more at peace with God. His joy was apparent to all who visited him. Interesting, the ex wife came to visit him a few days after he had become a Christian and he told her he forgave her. Isn't that beautiful? God is good. John 3:16. - Jeri
