Truth: Works of the Law

Applying the Grace of Redemption
to Ourselves as Individuals

The Stations of the Cross from the Praetorium to Golgotha and the tomb trace the way of Christ Jesus, who by his Holy Cross has redeemed the world (John1:29) (1 Peter1:19) (Heb 10:10) (1 John 4:10). Jesus won the victory (2 Timothy 1:3-11) (Rom.5:19-20). Redemption is made available to all mankind and can be applied to us as individuals at Baptism. We receive initial Baptismal grace free and unmerited, and we are then justified (1 Peter 3:21) (Titus 3:5) (1 Cor. 6:11) (Rom. 6:4).

Justification detaches man from sin and reconciles man with God. Justification sanctifies and renews us; we "put on Christ" (Gal. 3:27) using our freedom to cooperate with God (Romans 3:22). To continue in justification, we must do our part and accept the redemption in faith by living the life of Christ.

Santification and Habitual Grace Matthew 5:48 ". . . Be Holy as you Heavenly Father is Holy . . ." Herein, Matthew 5:48 reminds us of the universal call to holyness. Likewise, Revelation 21:27 " . . .nothing unclean can enter Heaven . . ." also calls us to be holy - like Christ. We must maintain and exercise habitual grace; that is a lifestyle pleasing to God. Matthew 25:31-46 The verses about "sheep and the goats" help informs us about our eternal destiny - what end forever may await us. " . . . Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. . ."

Initial Baptismal Grace can be Lost The initial grace given at Baptism can be lost, "...For there is no longer any sacrifice that will take away sins if we purposely go on sinning after the truth has been made known to us. Instead, all that is left is to wait in fear for the coming Judgment and the fierce fire which will destroy those who oppose God!..." (Hebrews 10:26-27). We must continue in faith and grace (Gal. 5:4-6) (Mt 7:21) (1 Peter 1:9) (Matthew 10:22).

God's General Plan of Predistination or Salvation
and Our Individual Salvation

Ephesians 2:8 (N I V) " . . . For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith
and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God . . ." There is no absolute assurance of salvation. We are free creatures and can reject the gift of grace, redemption, and salvation (John 3:18) (John 12:48). We do not have to apply to ourselves the grace of Redemption that Christ won for us on the Cross. God, in scripture, speaks of a general plan of predestination or salvation. There are an abundant number of scripture verses that warn against a rash presumption of assurance of individual salvation.

Here is a sample: (Matthew 7:21-23), (Matthew 24:12-13), (Luke 8:13), (John 12:47-48), (John 15:6), (Acts 20:29-30), (Romans 11:20-22), (Romans 2:6), (Titus 1:16), (1 Corinthians 4:5), and (Hebrews 3:12-14).

God in his mercy, knowing that we are not perfect (we have a wounded nature - fallen man), gave us the Church and the Seven Sacraments to help us be conformed to His son Jesus Christ. We must decrease so that He can increase. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23). " Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21). We then should follow Christ's example "But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." (John 12:32). God, in His love and mercy, "wants all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the -truth." (1 Timothy 2:4). Because of the presence of the Church in the world, and in mysterious ways known only to God, He may apply the Grace of redemption to those individuals who because of "invincible ignorance", or through no fault of their own, do not "hear" the truth of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they also can be saved.

Truth is a Person - Jesus Christ. "The Way" to Christ - The Cross.

1 Corinthians 13:6
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, [Or the Only Begotten] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 4:24
God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in Truth

John 18:37
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Matthew 18:18
"I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be [Or have been] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be [Or have been] loosed in heaven."

Matthew 25:40
The King will reply, "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."

1 Peter 1:22
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

1 Timothy 2:4
...God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 3:15
If I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Zechariah 8:3
This is what the LORD says: "I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem. Then Jerusalem will be called the City of truth, and the mountain of the LORD Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain."

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