Salvation by Grace through Faith — and Porn A Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: Salvation by Grace through Faith — and Porn Keyword: "Salvation” Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. The current studies explore the following premise: "If we want to behave Christianly, we've got to believe Christianly." Will the premise help us stand strong in the face of sexual temptation? Passages: Ephesians 2:8-9* 8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9. not as a result of works, that no one should boast. Questions 1. Based on the verses above, who is responsible for our salvation?   2. Who does not get the credit for our salvation?   Practical help We can say three things about salvation from these two verses. First, our salvation is through grace by faith. With respect to God's role in the process, grace is the basis upon which we are saved. With respect to our role in the process, faith is the means by which we are saved. If God were not gracious, there is not a one of us who would ever be saved. And if any one of us does not trust Jesus' finished work on the cross, we won't be saved either. No one is automatically saved just because Christ died and rose again. Good Friday's death and Easter morning's resurrection are universal in provision, but they are operative only in the lives of those who believe. Second, our salvation is all from God. Both now and into eternity, neither you nor I will be able to say, "Look at what Jesus and I did!" when talking about our salvation. Receiving the gift of salvation only requires that you and I, grasping the fact of our spiritual death and alienation from God, and accepting the reality that we are under God's condemnation and wrath, rely on Jesus and Him alone for salvation. Third, our salvation has nothing to do with our works. The performance of good works is not in any way a factor in your getting saved or staying saved. Your good intentions don't play a role in your salvation. And neither does your baptism, your church attendance, your giving, your morality, or the fact that by and large, you're a pretty good person. And if there is nothing for any of us to boast about, then all praise and glory must go to God! The great news of the Gospel must never be watered down. It is outrageously good news, but mixed in with any amount of our effort, it loses its beauty and power. Next time you struggle with porn, the hater of your soul (Satan) may attempt to convince you that you must not be a Christian, after all, since a Christian wouldn't look at smut or even be tempted to look at it. Laugh in Satan's face, and remind him that you have been saved by grace through faith. It never had anything to do with your works — and it still doesn't. God's Spirit surely does change our behavior. But our behavior is not the victory that has overcome the world. Faith is the victory that overcomes the world — and porn (1 John 5:4)! eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2003 by eXXit *Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. ----