AG STUDY GUIDE FINAL - The Forerunner

salvation is up to me. God grants what he requires – which is precisely what Augustine
prayed.
The Christian life is a call to holiness; growing in the fear and admonition of the Lord.
This growth in sanctification is a necessary by-product, the evidence of a converted
heart. It is birthed and nurtured by the grace of God, for:
“We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God
prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” ~ Ephesians 2:10
It was these “good works” that James referred to when he declared that the Christian
should be able to show or demonstrate his faith through his works.
“I will show you my faith by my works.” ~ James 2:18
And that any faith without these good works is dead.
“But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” ~
James 2:20
We do not live holy lives to make ourselves acceptable to God or to gain His love. But
just as surely as light produces warmth, the regenerating presence of the Holy Spirit in
our hearts will inevitably result in an increase of holiness in our lives. Without that
holiness, no man should presume that he has been genuinely converted.
So does the Bible teach that one who has truly believed can never lose his salvation?
“For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about…” ~
Romans 4:2
Both Calvinists and most modern-day Arminians agree that justification is by grace and
not works. Both agree that by definition, grace means “unconditional, unmerited or
unearned.”
“…to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.” ~ Romans 4:4
We do not merit the merit of Christ. We, by grace through faith, a faith that is not of
ourselves, but a gift from God, are given the merit of Christ.
“But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly,
his faith is accounted for righteousness.” ~ Romans 4:5
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