4 thoughts on “Are You Saved?”

1. Hi Berean Wife, I am so grateful for your use of and explanations of the Scriptures concerning salvation. Truly it is of grace alone that we are saved. I’m curious what you think about Jonathan Edwards’ sermon : The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul is to be Sought. I would love to hear what you think about Edwards’ exhortations – “There is a work or business which must be undertaken and accomplished by men, if they would be saved.”

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   Berean Wife Reply:
   September 15th, 2011 at 4:09 pm

   Mallory,

   I don’t seem to understand your question. See anyone who is familiar with Paul Washer or even with the Berean Wife website would know that we both believe that we are saved by Grace alone and not by our works. However, once we are saved we are expected by the Lord to bear fruit in keeping with repentance (Matthew 3:8), actually posted about that today – Fruit Bearing Children.

   I read the sermon by Edwards The Manner in Which the Salvation of the Soul is to be Sought just so I could figure out what you were asking. Ten “Christians” God Will Not Allow Into Heaven answers the question of how even if we look like “Christians” and are serving the Lord we are only saved by Grace from the Lord. Here is a good summation of Edwards’ sermon:

   Answer 1. Not to merit salvation, or to recommend them to the saving mercy of God. Men are not saved on the account of any work of theirs, and yet they are not saved without works. If we merely consider what it is for which, or on the account of which, men are saved, no work at all in men is necessary to their salvation. In this respect they are saved wholly without any work of theirs: Tit. iii. 5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” We must indeed be saved on the account of works; but not our own. It is on account of the works which Christ hath done for us. Works are the fixed price of eternal life; it is fixed by an eternal, unalterable rule of righteousness. But since the fall there is no hope of our doing these works, without salvation offered freely without money and without price. But,

   2. Though it be not needful that we do any thing to merit salvation, which Christ hath fully merited for all who believe in him; yet God, for wise and holy ends, hath appointed, that we should come to final salvation in no other way, but that of good works done by us. God did not save Noah on account of the labor and expense he was at in building the ark. Noah’s salvation from the flood was an instance of the free and distinguishing mercy of God. Nor did God stand in need of Noah’s care, or cost, or labor, to build an ark. The same power which created the world, and which brought the flood of waters upon the earth, could have made the ark in an instant, without any care or cost to Noah, or any of the labor of those workmen who were employed for so long a time. Yet God was pleased to appoint, that Noah should be saved in this way. So God hath appointed that man should not be saved without his undertaking and doing this work of which I have been speaking; and therefore we are commanded “to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling,” Philip. 2:12.

   That is not any different from what Washer says in his sermon or what is on my website? So what did you mean by my “overlooking something”?

   Berean Wife

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2. Are you guys Calvinists and do you believe in predestination?

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   Berean Wife Reply:
   March 4th, 2013 at 2:24 pm

   James,

   I would say we believe in the Soveriegnity of God. Many would call that Calvinism, although there is much of Calvin’s teaching we would not adhere to. An example would be Calvin taught and practiced infant baptism yet we do not. We believe in believer’s baptism.

   Predestination meaning that the Lord forordained all that would happen through out time. Yes. We would also say we believe in Election meaning that God choose all who would be saved before the foundation of the world.

   Ephesians 1:11-12
   11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
   12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.

   Berean Wife

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