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BIBLE STUDY COURSE

ETERNAL (Aionios) LIFE
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Lesson -2

'By Grace Through Faith'

Scripture: Titus 3:5-7
Text: Eph 2:8, 9
Ac 15:11
Intro:
A crisis had split the Congregation at
Jerusalem [Ac 15:5]. Grace was not enough for some to be `fully saved'
[i.e. this term will denote all that God has provided for man in Messiah
Jesus: deliverance from hell, deliverance from the power of sin in our
lives, hence the salvation of the life and the salvation of the body in
glory and is experienced progressively by grace through faith] -they
required Gentile converts to be circumcised and obey the law of Moses.
1] Their arguments were persuasive:
a] Jesus was a circumcised Jew who had obeyed the law.
b] He came `not to destroy the law but to fulfill it.'
c] He taught His disciples to obey the scribes and Pharisees
[Mt 23:1-3].
d] And, they also represented a powerful faction... the
majority!
2] Some were not convinced, nor impressed:
a] Paul [Ac 15:2]
b] Peter [Ac 15:7-9]
The dissension was sharp and the issues were decisive [Ac 15:6-
11]. Peter inspired by the Spirit defined the way of `full salvation'
saying, "through the grace of the Lord, Messiah Jesus we shall be saved
as they" [Ac 15:11 quoted above].
2] Peter's account agreed with Pauls' thesis in his cardinal axiom

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[Ac 13:38, 39], so that no member of the Congregation need be brought
under legalism [Gal 2:4; 5:1]. It is with great difficulty that men
continue to believe that "By grace are ye saved through faith" [Eph 2:8]
after they have taken their `first step' of trusting faith in `salvation from
hell.'
3] This difficulty prevailed in the days of Jesus' ministry [Jn 6:28,
29]; and in Paul's ministry "the offense of the cross" was more than
many could endure. Accepting Messiah Jesus as one's personal Saviour
is an humbling experience. But to be expected to continue 'surrendered'
with all confidence in Him from then on is too great a task for some.
4] We are not 'fully saved' through our attainment, but through His
Atonement. Many there are who, like the Jews of old, vainly establish
their own righteousness in order to maintain a 'right standing with God'
and fail to receive the righteousness of God in Messiah through faith.
5] James declares that "faith without works is dead" and such
"faith" cannot 'fully save' [2:14-26]. He does not advocate works as the
means of 'full salvation,' but qualifies for believers the kind of faith that
goes on to obtain God's 'full redemption.' "It is faith, alone which saves:
but the faith that completely saves is not alone." Such a faith cannot
avoid expression [Gal 5:6].
6] Jesus also advocated this [Jn 14:12]. The faith of men which
stops after the 'first act,' and has no intention of continuing to trust Jesus,
is something less than a faith that saves completely. It is ever true that
"the soul ['psyche' -life] that sinneth, it shall die," and "the wages of sin
is death" -such is God's justice. But there is also an abiding mercy. "The
gift of God is Aionios zoe ['Age Life'] in Messiah Jesus our Lord" [1 Jn
4:7, 10].

I. THE GIFT OF GRACE

"For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that not of

yourselves it is the GIFT OF GOD . . ." [Eph 2:8]
"For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT OF GOD is ZOE
AIONIOS [`Age life'] in Messiah Jesus our Lord" [Rom 6:23]
"Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable GIFT" [2 Cor 9:15]

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 A . The Best Things in Life are Free! A popular maxim . . .
1] While the wages of sin' remains, for Baptists, to be `death' -the
gift of God is 'Aionios Zoe' through Jesus [Rom 5:15-18].
2] God's gifts are not for sale [Ac 8:20].
3] Full Salvation is God's gift to undeserving men.
4] All we need is ask [Jn 4:10] and "take freely" [Rev 22:17].

B. Does our `full salvation' [or `completed salvation'] cost anything?

1] It cost the Word, the humiliation of humanity [Jn 1:14]
2] It cost the Father, the sacrifice of His only begotten Son [Jn
3:16]
3] It cost the Holy Spirit an age long ministry of wooing the
stubborn hearts of men [Jn 16:7-15]

C. Though `full salvation' is a gracious gift, the acceptance, like it's

provision, is costly.
1] The continual renunciation of 'self' -"I am crucified with
Messiah" [Gal 2:20].
2] "What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Messiah.
Indeed, I [continually. . .] count all things but loss for the
priceless privilege of knowing Messiah Jesus My
Lord" [Phil 3;7, 8]
3] Jesus warned His hearers that the cost was going to be dear to
them [Lk 14:25-35].
4] He who said, "Come unto Me all ye that Labor, and are heavy
laden," also said, "take my yoke upon you and learn of Me"
[Mt 11:29-30].
5] Casting ourselves upon the `Rock of our Salvation' involves a
painful breaking of 'self' [Mt 21:44], the alternative is fearful. We must
fall and be broken, or befallen upon by Him in that Day.

D. Jesus commissioned His Congregation to preach this [Lk 24:47].

1] There is no remission apart from repentance, but such involves
more than "one act of faith," it involves the 'life' [`psyche'] of the

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believer in complete surrender.
2] Solemn indeed are the words of Jesus [Jn 15:13, 14; 1 Jn 2:4]. A
continual submission is not optional for those who wish to experience
`completed salvation' ['full salvation'].
3] It costs to follow Jesus. It cost Jesus the cross; there was a cross
for Peter, another for Paul and there is one for men, and another for you
[Mt 16:24-26].
4] The GIFT of `full salvation' is costly [if you will have it at all]
for such requires a continual submission of 'self' to all the claims
of Jesus as Saviour.

II. THIS LIFE IS IN HIS SON

"That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which
we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands,
have handled, of the Word of Life [`tou logou tes zoes']; For the Life
['he zoe'] was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and
shew unto you that Aionios life [`ten zoen ten aionios'] which was with
the Father, and was manifested unto us..." [1 Jn 1:1, 2]
"And this is the record, that God hath given to us Aionios Life
[`hoti zoen aionios' -that life of the age], and this [the] Life [`he zoe'] is
in His Son. He that hath the Son hath [the] Life [`echei ten zoen']; and
he that hath not the Son of God hath not [the] Life [`ten zoen ouk echei'].
These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son
of God; that ye may know that ye have Aionios Life [`hoti zoen echete
aionios'], and that ye may believe on the Name of the Son of God..."
[5:11-13]

A . Life, Something Other Than `Endless Existence' . . .

1] Such is an inalienable endowment of mankind. And it is far
more than being resurrected when Jesus comes again!
2] Aionios Zoe [Life of the Age' or `Age Life'] is a particular
quality of life which emanates from the Father [1:2] rather than
`salvation from hell,' and it has eschatological implications.
3] It is the gracious participation in the highest quality of the very
life of God prepared for men. It is far more than escaping the great

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condemnation, or going to heaven, for it is sharing of the 'life of God in
Messiah.'
4] Dr. Charles B. Williams translated: "This life is given through
union with His Son" [5:11]. A `union' not entered into at the `first step of
faith,' but after baptism [`baptized into Messiah' -Gal 3:27] and identity
with His Congregation [`His body'].
B. There is a sense in which every saved person will derive `life' from
God who `quickeneth all things' [1 Tim 6:13].
1] This is true in `this age' and also in `the Age to Come.' He will
ever be `the Source' and ground of our very existence [Ac 17:28].
2] But `the life' which the `unfaithful' will participate in is
attenuated and devoid of the essential spiritual quality of the infinite life
of the Person of the Father [1 Cor 15:42-53].
3] The `life' experienced by the `unfaithful,' those designated as
'dead in trespasses and sins' and 'alienated from the Life of God' is not at
all that Aionios Life which God offers 'in union with Messiah Jesus' -His
Son.
4] God created mankind with the faculty of spiritual initiative and
volition, for knowing his Creator and sharing His Life in it's fullness.
[a] For man to become satisfied in `escaping hell' or simply
being `resurrected to life again' is not to appropriate the goal God has in
store for him.
[b] To receive the "fulness of life in Messiah Jesus," we
must 'live by faith' [Heb 10:38].
[c] This principle has governed the personal relation of the
faithful in all generations.
C. An 'objective atonement' has been wrought by Messiah Jesus
efficacious for all who continue to believe . . .
1] Objectively and completely, it has been provided for `all
mankind' [1 Tim 2:6; Rom 5:18; 2 Cor 5:19 cf.].
2] But what has been provided must be 'appropriated'; what is
objective must become `subjective.'
a] Therefore, to baptized believers, members of the
Congregation in Corinth it was said, "be ye reconciled to God,' [2 Cor
5:20], who could not reckon their `reconciliation' as a `state of being,'

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but something that must be maintained through faithfulness.
b] Personal reconciliation is actual for individuals only as
they continue to trust. It is ever true that "the just shall live by faith," or
only such as `live by faith are just.'
3] The unfaithful who do not go on to participate by faith of the
redemption provided in Messiah Jesus ['in union with Him'] are 'dead in
their sins' and continue to be 'alienated from the Life of God' [Eph 2:1;
4:18].
4] The gift of this eschatological 'Aionios Life' [Age Life] can
neither be received, nor possessed part from an `identity' with the Giver
[1 Jn 5:11-12; Jn 14:6; Col 3:4].
a] Some accept Jesus as Savior, but have no inter-permeation
of his Person.
b] The person `prepared' to dwell in His House, and His
House are distinct.
c] To those `in His House' were the objects of Paul's desire,
"that Messiah dwell in their hearts by faith" [Eph 3:17].
d] His gracious invitation to them is clearly outlined [Jn
15:4].
5] His indwelling Presence in those who "abide in Him' is, itself,
the very bestowal of Life! [1 Jn 5:11].
D. It is Equally True That "He that hath not the Son. . .hath not the
Life."
1] There is no Aionios Zoe [`Age Life'] for anyone who is not a
`part' [member] of Messiah, of `His body,' the Congregation.
2] Our Saviour's gracious invitation is still [Jn 7:37; Rev 22:17].
3] Most men decline to accept this invitation after their `first step
of faith' [Lk 14:16-24], they find other interests.
4] Many, aware of a desperate hunger of heart, seem unwilling to
continue believing that Messiah Jesus ALONE can satisfy [Jn 5:40].

CONCLUSION:

We who know Messiah Jesus as Saviour and are a 'part of Him,'

have we failed to demonstrate convincingly that we have the 'Life of

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God in Messiah Jesus' which satisfies longings and meets every need?
Except our witness for Messiah Jesus be winsome and convincing,
those around us will not come to Him who said. . .[Jn 15:10; 17:3].

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