Justification, Salvation, Faith and Hope

[JeffB]

Just a few thoughts to ponder. I"m sure you all can think of other verses, but these are the ones that came to the front of my mind.

1. Define 'Being Justified by faith' (Romans 4)
2. Define 'Salvation through faith' (Ephesians 2)
3. Define 'Born Again' (John 3)
4. Is Justification the same as Salvation the same as Born Again?
5. Can the words Born Again, Salvation and Justification be used interchangeably to mean the same thing?

A. Define Faith (Romans 4, Hebrews 11)
B. Define Hope (Ehpesians 4)
C. Define Grace (Ephesians 2)
D. Is Grace the same as Hope the same as Faith?
E. Can the words, Faith, Hope and Grace be used interchangeably to mean the same thing?

[JeffB]

The way I understand this, being Justified by faith (Romans 3:21-4:25) basically means that there are no barriers between different ethnic groups let alone an elevation of one group over another. Justification is God’s judgment and declaration that one is in the right before Him. This judgment will be made on the last day (Judgment day), but is currently brought forward into the present through the blood of Christ. Simply put, by faith in Christ through His blood, God declares us in the right.

Salvation through faith.
Often, Justification and Salvation are used interchangeably and it really can cause all sorts of confusion. Salvation through faith is the means in which God restores us from our fallen state. We are declared righteous by faith, but we are saved through faith.
For example, it is by faith that one comes to the baptismal waters, but it is through faith that Christ unites with the believer and transformation occurs. In other words, faith is the instrument that God uses to pour out his grace.
Likewise, it is by faith that one is obedient to lets say… the offense of theft, but it is through faith that one is transformed from a thief, to an honest man as we conform to the image of Christ.

Born Again
This is a fun one, and I would be very interested in hearing other views. The word’s Born Again, can also be translated as “Born from above” which denotes the receiving of the Holy Spirit. To be born again, is to let go of worldly thought that one has been taught about this world and to view the world as God views the world. Jesus set an excellent example for how God views the world, and when we start viewing, and acting like Christ through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, when we have new eyes to see the world, new skin to feel the things around us, new ears to hear the cries of those far away, as well as those near, new arms to reach out to the lost, the sick, the hungry…, in essence, through the Spirit, we have been born again, born from above.

So I come to the conclusion that the terms Justified by faith, Salvation through faith and Born Again, though similar, do hold different meanings and as such, we ought to be careful how we use these terms.
Thoughts?

[Brian]

Hebrews 11:1
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the (conviction) of things not seen."RSV
(Evidence) KJV
Hope is assurance also,"Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine oh what a for tatse of glory divine." "WE can know we know Him if we love Him and keep His commandments" 1John 5:2,13
Hebrews 11:6 " But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."
I believe that the country of Russia is a real place, though I never been there. Therefore it is by faith of what I have heard that Russia is a real place. I have evidence. However, I hope to travel there someday. And be assured my ticket is good.

We are on a journey to Heaven, hope is fuel that sustians us, love is the desire , faith is the road map. Keep looking up!

See I can believe that something is real and yet not put my hope in it or buy in to it. Nevertheless in order to reach heaven we must have hope or we will give up the journey , in other words fall short of the mark. Why do people stop trying, on account they have lost hope. "The spirit ,the water, the blood, 1 Jn 5:6-8 Agree in one,father, son, spirit.

[JeffB]

Great reply Brian, thanks, it really helps me to work this out!

It seems to me that hope and faith are somewhat dependent upon each other and in some scenarios, when we loose hope, faith seems to be the only thing that holds us in there which may be why Paul urges us to persevere in faith.

When I look at Ephesians 2:8 (ASV) for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Lets look at the word through (dia)

New Testament (eds. Brooke Foss Westcott, Fenton John Anthony Hort)
III. causal, through, by,
B. of the Instrument or Means. (Ephesians 2:8 translates dia as through, aka Instrument)
C. of Manner (Acts 15:7 translates dia as by, aka manner)

It looks like Paul is saying that through our faith, God's grace saves us and I see being saved as the gift. Faith of course being the instrument which God uses to pour out his grace. Faith then becomes the catalyst one might say for God's saving grace.

God gives us grace, but it is through our faith that it is received resulting in the act of being saved. (Saved as per the definition above)

Do you read this the same way as well, or do you read it differently?

Thanks,
Jeff

[anilbharti]

Hi..
Thanks for sharing this awesome information. I am really appreciate you.

[JeffB]

Hi anilbharti, welcome to our quiet little nook and thanks!