I do not believe one can lose their salvation, as it is a free gift. I believe one who has been saved will do some work, sometime, somewhere, somehow. This servant was never saved, imo.
We will have to disagree, I believe when one believes in Christ, at that moment they are granted eternal life. They have the life and the eternal and will never be cast out or forsaken or come back into condemnation. How much work must one do before they have earned salvation? I will rest in the finished work of Christ. Only then will any effective works result.
Again salvation is a gift which Romans 11:29 says God does not take back. I believe you are confusing sanctification with salvation. Sanctification is both an event and a process, while salvation is a one time event.
Grace is how we are saved, period. Grace is undeserved and unmerited favor. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ UNTO good works. Works come as a result, they are not a condition, as the Bible clearly teaches.
Er, the washing of regeneration is not baptism, it is the new birth. Jesus said when we baptize we make disciples, not believers.
Why didn't YOU post the rest of the passage? And read the whole passage in its context?
he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.
First, it says its NOT BY WORKS that we have done, but by his mercy HE saved US. Next it says that those who HAVE been justified by faith in Christ, that those who HAVE BELIEVED should do good works which are good and profitable. It says we are saved, not by what we do but after we have believed, then good works are good and profitable. Read it in context.
I did address those earlier. One must compare scripture with scripture and look at all the teachings on salvation together. Salvation is a free gift, can't be earned, not by ANY works, we believe and are saved, then are baptized in obedience. That is the clear pattern and teaching of the New Testament.
You forget, when we are caught up, we shall be changed and this corrupt (sinful) shall put on incorruption (sinless). The Thief or a deathbed convert will be transformed and be sinless.
Again, he is not saying it is a condition. He is just saying if a man SAY he has faith and has no works as a result, he does not have saving faith. He may say he believes Christ died and rose again, but he has not placed his full trust in him for salvation, he just believes its true, like the devils.
I have no argument with that, except I don't call works a condition. If a person has saving faith, they will have works, and if they don't have saving faith, they won't have works. And that is plain. Even a deathbed convert may produce fruit, for the angels will rejoice and praising God is a fruit, and those who see it will praise God and they may even see the change in countenance of the dying one. And who knows who else will hear of it and trust Christ and be forever saved?