Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” —Matthew 20:10-16 ESV
J. C. Ryle comments at Grace Gems:
We see one man called to repentance and faith in the beginning of his days, like Timothy, and laboring in the Lord’s vineyard for forty or fifty years. We see another man called “at the eleventh hour,” like the thief on the cross, and plucked like a brand out of the fire–one day a hard impenitent sinner, and the next day in paradise. And yet the whole tenor of the Gospel leads us to believe that both these men are equally forgiven before God. Both are equally washed in Christ’s blood, and clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Both are equally justified, both accepted, and both will be found at Christ’s right hand in the last day.
There can be no doubt that this doctrine sounds strange to the ignorant and inexperienced Christian. It confounds the pride of human nature. It leaves the self-righteous no room to boast. It is a leveling, humbling doctrine, and gives occasion to many a murmur. But it is impossible to reject it, unless we reject the whole Bible. True faith in Christ, though it be but a day old, justifies a man before God as completely as the faith of him who has followed Christ for fifty years. The righteousness in which Timothy will stand at the day of judgment, is the same as that of the penitent thief. Both will be saved by grace alone. Both will owe all to Christ. We may not like this. But it is the doctrine of this parable, and not of this parable only, but of the whole New Testament. Happy is he who can receive the doctrine with humility! Well says Bishop Hall, “If some have cause to magnify God’s bounty, none have cause to complain.”
Knowing God through His Word ... Day by Day 
Reblogged this on My Delight and My Counsellors.
SAVED BY GRACE ALONE AND FAITH ALONE?—BY STEVE FINNELL
Calvinists often make the statement we are saved by grace alone and by faith alone. This is in and of its self a conflicting proclamation. You can believe one or the other, but cannot believe both.
Definition of alone: separate, apart, to the exclusion of all else.
It take unbridled self deception to say “I believe I was saved by grace alone and saved by faith alone.”
To be save by grace alone means that God does everything for you. Grace alone suggests that men have no free-will. Grace alone means that God forces men to have faith so that they might believe and be saved. Grace alone implies that men repent only because God makes it impossible to resist. Grace alone means that men are baptized against their free-will. Grace alone means that men only confess Jesus as the Son of God because God gives them no other choice.
Faith alone, taken at face value means men are saved by faith alone. If you are saved by faith alone, then you do not need grace. If you are saved by faith alone then you do not need to be baptized in water.
You cannot on one hand say I was saved by grace alone and then say I was saved by faith alone.
There is no verse Scripture that says, “Men are saved by grace alone.”
There is no verse on Scripture that says, “Men are saved by faith alone.”
The Bible says men are saved by grace. (Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.) It does not say men are saved by grace alone.
Romans 3:24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; (It says men are justified by grace, however, it does not say grace alone.)
Acts 13:38-39 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.(Men receive forgiveness from sin because they believe in Jesus, however, it does not say men receive forgiveness by faith alone.)
Acts 3:19 Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;(It says men need to repent so their sins may be wiped away, but it does not say repent only.)
Romans 10:9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;(It says if you confess Jesus as Lord you will be saved, however, it does not say confess Jesus only.)
Acts 2:38 Perter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (It says if you are baptized your sins will be forgiven, but it does not say baptism only.)
The Bible teaches we are saved by grace, but not by grace alone.
The Bible teaches we are saved by faith, but not by faith alone.
The Bible teaches that we are saved by confession, but not by confession alone.
The Bible teaches are sin are forgive because we repent, but not by repentance alone.
The Bible teaches that are sins are forgiven because of water baptism, but not by baptism alone.
GRACE: Romans 3:24
FAITH: JOHN 3:16
REPENTANCE: Acts 2:38
CONFESSION: Romans 10:9-10
BAPTISM: 1 Peter 3:21
THERE IS NO SAVED BY “ONLY” FOUND IN THE BIBLE, WITH THE EXCEPTION BEING THAT JESUS IS THE ONLY SAVIOR! (Acts 4:10-12)
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Very well written, God’s word will always back it’s self up in it’s facts and truths as well as deep Christ centered Doctrines.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
This whole chapter in Ephesians written by Paul explains in detail how one is saved. it is a simple gift of God through his Son Jesus Christ who died for all.