Bible Talk > Sound doctrine

Salvation is not of works

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macuser:
Salvation is not of works.

Does this doctrine lead to problems?

Ephesians 2:4-14
4 But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! 6 He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in [His] kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift- 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are His creation-created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

But on the other hand.

James 2:18
But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.

JB Horn:

--- Quote from: macuser on June 26, 2013, 11:38:06 pm ---Salvation is not of works.

Does this doctrine lead to problems?


--- End quote ---

It is not the doctrine that is the problem, it is the misinterpretation of the Scriptures that produce rival doctrine.

James says "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works ; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' "

 The point James is making is that faith cannot be seen without works. Remember also we are told that we will know them by their works. In short work comes from faith but faith does not come from works. One has faith you will see his works.

JB

Fat:
Salvation by works is nothing more than salvation by the law. There's no action that you can take that is going to Sanctified or regenerate your soul, this is a function of the Holy Spirit.

calluna:

--- Quote from: macuser on June 26, 2013, 11:38:06 pm ---Salvation is not of works.

Does this doctrine lead to problems?
--- End quote ---

It certainly has led to problems. That is, if mendacity and persecution are problematic. If salvation is of faith in a perfect atoning sacrifice, the person of faith needs nothing whatever, in spiritual and moral terms. Such a person is taught by the Holy Spirit directly, and does not need or seek any human mentor:

'The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment.' 1 Co 2:15 NIV

It was this independence and divine presence that struck fear into the minds of the Jewish Sanhedrin, who were very aware of their own compromises and corruption. So they persecuted Jesus, and then the church. They persecuted from outside the church, but also from within it:

'Some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." Ac 15:5 NIV

Of course, Paul later told the Galatians that they were foolish to take note of this fatal teaching. So, hardly before the church had begun, it was under deadly attack on the ground of its very doctrinal basis. Now bodily circumcision has not often since then been promoted as necessary for salvation, doubtless because of Paul's explicit warning, but many other things have been, usually works that seem desirable for Christians. But these 'good' things are never described in the NT as necessary for justification, because not one is, or can be. So, whether the Christian is told that there is something that he must do, or something extra that he must believe, in order to be accounted righteous, his response is to make correction, and indeed identify as a dangerous person whoever is attempting to persuade him.

One of the verses used by works-justifiers is this:

'You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.' Jas 2:24 NASB

It is essential here to realise that James referred to justification before men, not before God. If he really meant justification before God, this letter is not part of the Bible at all. But it is plain that James was writing to people who knew that justification was by faith: had probably read Paul's words, and taken them as excuse to sit back, ungrateful to Jesus for his sacrifice on their behalf. If love grows cold, there is nothing left at all, James was warning them.

As James also wrote, if a person is to be accepted by the church, the works inspired by the Spirit will be clear and abiding in the life of the saint. In the eyes of humanity, whether church or not church, a Christian is one who shows patience, kindness, willingness to forgive, self-control, humility, gentleness, reliability and love for all. If those fruits are lacking, say James, Paul, John and Jesus, there is no Spirit of God present, and no actual faith. And no salvation.

JB Horn:
Calluna,

Well said, good post.

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