Saved By Faith Only?

http://www.sunnysidechurchofchrist.com/faithonly.html ^ | Steven J. Wallace

[rj45mis]

If salvation weren't by faith alone, I'd be in big doo-doo. The good works I do are the result of my faith, not the other way around.

[Jeff Head]

IMHO, if an individual has true faith in Christ, their life will begin to reflect it and His countenance will begin to become evident in them. They will desire and seek to live as He lived and it will be freflected in their actions over time.

In addition...or as a result of this...they will seek to "keep His commandments" because He taught that those who loved Him would keep his commandments, and in fact indicated that this was a way we could see if someone loived Him or not (by this ye shall know). A faithful follower of Christ will seek to know what his commandments are by reading the scripture and then seek to keep or obey them. Thus, through their faith, their "works" are evident in the way they live their lives and serve others as Christ served.

One of His commandments was for the faithful to be baptised...both to Nicodemus and to his apostles.

[Jeff Head]

The good works I do are the result of my faith

Exactly...see my post number 3.

[william clark]

You forgot the part about how your denomination is the only real church.

[bremenboy]

Faith without works is dead can one be save with a dead faith? Faith with works brings living faith that is the faith that saves.

[Colofornian]

false teachers make a grave mistake in assuming that water baptism in the name of Christ is not “by grace through faith.”

And this is the difference of those who reduce what God does (which is why it's called a sacrament to begin with) into an ordinance (ordinances are what men do to keep in line).

[bremenboy]

I do not have a denomination

[Colofornian]

Faith without works is dead can one be save with a dead faith? Faith with works brings living faith that is the faith that saves.

Of course, Scripture says (a) Faith without works is dead; it does not say (b) Faith with works brings living faith...

You've turned it around. Rather a living faith brings works

Also, note the phrase originally cited in Eph 2:8: "that NOT of yourselves"

If we're depending upon that which emerges from us as being the dividing line, then that is often truncated into faith in self.

[MHGinTN]

Why am I not surprised the author conveniently left out Ephesians 2:9 when quoting Eph 2:8? Because he was planning on doing exactly what verse nine says not to do! How powerful such an one must feel, believing that God needs him to add to the efficacy of Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected, so that his salvation depends upon not just Jesus (that's not enough you see for the pride of such as this author) but the wonderful dancing that the author may do in holding onto his slavation gift! As proven with such dissembling as this article makes, the Devil is much smarter than a man and can find a way to energize human pride and make you believe it is righteousness!

[Salvation]

When we have proof that Luther added the word "only" into his Bible and then excluded other books that contradicted the point??? No.

[Salvation]

Actually there are other Bible passages which disprove the sola fide notion also:

SOLA FIDE

Jas 2:14-26 ... what good is faith w/o works?
Heb 10:26-27, Rom 8:12-13 ... must avoid sin.
Jas 5:20 ... “earning” forgiveness.
Lk 6:46-49; Mt 7:21; Mt 19:16-21; Jn 5:28-29 ... must do will of God.
1 Cor 9:27 ... “buffet my body ...”
Phil 2:12; 2 Cor 5:10; Rom 2:6-13; Mt 25:32-46; Gal 6:6-10; Rev 20:12 ... works have merit.
1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:24; 1 Jn 5:3 ... keep commandments.

[bremenboy]

Of course, Scripture says (a) Faith without works is dead; it does not say (b) Faith with works brings living faith... You've turned it around. Rather a living faith brings works

I have turned it around? "think"

Jam 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

can you have a live body without the spirit?

can you have a living faith without works?

can you be saved if your faith is dead?

Also, note the phrase originally cited in Eph 2:8: "that NOT of yourselves" If we're depending upon that which emerges from us as being the dividing line, then that is often truncated into faith in self.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. Grace = unmerited favor - God dediced to save man he did not have to, we don't deserve it, there is nothing that we have done to give us the right to be with God. Grace is not the gift it is the way that God gives the gift..The gift is salvation. not of works - what kind of works? works of the flesh? works of the law? works of faith? -

answer works that we can boast in

that is the works under discussion our works. can we boast if we do the lord's work?

God forbid

for if we do the Lord's work the Lord's way it is the Lord who is given the glory

is this not so?

for we are not doing our works we our doing the lord's work his will not ours

[bremenboy]

you left out verse 10

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

[Between the Lines]

I would suggest to the author that he read up on what Christ said. Jesus repeatedly communicates that it is not about the letter of God's law, but instead the intent of His law.

When we choose to look at God's word as if it were a legal binding contract that must be followed to the letter, we are ignoring the teachings of Jesus. When we put baptism or works or liturgy or worship style or tradition or anything else above or before His Love and Grace, we are not glorifying God but instead we glorify our own methods, our ways and ourselves.

We do not hold the keys to Salvation; we are not the gatekeepers of Heaven. We should not seek to restrict Salvation to only those who prescribe to our misinterpretation of His word.

[bremenboy]

When we choose to look at God's word as if it were a legal binding contract that must be followed to the letter, we are ignoring the teachings of Jesus .

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

[cowboyfan88]

When the Lord said "It is finished" I take him at his word.
He didn't say It's almost finished.

[DungeonMaster]

I wonder what the pope says about salvation by faith only.

[bremenboy]

Why am I not surprised the author conveniently left out Ephesians 2:9 when quoting Eph 2:8? Because he was planning on doing exactly what verse nine says not to do!

I suggest that you should try reading the whole post.

here is some of what you conveniently missed

Let it be evident to the reader, that the Bible does teach that we are neither saved by the works of the Law of Moses (Rom. 7:4-7), nor boastful works (Eph. 2:9); nor works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19, 20).

[jkl1122]

You are correct. God's work is finished. It is up to us to accept or reject His offer of eternal life. The conditions by which we must accept the offer are clearly given in the Bible.