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You have pointed out exactly what I was saying. The verses you were using are supported by other verses that explain what He was talking about. The things they did for the poor were a result of faith. Even the verse you used in post 450 begins to explain.

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

It’s the faith that saves but the works that proceed from that faith and are a result of the indwelling of the Spirit of God. He was basically saying the works they did proved they had faith.

None of us would say that a person could say they have faith, sit in their house and do nothing and that would be sufficient. What Jesus is saying that if they have faith they would have also done those things. The Matthew 25 passage that you used in 449 is pointing out the same thing.

We can show that by other scripture.

Lets look at what Paul says. It’s the faith that saves.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

1 John 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

But works follow faith or prove faith.

James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

So you were using one portion of scripture trying to prove that works saves but if we take all of scripture together we find that it’s faith that saves but works prove the faith is real.