Posted on 09/03/2017 3:25:45 PM PDT by BlackFemaleArmyColonel
About half of Protestants in the U.S. now agree with the "historically Catholic belief" that both faith and good deeds are needed for salvation, rather than faith alone, a Pew Research Center survey shows.
White Evangelicals stood out as the strongest believers in faith alone, however.
Pew, which released the survey to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, explored different questions, though one of the main focuses was on the requirements for salvation.
Fifty-two percent of U.S. Protestants said both good deeds and faith in God are needed to get into heaven; 46 percent said faith alone (sola fide) is needed. Among Catholics, 81 percent agreed that both good deeds and faith are necessary. Meanwhile, two-thirds of white evangelicals said they believe faith alone is needed for salvation.
(Catholics argue that "faith and works" is a misleading oversimplification of their beliefs.)
Protestants were similarly split on the Reformation principle of sola scriptura (which means that Scripture alone is authoritative for the faith and practice of the Christian), with 46 percent saying the Bible provides all the religious guidance Christians need and 52 percent saying Christians need guidance from church teachings and traditions in addition to the Bible. Among white evangelicals, nearly 60 percent agreed with the principle of sola sciptura.
(Excerpt) Read more at christianpost.com ...
Yet, Jesus said, “Today you shall be with Me in heaven.”
One could say he atoned at the end, AFTER his bad works.
That’s as good as a summary of the reality of faith/works as I’ve ever seen.
How about Biblical doctrine:
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.
John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
And to whom was the book of James written? “To the Twelve Tribes scattered abroad...” Still under the law, still offering sacrifices in the Temple, still practicing ritual circumcision.
Whereas Paul was “the Apostle to the Gentiles”. Free from the letter of the law, free from circumcision, free from sacrifices.
Each recognized the other’s different Gospel.
New International Version
James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.
And WHAT did JAMES demand of St Paul on his last trip to Jerusalem?
17And when we were come to Jerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.
18And the day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
19And when he had saluted them, he declared particularly what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.
20And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:
21And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.
22What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
23Do therefore this that we say to thee: We have four men which have a vow on them;
24Them take, and purify thyself with them, and be at charges with them, that they may shave their heads: and all may know that those things, whereof they were informed concerning thee, are nothing; but that thou thyself also walkest orderly, and keepest the law.
25As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication.
26Then Paul took the men, and the next day purifying himself with them entered into the temple, to signify the accomplishment of the days of purification, until that an offering should be offered for every one of them.
So, would YOU rather follow JAMES or PAUL.
Except Scripture teaches differently.
There is only one place in Scripture where the words 'faith alone' appear together - "for it is by works that we are justified, and not by faith alone. James 2:24
And why does Paul tell us “ Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling” Phil 2:12
So if faith alone provides your salvation, what do you need to work out? Why is there fear and trembling?
Yes, but do they worship Mary and the Pope?
James: 1
12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.
Search the New Testament. There is no promise made to anyone who remains under the Law. The only promises in the NT are to those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
I know of which you referenced, and one should understand that when you have faith, good works will follow.
It’s a question ill-put. A given quantity of God-based righteous acts is indeed not the ticket; but their presence is a necessary (and sufficient) evidence.
People always will do some kind of works. That’s never in doubt. To fail there would mean to be physically dead and would be an uninteresting case.
The question is about what spiritual energy a person will allow to fill those works. The old spiritual energy of fallen selfish will, or the new, of regeneration from catching the spirit of Christ.
As the passage shows, it’s possible to even do something outwardly spiritual in an utterly ungodly way. Though this could also refer to expecting to be regarded as redeemed by having rubbed elbows with those who were.
They do. It is a special kind of faith, the faith that opens up the soul to be moved willingly by the redeeming action of Christ.
It’s like the proverbial Lays potato chips too when it begins to happen if it was real: you can’t eat just one.
I wish good people would not read or listen to Pew. These are bad people.
And it’s true too that when saved we will begin to “work it out” with “fear and trembling” — because “God works in [us]”.
This is not a selfish fear and trembling. Oh, if I don’t do enough or frequently enough I’ll go to hell forever. An outcome not possible now. But it’s the fear and trembling of everlasting citizens of heaven. Awe might be a better way to put it. One begins to behold the mighty works of God in one’s life. They vary like fireworks vary. Is your life a colored smoke bomb? A little firecracker? A sparkler? Or a dazzling sky shell with an impressive boom?
The illusion of “good people” is one raised up against the knowledge of God. There are at best “bad people being saved” — or to put it another way, we set our bar for “good people” below where God does.
I agree.
I’m far from perfect and don’t so all that I know to be right. I recognize that to be a flaw in me.
Folks are in for a big surprise if they totally disregard God’s teachings.
Thanks. I have always been uneasy with faith alone. Especially when a woman I knew stole another woman’s husband and said “ I know it’s against the laws of God and man, but I am saved by Jesus”. And her dad was a minister.
I think you’re on the right track.
Deeds will never accomplish salvation, but they are our expression of love for the God Who redeemed us.
I appreciate the insight on Calvinist Evangelicals.
I’ve not been exposed to their teachings.
Even worse if they won’t accept the action of God’s redeeming work in their lives. You can know the news and then not let it move you.
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The word of Yehova is clear: Faith is what saves, not Grace, and faith is defined as the willing keeping of Torah.
This is exactly what the Acts of the Apostles was written about.
Grace is simply Yehova’s willingness to consider our confession of past sins, repentance, and continuance in obedience, as righteousness.
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Faith is by definition the willful keeping of Torah.
Read Hebrews ch 3 and 4, where Paul makes it perfectly clear, Torah is the Gospel.
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