The Gospel Part 5: Reconciling Faith And Works

Unsealed.org ^ | 5/19/16 | Gary

[amessenger4god]

Faith vs. works.  Christians have debated this topic for two thousand years and still do.  At the heart of the debate you have two (seemingly) opposing sides:

Team Faith says works are not required for salvation.  Salvation is received by grace through faith alone (John 6:28-29, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:5, Romans 11:6, Galatians 2:21).  They believe that making works a requirement for salvation ignores the very message of the Gospel that Jesus died for our sins and rose again (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), which the Apostle Paul calls "of first importance."  This is Christianity 101.  If Jesus died for your sins as a substitutionary sacrifice how can sin or lack of works now separate the Believer from God since our sins were the very reason He died?  Isn't the point of the Cross that under the law works were a requirement for salvation and because we couldn't keep the law perfectly (James 2:10) Jesus did it for us?

Team Works doesn't deny that faith is necessary for salvation, but adds performing good works and/or avoiding sin enough as necessary components of salvation.  The works-righteousness side relies heavily on James 2:14-24 and Philippians 2:12, which both prima facie seem to indicate the opposite of such often referenced sola fide verses as Ephesians 2:8-9 and Romans 4:5.  This is the position taken by Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox theologians, as well as some Protestants such as N.T. Wright.

While there are essentially two sides to the debate, there are actually three ways to explain the relationship between faith and works, because Team Faith can be further split into two categories: first, those who think that faith and salvation have no relationship to works and thus grace is a license to sin (these are called antinomians: anti = against and nomian = law, so "against law").  Second, those who believe we are saved by faith alone, but the type of faith that saves is a faith that consequentially results in obedience to God and thus good works.  The second view differentiates between a professed faith and a penitent faith.  To summarize the three views:

1. Faith + works = salvation.  This is Team Works and is the official doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church per the sixth session of the Council of Trent (1547).  Eastern Orthodox and some Protestant churches also subscribe to this view.  It uses James 2:14-24 as the chief proof text.

2. Faith = salvation - works.  This is one of the two camps in Team Faith.  Unfortunately for this team, it is condemned at least twice in the Bible (Romans 6:1-2, Jude 1:4), and universally by the early Church.  The Bible repeatedly describes the Believer's life as characterized by love and good deeds - avoidance of sin and works stemming from faith.  For this reason antinomianism is not compatible with God's Word.  There are virtually no denominations or churches that officially subscribe to this view, although there are a large and growing number of churches and professing Christians who in practice are antinomians because they justify things that the Bible clearly defines as sin (e.g. homosexuality, adultery, abortion, obscenity, etc).

3. Faith = salvation + works.  This is the position held by a large majority of Protestant groups including Evangelicals, Anglicans, Pentecostals, and Lutherans.  It is also the official position of most Protestant denominations even if many Protestants themselves may reject the view in favor of either view #1 or view #2.  In my understanding this is also the view espoused in the Bible and in the early Church, which over centuries was diluted until Luther and Melanchthon attempted to restore the doctrine to the Church.  Galatians 2:11-3:26, Romans 3:21-5:2, and Ephesians 2:8-9 are proof texts.

For argument's sake let's all agree that view #2 is not biblical and is in fact heresy (as evidenced by many of the same scriptures that view #1 emphasizes).  We are left with #1 and #3.  Here are the reasons why I believe #3 is the biblical view:

1. It is the only view that can reconcile all scriptures.  View #1 can only sustain itself by ignoring and de-emphasizing literally dozens and dozens of scriptures that indicate salvation is wrought by faith in or belief in Jesus.  Some of the passages ignored include long discourses on faith apart from works such as the aforementioned Galatians 2:11-3:26 and Romans 3:21-5:2.  View #3 can actually reconcile James 2:14-24 prima facie, whereas view #1 cannot reconcile the Galatians, Romans, and Ephesians passages prima facie.  View #3 can also reconcile Philippians 2:12, because the Greek κατεργάζεσθε means "work out" (your salvation), not "work for" (your salvation).

2. It is the only view that preserves the simple Gospel message.  In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 the Gospel is defined simply as Jesus dying for our sins, being buried, and rising again.  Arguing that not sinning or avoiding sin enough is how one obtains eternal life makes the Gospel pointless since that is the very reason Christ died (Galatians 2:21).  View #1 proponents attempt in a variety of ways to explain how we are saved by God's grace yet works are also necessary, but as the Apostle Paul explains, any mixture of grace and works defeats the very meaning of grace in the first place (Romans 11:6).  Paul appears to demonstrate the absurd dichotomy between faith and works in Galatians 3:1-6.  You can't have it both ways.  There is no compromise.  You can't simultaneously maintain that Jesus paid the price for your sins and yet you still have to pay.

3. It is the only view that correctly understands and defines grace.  The Bible is crystal clear that we are saved by God's grace which came through Christ's atoning sacrifice and resurrection.  Even the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches this.  Yet, because of the absurdity of saying we are saved by grace and works, some theologians have changed the basic, general understanding of what the word grace means.  In a dictionary or in common conversation grace simply means "unmerited favor" or "undeserved kindness."  Yet to the works-righteousness theologian they tag "sanctifying" onto "grace" to define it as something else entirely: fuel in your spiritual tank to keep you going.

4. Sola fide has more supporting scriptures.  I don't offer this as proof because every verse must be accounted for, but for argument's sake, even if every verse that indicated works were necessary and every verse that indicated faith was necessary could not be reconciled, sola fide would still have more supporting verses.

There are 24 verses that seem to indicate the necessity of works:

James 2:14
James 2:20
James 2:24
James 2:26
Revelation 2:23
Revelation 3:2
Matthew 3:10 (good fruit necessary)
Matthew 6:15
Matthew 13:41 (all who do evil)
Luke 3:9 (good fruit necessary)
Philippians 2:12
Hebrews 10:26 (any sin after conversion; see Hebrews 10:39)
Revelation 20:12 (judged according to deeds)
Revelation 20:13 (judged according to deeds)
1 John 2:4
1 John 2:5
1 John 3:6 (no one who continues to sin)
1 John 3:7
1 John 3:8
1 John 3:9 (no one who continues to sin)
1 John 3:15
1 John 4:20
1 John 5:18 (no one who continues to sin)
3 John 1:11

Yet there are 88 verses that indicate the exclusive necessity of grace, faith, or belief (x represents where condemnation is actually tied to unbelief rather than bad deeds):

John 6:29
Romans 3:20
Romans 3:28
Romans 4:2
Romans 4:6
Romans 9:32 X
Romans 11:6
Galatians 2:16 X
Galatians 3:2
Galatians 3:5
Galatians 3:10 X
Ephesians 2:9
Matthew 9:2
Mark 2:5
Luke 5:20
Luke 7:50
Acts 15:9
Acts 20:21
Acts 26:18
Romans 1:17
Romans 3:22
Romans 3:25
Romans 3:26
Romans 3:27
Romans 3:30
Romans 4:5
Romans 4:9
Romans 4:11
Romans 4:13
Romans 4:14
Romans 4:16
Romans 5:1
Romans 5:2
Romans 9:30
Romans 10:10
Romans 11:20
Galatians 3:8
Galatians 2:21
Galatians 3:11 X
Galatians 3:14
Galatians 3:22
Galatians 3:24
Galatians 3:26
Galatians 5:6
Ephesians 2:8
Ephesians 3:12
Ephesians 3:17
Philippians 3:9
2 Timothy 3:15
Hebrews 10:39 X
1 Peter 1:9
Luke 8:12 X
John 1:12
John 3:15
John 3:16
John 3:18 X
John 3:36 X
John 5:24
John 6:29
John 6:40
John 6:47
John 8:24 X
John 11:25
John 11:26
John 20:31
Acts 10:43
Acts 11:17
Acts 13:39 X
Acts 15:11
Acts 16:31
Romans 1:16
Romans 4:3
Romans 4:24
Romans 9:33
Romans 10:4
Romans 10:9
Romans 10:11
1 Corinthians 1:21
1 Corinthians 15:2 X
Ephesians 1:13
2 Thessalonians 2:12 X
2 Thessalonians 2:13
1 Timothy 1:16
Hebrews 4:3 X
James 2:23
1 John 5:1
1 John 5:5
1 John 5:13
Hebrews 3:19 X

And since there are 88 verses that indicate grace, faith, or belief are exclusively necessary for salvation, and 0 verses indicating the necessity of works apart from faith, that tells me the biblical equation cannot be faith + works = salvation.

Take a look at this very quick video explanation of how faith and works relate.

[HarleyD]

The common error is supposing that the effect of justification is its cause, that souls actually merit eternal life by their works, yet man could not and would not believe on the Lord Jesus or follow Him unless God gave him life, and breath, and all good things he has, (Acts 17:25) and convicted him, (Jn. 16:8) drew him, (Jn. 6:44; 12:32) opened his heart, (Acts 16:14) and granted repentance (Acts 11:18) and gave faith, (Eph. 2:8,9) and then worked in him both to will and to do of His good pleasure the works He commands them to do. (Phil. 2:13; Eph. 2:10) Thus man owes to God all things,...

A most excellent statement. What is missing from this article is the acknowledgement that even our belief is a work of God. According to our Lord Jesus there is only one work, and that is to believe on Him.

John 6:28-30 (NIV) Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

There is only ONE work of God-believe in Christ. We trust our Lord Jesus that He will bear fruit in our lives. After all, that is why we are born of God.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Belief is a gift given and considered by God as a work. That is why we are created in Christ Jesus-to do good works because He is working thru us. There is nothing we have that hasn't been given to us.

[Elsie]

Oh Lord; let the Hound of Heaven pursue these two until they see the Light and accept the True Jesus of the bible.

John 20:29

[MHGinTN]

As you have written! And these good works prepared for us are just that, prepared for us, by our parent.

As we are born from above we are newborns in His family and He raises us up in the way that we should go as members of His family. The works are for our 'raising' not for our birth.

[MHGinTN]

Meant to ping you

[Tennessee Nana]

1. You start with faith in Jesus Christ

Actually you start by hearing the Word of God and acknowledging that its the Truth and confessing that you are a sinner in need of a Savior and asking God to forgive you...(have you ever done that ???)

2. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, you will follow His commandments.

Nope

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

we have yet to establish whether you have ever heard the Word of God..

3. His commandments include doing His works.

Nope

The LORD Jesus Christ only gave us TWO Commandments..

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'

The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." Mark 12:28-31

4. As you do His works your faith grows.

Nope

As you pray in tongues your faith grows..

Building yourself up in your most Holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Jude 1:20

5. Enduring to the end means, the end of your life.

For Christians life never ends...that's why God calls it life everlasting..

6. Jesus will judge you based on your works, which is indicator of your faith.

Nope

God will judge me on what I did about the LORD Jesus Christ

7. Works do not save you. Jesus Christ saves you.

Then why bother to do the works ??? God is not into "just in case"

But in order for Him to grant salvation you have to prove where your faith lies.

Nope

God never make it that hard to be saved. Christians aren't pretzels.

[MHGinTN]

Selah!

[StormPrepper]

[TN]The LORD Jesus Christ only gave us TWO Commandments..

Only two? Seriously?

Do you realize that Jesus was teaching simplistically? He was teaching a concept. He wasn't going down into all the details.

You've created set of beliefs stemming from your own philosophies mingled with a little scripture.

You're trying to take the final exam just from looking at the syllabus.

[TN]God never make it that hard to be saved. Christians aren't pretzels.

Salvation is actually quite difficult. It's achievable but you have to want it.

3. His commandments include doing His works.

Nope

You do realize that Matt 25 and the entire book of James is in contradiction to your beliefs right??

Here's the problem I have with everything you say. You're not accountable to anyone or any religion. You made up your own beliefs based on your own conclusions you picked up from the Bible.

And since your beliefs are yours, you should be able to amend them whenever you're shown truth. But you don't. On the contrary, you shut it out.

Matt 7
13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Salvation is a journey. It's a path. It's not immediate as is falsely taught by some on this forum. Notice, in the Lord's own words, only a few will actually find the path and follow it.

Only a few will be saved.

Here's a math problem for ya:

If belief is all that's required for salvation and all of you "historical" christians all pretty much the same. And Jesus said that only a "few" would be saved among the believers... what's the deciding factor then?

How come, according to Jesus Himself, 99.9% of all the "christians" are actually going to hell... how can that be if all they had to do was believe?

[Tennessee Nana]

Salvation is actually quite difficult. It’s achievable but you have to want it.
_______________________________________

Poo, an 8 year old can get it..

[Tennessee Nana]

If belief is all that’s required for salvation and all of you “historical” christians all pretty much the same. And Jesus said that only a “few” would be saved among the believers... what’s the deciding factor then?
________________________________________

The LORD Jesus Christ the Righteous loved me so much that He was willing to place Himself on a Cross and there shed His Holy Blood to die so I could be saved..

When He cried “IT IS FINISHED” all the work for my salvation was completed..

I didn’t do a thing to deserve it..He did everything..

Its not hard to be saved...

its just hard to come up with an excuse to reject the LORD Jesus Christ and His FREE gift of Salvation...

Mormons and Moslems manage it though...

[StormPrepper]

When He cried “IT IS FINISHED” all the work for my salvation was completed..

There were two levels of death that Christ was sent to overcome. Either one would keep us from returning to God.

First was spiritual death, which comes upon us from our own sin. Each law giving by God has a penalty attached to it. If the law is broken, justice demands the penalty be enacted. Jesus paid that penalty so that we each of us have the potential of having Him apply His payment to our sins. Through this we can receive mercy instead of justice.

The second level is physical death. Jesus over came this on the third day after His physical death. This makes it possible for everyone born on this earth to be resurrected.

Resurrection is a free gift from God. And doesn't require you to do anything for it. Because you've already done it, you chose to come to this earth and be tested.

When Jesus cried "IT IS FINISHED", it was cry of relief and triumph. He had been suffering for days. And He could finally be free of it. It did not mean, "We're all done here everybody!"

I didn’t do a thing to deserve it..He did everything..

Which is why you won't get it.

Everything you're saying is in complete contradiction to every thing Jesus Christ taught, literally.

Yes, Jesus paid the price for salvation all by Himself. Which means He has to be the one to give it to you. You keep claiming salvation is automatic, but Jesus said over and over that it's not.

You're saved from physical death, yes. Just like the rest of us. You will be resurrected just like the rest of us. But you haven't even taken the first step toward spiritual salvation.

Matt 25:41-46 These believers didn't do anything to deserve it either.

[MHGinTN]

As Mormonism apologist usually, you ignore a vast array of Bible passages in order to twist a single passge to fit the blasphemies of Joe Smith's fabricated religion. The people Peter preached to in Acts received the Holy Spirit into their human spirit the minute they believed Who Jesus IS.

Mormonism will have you working your way to final damnation but you won't see it until it is too late ...

[StormPrepper]

As Mormonism apologist usually, you ignore a vast array of Bible passages...

Everything you say revolves around Joseph Smith. The reason would be because you have no message of your own. In reality, you have nothing and this proves it.

Receiving the Holy Ghost does not equal salvation. The Holy Ghost was given because Christ was leaving them. For those on the right path the Holy Ghost was help them along their journey to salvation.

I find it ironic that you claim I ignore the Bible when in fact I don't ignore any of it. Actually, I understand what the prophets were teaching. I understand how it fits into the larger whole. All of it. I don't ignore a single page.

What I also find ironic is in fact it's you that ignores nearly all the writers of the Bible. As a matter of fact I've never seen anyone force square pegs into round holes like you do.

Matt 25: 32-46 destroys every conclusion you've come up with of when and how salvation is received. Jesus granting salvation at the judgement after His commandments were followed. Plain as day. The words are explicit.

The damned are damned because they failed to do what He commanded them to do. Again the words are explicit.

Rev 11 destroys your whole notion of religion and your place in it.

Here's proof that you ignore the Bible, because you will ignore this, completely. I doubt you'll even acknowledge it 2 Tim 3. Powerful, powerful scripture.

1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Paul sees a vision of our time. The last days and he lists a whole slew of bad attributes what will be pervasive at that time.

2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,

3 Without natural affection,...

He goes on and on...But his real point comes next..

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Having a form of godliness. People that go around claiming to be godly. Claiming they're already saved....every religious preacher or confessor since the great apostasy started in the 1rst and 2nd century....all those creeds that sprang up afterwards that were created by men and everyone that follows them. They talk about God, they talk about being saved. But they don't know anything about either. They have form of godliness, but not the real thing. This is what Paul was seeing...

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They read their Bibles and create conclusion after conclusion. They created their own concepts of God...but they never get to the actual truth...

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.

Jannes and Jambres were priests in Pharaoh's court, who resisted Moses, the prophet of their time.

What Paul is describing is people who claim to be "Christian" but don't actually know the truth and they reject the true prophet of their time.

Here's something else for you to reject. Jesus Himself proclaimed what was going to happen to all those people that Paul saw in vision.

Luke 13. All the people that go around claiming they believe in Jesus, but never learned and followed the truth. They actually rejected the true prophets...Jesus said it all.

John explicitly talked about two of those true prophets in that here in our time. They are on the earth right now...

For Jesus to actually know you, you have to be on the right path leading to salvation and exaltation.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

It was recorded again, Jesus teaching the same thing over again in Matt 7.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,..

People like you that claim to be saved...

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Jesus' own words. But wait, how can that be MHGinTN? According to you if you profess Jesus is Lord, you're saved. But not according to Jesus....

Matt 25 again... if you're not doing the works as shown explicitly in Matt 25: 32-46...He doesn't even know you.

[sauropod]

+1

[MHGinTN]

May God have mercy upon your lost soul. Look at the meeting Jesus had with Nicodemus, John 3. Read it all. Then know that your demonic error is wrapped in taking verses out of context, thus assigning what Jesus said to a particular audience for a particular stage at the Great White throne, and applying it deceitfully across whatever band you choose to mislead over.

I don't hate people like you; I pity you. Satan has your mind so wrapped up in the heresies and blasphemies of your chosen religion that Truth has little chance of penetrating the demonic armor.

And just so readers get it more accurately, the Holy Spirit of God came into those new believers at Pentecost BECAUSE they had been cleansed in spirit and were added to the body of believers:

Response to Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:37 When the crowd that had gathered heard this, they were pierced to the heart. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

38 Peter answered them, “Every one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the Holy Spirit as a gift. 39 For this promise belongs to you and your children, as well as to all those who are distant, whom the Lord our God may call to himself.”

40 Using many different expressions, Peter continued to testify and to plead: “Be saved,” he urged them, “from this corrupt generation!” 41 So those who welcomed his message were baptized. That day about 3,000 people were added to their number.

The Ekklesia is the body of believers. 3000 were added to that Ekklesia that day. These are the ones Jesus has delivered from the wrath to come. Unlike Mormons/Mormonism apologists, they didn't work their way to worthiness, they believed and have been counted thereby to receive His Spirit in them.

But of course, because Mormonism has taught you that Jesus is 'a' god, and The Father is 'another god' and the Holy Spirit is 'another god' it is impossible for you to grasp that Jesus gave the Holy Spirit, as an earnest of the greater inheritance, to these who believed and we who believe today.

He is coming back soon to remove the Ekklesia from the Earth, before the wrath of God begins being poured out on those who have refused God's Grace in Christ. Worthy is the Lamb to open the seals. Horrific will be the wrath of The Lamb who offered to take away your sins if you would only believe in His Grace.

[MHGinTN]

This sentence twists Jesus's Grace into a lie, that you believe instead of the Truth Jesus taught to Nicodemus: "For Jesus to actually know you, you have to be on the right path leading to salvation and exaltation."

The great and demonic lie is that 'you are on a 'path', working your way to be worthy of Grace. Jesus knows those who are His. We hear His voice and follow him, not Joe 'the serial adulterer' Smith. Your cult has the cart before the horse, Mormon. Believing in Christ as Savior IS faithing in Christ to deliver from the wrath to come. You don't follow some 'path to exaltation' to salvation. He saves by His Grace by my belief in Jesus, and that exalts JESUS, not me. You want to find yourself some exaltation ... how disgusting and what a spittlefest at God's feet.

[MHGinTN]

Meant to ping you, Dear Lady.

[MHGinTN]

Post number 52 will give you insight into what and how far from Truth Mormonism is ... it is shocking to read such twisted misuse of Scriptures, the first time you see it. After a couple of decades exposed to the cult’s heresies I’ve become thoroughly intolerant of their service to lies.

[StormPrepper]

Religious thuggery...

A couple centuries ago when ever someone accused another of heresy, the accused would be tried and burned at the stake.

ah the good ole days huh MHGinTN?

Reminds me of my grandfather, "I'll kill you, you f****** Mormon!" My, how you sound just like him...

You quoted this:
38 Peter answered them, “Every one of you must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins.

You realize that baptism is a work that we perform right? And that Peter is saying that it's required for salvation right? In order for your sins to be forgiven, you must go do this thing....

Which completely proves everything you're saying is false.

Surely now, you'll amend your conclusion to include this one work we have to do in order to be saved....right?

Those are the exact words of Peter...which you quoted.

Plus, that pretty much nullifies all the "He only have us two commandments!!!" crowd on this forum.

No worries, I have the utmost faith that you'll come up with some totally cringe worthy rationalization around this dilemma. And I can predict that your findings on this matter will circle around completely to your final conclusion will end up being that you don't have to do anything at all. And that will be your story and you'll stick to it...

I want to ask you a question, will you acknowledge that you will be judged by the same judgement that Christ said He would do in Matt 25: 32-46?

[MHGinTN]

If you had even a rudimentary understanding of The Grace of God in Christ you would have a clue as to why I will not be at that judgment. Those born from above are not destined for such a judgment because they have been buried with Christ and in their baptism risen also with Him. But it is most educational for readers to see just how lost Mormons are and how deceived they are.

You might benefit from a comparison between the Luke 21 Temple Discourse and the Matthew 24 Olivet Discourse ... then again, Salvation Grace Truth is a mystery to those who are perishing.

[MHGinTN]

BTW, your understanding of Salvation is twisted to fit the Mormon works cult. Ask yourself, were these Peter preached to Saved when they believed, then they were baptized and added to the body of believers? And what did Jesus tell Nicodemus in John 3?

Baptism is an outward statement of repentance and trusting in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Sin committed after that baptism is not washed away by another baptism. Did you know that? Do you know how sins committed after accepting the Lord are done away with?