Verses I've seen for faith alone vs faith + works

[chesser]

I'll only post ones I haven't seen (good) reconciliations for with the other side.
Faith alone:
Ephesians 2:8-9, romans 11:6
Faith and works:
Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 7:21
So, I'm leaning to faith alone, but I'm not stone cold set in it, I definitely belive dead faith doesn't save though. Anyways, could anyone of the opposite side of the debate give reconciliations of the opposing verses I gave? I just want to see how both sides tackle the issue.

 

[loveme1]

Matthew 5

1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

This came to mind my friends.

 

[WolfInOxHide]

All we have to do is look at the life of Jesus, who we are commissioned to emulate, for the answer.

Peace.

 

[Katy-follower]

When we're saved, the Holy Spirit works through us. Before salvation we don't have the Holy Spirit.

In order to be saved, we present no works. It is Christ's work on the cross that saves us. It is by grace through faith (alone) in what He did for us that we are saved. The works come afterwards.

Those on the left (told to depart) were never saved. They did not put their faith alone in Christ's work on the cross to save them, but instead looked to their own works as if God would be pleased by what they did, as if they could make it to heaven by their works. They had a superficial type of love for others in their works/good deeds, because without the Holy Spirit we cannot truly love others with a genuine, Godly love. Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Those without the Holy Spirit cannot do the will of the Father.

God wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. In that day, many will call Him Lord (many professing Christians) when He was never their Lord because if He were their Lord then they would've looked to Christ's work on the cross alone instead of themselves. If He was their Lord they would've done the will of the Father. Those who are His children are obedient out of Love for Him, we don't do it to be saved. We're already saved.

It's the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins. This is why so many lost souls in the world continue living the way they do... they don't know Jesus and they've not been convicted by the Holy Spirit yet. If they had they would be in tears when they realize how sinful they are.

With your spouse... there is no marriage without love. Same is said of our love for God. If we really love God we will be obedient to Him. Obedience comes after salvation, out of love. So a person that tries to obey God when they're not saved is a person trying to work their way to heaven, which you can't do. You can't obey before love... you just can't obey someone you don't love, that you don't know. It doesn't work... the person will be called a worker of iniquity because they went it alone... they remained on the broad road, they were never saved. They tried to work alone without the Holy Spirit.

We receive the Holy Spirit the moment we are saved.

We can do nothing without the Holy Spirit!

Sorry for the long rambling. Just my thoughts.

God Bless

 

[JaumeJ]

Faith is imputed to a person as works. That clear, it is also impossible for any who have received the Holy Spirit of Yahweh to not endeavor in any manner given to serve Yahweh.

The Love is overwhelming to the point of immeasurable gratitude. We also endeavor to return that love that was first demonstrated to us by Yahweh in His Only Begotten Son, not to mention everyday blessings.

(Before anyone balks at "everyday" being chosen to modify blessings, there is nothing we have not received, not even our previous heartbeat.)

 

[pickles]

Through all the debates here.
The many interpitations of scripture.
The divided opinions about the law or grace.
The sometimes sad limited amount of agreement.
There is one faith that cannot be shaken or moved.
One that will remain agreed upon through all turmoil, all disagreement, all debate!
That is by faith, the salvation that is ours through Jesus Christ is Lord come in the flesh!

For faith cometh by the word, and understanding cometh by faith!

All I can do is witness to faith, that no matter what has been, is , or will be.... that faith in Jesus Christ is lord come in the flesh, has made, all that is made in my life!

God bless
pickles

 

[LawofLove]

I'll only post ones I haven't seen (good) reconciliations for with the other side.
Faith alone:
Ephesians 2:8-9, romans 11:6
Faith and works:
Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 7:21
So, I'm leaning to faith alone, but I'm not stone cold set in it, I definitely belive dead faith doesn't save though. Anyways, could anyone of the opposite side of the debate give reconciliations of the opposing verses I gave? I just want to see how both sides tackle the issue.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says "by grace" also so not just faith
Rom 11:6 says by grace too.

 

[Saint-John]

Its a package deal ie all of them; any way...

Jas 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.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

most people are walking dead (without the spirit) as Lu 9:60 Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

Joh 4:34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
Joh 5:17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

Ro 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

not faith in !! faith of... his faith is given to the believer when they receive the Holy Ghost..mark 16 .15-end...acts 2.4...acts 2.38 ..etc
we have just a mustard seed..but when we accept his sacrifice (by being obedient to HIS plan for salvation) he waters us and we can thereby grow to the mighty tree of Faith by him...

 

[Abiding]

Experiencially from the day i repented and believed i set out on a new course in life
Looking back i see a trail of works. At the time i wasnt even considering those things i did.

There isnt a possibility that i can see that faith wouldnt have works..it just does.

The debate i think comes in when it comes to talking about "what" saves us.

As if anyone earned salvation, or that it could be a reality that faith could possibly not have works.
The whole thing can just tucker you out.

 

[Blain]

The way i see it is if we truly have faith we will grow closer to god and end up falling in love with him which makes us want to serve him with all we have

 

[phil36]

We all do works of some descroption or other. The defining point is (within evangelicals) whether or not works save or whether it is by Faith alone. Scripture clearly teaches by 'Faith alone (by Grace)'. yet it also talks about Faith and works. When the bible talks about Faith + works, it is referring to those who already are Christians. Theirr Faith should bring about good works, that is firstly obedience to Christ and bearing good fruit - becoming more like Christ. If your profess Faith and yet no good works follow, then it is likened to dead Faith.

People oft get confused with what Paul says and what James says about Faith and Works..

Paul is talking about works based salvation, he says that it cant be done..no amount of good works will save you..only Faith etc.

James is reffering to the Christian who should bear fruit (works) because of his Faith, in other words Faith should progress to good works.. but not like those who are unsaved whose works are like filthy rags, but works that are selfless and show Christlikeness.

 

[celestemekent]

The answer is so simple. Faith =belief+works

God demands "faith" not belief, it is "saving faith" not saving belief.

People misuse the word faith thinking it is a synonym for belief it is not, there is a big difference.

Faith in the Old Testament is clearly set as a verb not a noun, it requires action to be called faith and while that action maybe as subtle as standing your ground (no apparent movement) it is still action.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

The answer is so simple. Faith =belief+works

God demands "faith" not belief, it is "saving faith" not saving belief.

People misuse the word faith thinking it is a synonym for belief it is not, there is a big difference.

Faith in the Old Testament is clearly set as a verb not a noun, it requires action to be called faith and while that action maybe as subtle as standing your ground (no apparent movement) it is still action.

I would disagree.

Faith is that which is hoped for. One who has to trust in his works, and fear losing what God has given freely has no hope, thus they have no faith.

the problem you have is how you worded it. It does not equal belief plus works. It means that those who merely believe will not show works. But one who truly trusts God as the lamb who takes away our sin, Also trusts him as king of our life. thus they WILL show work.

 

[celestemekent]

Hebrews 10 reads


10 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
Christ’s Death Fulfills God’s Will

5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’”

8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.




11 And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

 

[Crossfire]

It is my hope that everyone understands that good works can not save you and that only faith in Christ can save. However, scripture clearly teaches that those who do possess saving faith will do good works as a result of that faith. It's not a difficult thing to understand.

Ephesians 2: 8 - 10

8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law’s demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

10 For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

 

[JaumeJ]

I could never, after having received the Holy Spirit and knowing real Love for the first time, simply say, "Thanks, now I will just wait until I die and go to heaven." Works are natural after faith enters.

 

[chesser]

I could never, after having received the Holy Spirit and knowing real Love for the first time, simply say, "Thanks, now I will just wait until I die and go to heaven." Works are natural after faith enters.

Well, if you do some history research, you will see quite a few well known christians(john Calvin, quite a few popes(sorry Catholics, I do like John Paul II though), Harold camping, pat roberson, james white, even martin luther to an extent, as well as SOME people on these boards ) who are racist, intolerant(in calvins case its VERY extreme),then there were the crusades, end times predictions, lying(claim they can deflect hurricanes), etc, then of course the Salem witch trials, etc.
so, im not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I am curious as how this would be explained by you

 

[chesser]

It is my hope that everyone understands that good works can not save you and that only faith in Christ can save. However, scripture clearly teaches that those who do possess saving faith will do good works as a result of that faith. It's not a difficult thing to understand.

I think youve missed the purpose of this thread

 

[JaumeJ]

Well, if you do some history research, you will see quite a few well known christians(john Calvin, quite a few popes(sorry Catholics, I do like John Paul II though), Harold camping, pat roberson, james white, even martin luther to an extent, as well as SOME people on these boards ) who are racist, intolerant(in calvins case its VERY extreme),then there were the crusades, end times predictions, lying(claim they can deflect hurricanes), etc, then of course the Salem witch trials, etc.
so, im not necessarily disagreeing with you, but I am curious as how this would be explained by you

The Holy Spirit does not relate to such. How did you connect my post to these folks? I hope you are not forcing a connection. All the above in the quote from you are apostate. Again, how in the world do you relate what I posted to these?

 

[rauleetoe]

The word Clearly says in many places to live right, what did Jesus say to the woman caught in adultery..who accuses you? She says..none Lord, neither do I..no go and sin no more(change your life/conversion point)
What we have now is easy believism..what i hear called grace only..grace only seems to be false grace. How can you after what Jesus did for you trample on it by holding onto a mentality that it is all God and fail to change your life? How sincere is your faith? Faith+works=you are for real.
If you have only grace, i do not see that as grace..that's stupidity..not grace. Sadly many evangelical churches emphasize this 'grace only' gospel..because its easily palatable..nothing is required, God is not holy in their eyes..they say you cannot live a holy Life..yes God says in hebrews 12:14..pursue love and holiness,for without which no man can see God..(it does not say, pursue Jesus,say a prayer and you're good mate..)
yet this is what is taught in many 'christian' churches..once again, i think someone needs to write about this, maybe call it..what grace is this?
1 thessalonians 4:7, 1 peter 1:15..hebrews 2:11..james 1:22-25..
you can call it 'grace' if you want, but only grace is not grace..real and pure grace means you realize what was done for you, and you do not want to trample over Jesus sacrifice..as it says can happen..hebrews 10:26-29..
there are so many more..but holiness is a biblical mandate..
sadly many christians are only christians on sunday, and rely on their false grace and live like the devil the rest of the week..it is sad really.