Salvation Not Possible Without Works

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Jan 19, 2013
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Believing is a work.
Repentance is a work.
Confession is a work.
Passively submitting to baptism for remission of sins is a work.
Nope. . .gospel according to Seabass.

Regarding salvation, that is not what the NT means by "works.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
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Believing is a work.
Repentance is a work.
Confession is a work.
Passively submitting to baptism for remission of sins is a work.

So if one is first saved THEN does works, then you are claiming one is saved in unbelief, while impenitent and a denier of Christ still in his unforgiven sins. So you have it backwards for one must FIRST do the works of believing, repenting, confessing, submitting to baptism for remission of sins THEN he can be saved.
We are saved by faith in Christ alone, not in the work of repentance, confession, or in baptism.
Faith in Christ alone, remits all past sins of the believer.
Confessing Jesus as your lord and that God raised Him from the dead, is the only work of faith necessary for salvation.
Doing this, and this alone, will save any person, and they too will be a child of the King.
Repentance from dead works if for the believer to be cleanse from sin. This is not automatically done because you belong to Christ. We are to confess our sins so that we may be forgiven.
Repentance from doubting and in need of a savior, knowing that Jesus is that savior, is for the world.
Baptism is not necessary for salvation, nor is it necessary to keep ones salvation.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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---You admit believing is a work, it is a work a work that must be done BEFORE one can be saved.
Faith is not just another work in a series of works in a quest to receive salvation by works. Why do you think that Paul made a "distinction" between saved through FAITH and NOT WORKS if faith is just another work like all other works? By choosing to place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, we are completely trusting in "Another's work," (Christ's finished work of redemption to save us). Jesus Christ gets 100% credit for our salvation. Through faith, Christ is still the object of our belief/trust/reliance in receiving salvation. Good works which follow "after" we place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation neither "attain" our salvation or "maintain" it. Christ's finished work of redemption is all sufficient to save us. No supplements needed. If our works attained or maintained our salvation, then that would add merit on our part to receiving salvation because then we would be saved based on the merit's of Christ's finished work of redemption "plus our works."

---the work of believing INCLUDES the works or repentance, confession and baptism for Christ does not contradict Himself.
You just turned "work of believing" into works. Jesus said this is the "work" of God, not these are the works of God that you must accomplish after you believe in Him. Repentance actually "precedes" believes in Him and it already took place in the process of changing our mind and choosing to believe in Him, so it's included in that sense, because it already happened when we choose to believe in Him. The word of faith is in our mouth and in our heart "TOGETHER" (Romans 10:8) so it's already included in that sense because confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together. Water baptism FOLLOWS repentance unto life/believes in Him/confession made unto salvation (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17,18; Romans 10:8-10) so it is not included in believes in Him. Believers believe in Him PRIOR TO BEING WATER BAPTIZED.

He did NOT say, "this is the work of God, that you believe only" for He would be contradicting Himself if He had said such for having said repentance saves confession saves baptism saves and NEVER said belief only saves.
Jesus would be contradicting Himself if he "added a list of works" to this is the "work of God" that you believe in HIM. So it's believe/trust/rely ONLY in Him for salvation and NOT IN WORKS, like you do. Repentance already took place when believers chose to believe in Him so it's not belief only "in that sense." The word of faith is in our mouth and in our heart TOGETHER so it's not belief only "in that sense" either. So Jesus did not contradict Himself. "He who believes and is baptized will be saved" is general cases without making the qualification for the unusual case of someone who believes but is not baptized. Jesus made it crystal clear that "whoever believes in Him" will be saved in John 3:15,16,18; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,25 and clarified the first clause in Mark 16:16 with "but he who does not believe will be condemned." To say that one is not saved until after water baptism is to contradict not only these verses in John but also Acts 10:43-47; 13:39; 11:17,18; 15:8,9; 16:31; Romans 10:9,10 plus many more.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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Nope. . .gospel according to Seabass.

Regarding salvation, that is not what the NT means by "works.
Amen! To SeaBass, everything is "works." He seems to think that faith is just another work in a series of works in a quest to "attain" and "maintain" salvation by works. What a mess! :eek:
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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I asked you first.....I'm not fooled by your psychological gimmickry.
In regards to belief/faith, people who attend the churches of Christ often fail to understand that there is a deeper, more substantive aspect of belief/faith which is believing in Jesus Christ for eternal life, and most cannot distinguish between mere intellectual belief or assent from a personal faith that is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. They will cite that "even the devils believe" (from James 2:19) in their sermons and will contend that even the "faith of devils" is the same as any other faith "except" that the faith of devils lacks any moral or religious good works. They cannot grasp this DEEPER faith that trusts exclusively in Jesus Christ for salvation. This explains why SeaBass has so much faith in "water and works."
 
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Sirk

Guest
In regards to belief/faith, people who attend the churches of Christ often fail to understand that there is a deeper, more substantive aspect of belief/faith which is believing in Jesus Christ for eternal life, and most cannot distinguish between mere intellectual belief or assent from a personal faith that is trusting in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. They will cite that "even the devils believe" (from James 2:19) in their sermons and will contend that even the "faith of devils" is the same as any other faith "except" that the faith of devils lacks any moral or religious good works. They cannot grasp this DEEPER faith that trusts exclusively in Jesus Christ for salvation. This explains why SeaBass has so much faith in "water and works."
That maybe so.... but the simple fact is that our human nature eliminates any possibility that we can have complete and total faith and belief all the time. Especially in something we cannot see ,smell, taste or touch. To have doubts is to be human. To not have doubts is to be able to thoroughly deceive oneself.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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That would depend on the type of works you are talking about.
If by works you mean of the flesh or by the law, then true.
But if you mean by works of faith, then you are wrong. Salvation is by a work of faith.
Salvation is by grace through faith and is not by works, whether works of the flesh, or works of the law, (which includes the moral aspect of the law and does not leave out good works) or genuine good works done out of faith.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
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That maybe so.... but the simple fact is that our human nature eliminates any possibility that we can have complete and total faith and belief all the time. Especially in something we cannot see ,smell, taste or touch. To have doubts is to be human. To not have doubts is to be able to thoroughly deceive oneself.
Then you can count me as one of the fools who are thoroughly deceived.
I like your avatar but not what you are saying.
I can tell you don't get much from God, seeing you have an evil heart of unbelief.
Outside salvation, you are in a sad state, having no faith, and being carnally minded.
To err is indeed human, but to be a partaker of God's divine nature, one must believe what is written, and one cannot believe if the word of God does not abide in them.
And when I say God's word, I mean the truth. You do not have the truth abiding in you sir, therefore you cannot believe.
If you do not agree with what is written in God's word, as it is written, and receive it as truth, you will not reap any fruit from it.
So to answer your statement of doubt, I tell you that it is very possible for those who have God's word abiding in them, to walk in complete faith in God and His promises in all things.
All things are possible to them that believe.
 
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Sirk

Guest
Then you can count me as one of the fools who are thoroughly deceived.
I like your avatar but not what you are saying.
I can tell you don't get much from God, seeing you have an evil heart of unbelief.
Outside salvation, you are in a sad state, having no faith, and being carnally minded.
To err is indeed human, but to be a partaker of God's divine nature, one must believe what is written, and one cannot believe if the word of God does not abide in them.
And when I say God's word, I mean the truth. You do not have the truth abiding in you sir, therefore you cannot believe.
If you do not agree with what is written in God's word, as it is written, and receive it as truth, you will not reap any fruit from it.
So to answer your statement of doubt, I tell you that it is very possible for those who have God's word abiding in them, to walk in complete faith in God and His promises in all things.
All things are possible to them that believe.
I didn't say I don't believe. Judge me if you will...I am just capable of a deeper honesty about who I am before God than you are.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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So you are saying one can be saved WITHOUT the work of believing, WITHOUT the work of repenting, WITHOUT the work of confession, WITHOUT the work of submitting to baptism for remission of sins....which is IMPOSSIBLE for the unbeliever, impenitent, denier of Christ in his unforgiven sins is lost, not saved as you have it.
What work do believers accomplish when they choose to believe in Christ for salvation? They choose to trust in Another's work (Christ's finished work of redemption). Those who truly believe have already repented in the process of changing their mind and choosing to believe in Christ for salvation. The word of faith is in our mouth and in our heart TOGETHER (Romans 10:8) so confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together. That is not salvation by works. Those who believe in Him receive the remission of sins BEFORE water baptism. Repentance unto life/believes in Him unto righteousness/confession made unto salvation precedes water baptism (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17,18; Romans 10:8-10).

So you are saying that one cannot be saved until they accomplish your 4 step check list of steps in that distorted order and for the wrong reasons? The saved believer has already repented and confessed and is already saved BEFORE getting water baptized. You still don't understand what it truly means to BELIEVE the gospel or else you would understand the truth.
 
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Cruisyazz

Guest
If being a Christian is easy all the time than you would believe that salvation could be achieved without works. But that isn't the case. Faith without work is dead isn't it?
 
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Sirk

Guest
If being a Christian is easy all the time than you would believe that salvation could be achieved without works. But that isn't the case. Faith without work is dead isn't it?
And so is a faith that lies to yourself and to God about your own capabilities and state of your heart... apart from Christ and His finished work on the cross.
 
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Cruisyazz

Guest
ide even go as far to say that salvation can be achieved by peoples good works. Some non saved people I have met live a more godly life than pastors I have met.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
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Salvation is by grace through faith and is not by works, whether works of the flesh, or works of the law, (which includes the moral aspect of the law and does not leave out good works) or genuine good works done out of faith.
Please understand sir, that faith is not faith unless it has a corresponding work.
The works James, Hebrews, and Romans speak of have nothing to do with the law or of the flesh, except the part that you used in Galatians.
The works in James and Galatians are two different kinds of works. One is of the law and the other of faith.
One causes you to receive salvation, which is for a moment, but the other accomplishes nothing, no matter how long or how many good works one does.
Again, faith is specific and directed, and without corresponding works, it is dead. James 2.
 
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Sirk

Guest
ide even go as far to say that salvation can be achieved by peoples good works. Some non saved people I have met live a more godly life than pastors I have met.
Righteousness apart from Christ is compared to a menstrual cloth....so...not quite good enough.

We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Isaiah 64:6
 
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Sirk

Guest
Please understand sir, that faith is not faith unless it has a corresponding work.
The works James, Hebrews, and Romans speak of have nothing to do with the law or of the flesh, except the part that you used in Galatians.
The works in James and Galatians are two different kinds of works. One is of the law and the other of faith.
One causes you to receive salvation, which is for a moment, but the other accomplishes nothing, no matter how long or how many good works one does.
Again, faith is specific and directed, and without corresponding works, it is dead. James 2.
Please understand sir that works are a symptom of a renewed and renewing heart.
 
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Cruisyazz

Guest
Lying to yourself to the contrary can give Christians an excuse for no works. I am more happy if my son has a go at something and fails rather than say I cant do it

3 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness
 
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kennethcadwell

Guest
What work do believers accomplish when they choose to believe in Christ for salvation? They choose to trust in Another's work (Christ's finished work of redemption). Those who truly believe have already repented in the process of changing their mind and choosing to believe in Christ for salvation. The word of faith is in our mouth and in our heart TOGETHER (Romans 10:8) so confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together. That is not salvation by works. Those who believe in Him receive the remission of sins BEFORE water baptism. Repentance unto life/believes in Him unto righteousness/confession made unto salvation precedes water baptism (Acts 10:43-47; 11:17,18; Romans 10:8-10).

So you are saying that one cannot be saved until they accomplish your 4 step check list of steps in that distorted order and for the wrong reasons? The saved believer has already repented and confessed and is already saved BEFORE getting water baptized. You still don't understand what it truly means to BELIEVE the gospel or else you would understand the truth.


The bible also says that we must walk in obedience to the gospel message as well to receive eternal life through Christ.
Walking in obedience means that you walk by the Spirit and not the flesh, walk in light as He is light, and to love, show mercy, and forgive others.....

Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

2 Thessalonians 1:8
In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:


When it comes to salvation through Christ our walk/obedience is very much an important part, as how one acts, speaks, and treats others clearly shows if they are saved or not. As a person who abides in Christ and Christ in them will not walk in darkness, sinful lusts, and say hurtful things to others............

 
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Cruisyazz

Guest
Righteousness apart from Christ is compared to a menstrual cloth....so...not quite good enough.

We are all infected and impure with sin.
When we display our righteous deeds,
they are nothing but filthy rags.
Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall,
and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Isaiah 64:6

I know what the bible says in regards to my comment, however I also know that god knows mans heart. I believe that God doesn't put doctrine as a means of salvation.