[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Weare told that it is not by our works that we are saved by the graceof God, it is by our faith. [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Indeed,Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “...by grace you have been saved throughfaith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God...” Tobe sure, Romans 3:28 says “For we hold that one is justified byfaith apart from works of the law.” Does that mean that faithalone, without works, will save us?[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Itell you that faith may be the key to getting saved, but it is ourworks that holds that key. And the fact is that the Bible tells usthat anyone who believes they are free from abiding by the Law thatwas given to Moses, and thus are free from any works performed infulfillment of the Law, do not fully understand the Scriptures.[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Afew passages from the Scriptures come to mind. Romans 3:28 may saythat we are justified by faith apart from our works, but Romans 3:31says, “Do we then overthrow the Law by this faith? By no means! Onthe contrary, we uphold the law.” And did not Jesus in Matthew 5:17say, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or theProphets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”What is our understanding of our religion all about if it's not allabout Jesus? [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Anddid not Jesus some up the Law in two great commandments, the firstbeing that we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and thesecond being that we love eachother as we do ourselves? How can welove eachother by not showing it through our works? Is it enough tosay to the Lord that we love our neighbor, without the neighborhaving any inking that we love them? For if we do nothing for ourneighbor, that neighbor is to us as a stranger we may pass on thesidewalk. It is not enough that we merely say to God that we love ourneighbor. [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Itis not enough to say to God that we have faith in Him. Indeed, Jesusin Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord,Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but THE ONE WHO DOES THEWILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven. Doing something results in theperformance of works, does it not?[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]So,it is not enough to say “Lord, Lord.” Under Jesus we are held toabiding by and fulfilling the Law given to Moses, as he hadproclaimed himself to be. Some may say that because Jesus died forour sins, we no longer have to abide by the Law. Really? That's notwhat Romans 3:31 above says. And to that point, James 2:10 says,“...whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point has becomeguilty of all of it.” Does that passage speak only to the Jews whohave vowed to uphold the Law given to Moses? Jesus didn't think so.And if you see a brother who wants our politicians to enact lawsagainst abortion and homosexuality and LGBT, but at the same time areagainst politicians who want to enact laws that help the poor andneedy and encourage loving the strangers among us, they are guilty ofnot abiding by the whole Law as stated in James 2:10.[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Yes,we are justified by faith and not by works, but will God believe wehave faith in Him by ignoring His Law that requires action andtherefore works by us? I don't think so.[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Indeed,Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “...by grace you have been saved throughfaith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God...” Tobe sure, Romans 3:28 says “For we hold that one is justified byfaith apart from works of the law.” Does that mean that faithalone, without works, will save us?[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Itell you that faith may be the key to getting saved, but it is ourworks that holds that key. And the fact is that the Bible tells usthat anyone who believes they are free from abiding by the Law thatwas given to Moses, and thus are free from any works performed infulfillment of the Law, do not fully understand the Scriptures.[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Afew passages from the Scriptures come to mind. Romans 3:28 may saythat we are justified by faith apart from our works, but Romans 3:31says, “Do we then overthrow the Law by this faith? By no means! Onthe contrary, we uphold the law.” And did not Jesus in Matthew 5:17say, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or theProphets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”What is our understanding of our religion all about if it's not allabout Jesus? [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Anddid not Jesus some up the Law in two great commandments, the firstbeing that we love God with all our heart, soul and mind, and thesecond being that we love eachother as we do ourselves? How can welove eachother by not showing it through our works? Is it enough tosay to the Lord that we love our neighbor, without the neighborhaving any inking that we love them? For if we do nothing for ourneighbor, that neighbor is to us as a stranger we may pass on thesidewalk. It is not enough that we merely say to God that we love ourneighbor. [/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Itis not enough to say to God that we have faith in Him. Indeed, Jesusin Matthew 7:21 says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord,Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but THE ONE WHO DOES THEWILL OF MY FATHER who is in heaven. Doing something results in theperformance of works, does it not?[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]So,it is not enough to say “Lord, Lord.” Under Jesus we are held toabiding by and fulfilling the Law given to Moses, as he hadproclaimed himself to be. Some may say that because Jesus died forour sins, we no longer have to abide by the Law. Really? That's notwhat Romans 3:31 above says. And to that point, James 2:10 says,“...whoever keeps the whole Law but fails in one point has becomeguilty of all of it.” Does that passage speak only to the Jews whohave vowed to uphold the Law given to Moses? Jesus didn't think so.And if you see a brother who wants our politicians to enact lawsagainst abortion and homosexuality and LGBT, but at the same time areagainst politicians who want to enact laws that help the poor andneedy and encourage loving the strangers among us, they are guilty ofnot abiding by the whole Law as stated in James 2:10.[/FONT]
[FONT=Calibri, sans-serif]Yes,we are justified by faith and not by works, but will God believe wehave faith in Him by ignoring His Law that requires action andtherefore works by us? I don't think so.[/FONT]