The Bible contrasts faith with works:
Eph 2:
8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.
"Deeds of righteousness" are wonderful, and every Christian should seek to do them, but they are not what saves you. We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 10:9; Acts 16:30-31; Eph 1:13-14).
So did Peter lack genuine faith when he committed hypocrisy (Gal 2:11ff)? Do you believe that when Peter committed hypocrisy that he lost his salvation but then got saved again when he repented?
Did Paul lack genuine faith when he went to Jerusalem directly against the will of God (Acts 20:22ff)?
All men sin, including saved Christians. Anyone who thinks he doesn't is deceived (1 John 1:8, 10).
Shrume,
Thank you for your response.
Let us reason together being honest in heart and mind.
The Apostle Paul speaks of faith being a work...
1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your
work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
The Apostle Paul also refers to faith as being a work with power...
2Th_1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
Now if we keep that sentiment in mind and refer to the words of James...
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Clearly "faith" is a working principle or active principle. Faith is not a passive principle, nor is it mere mental assent.
Furthermore the Apostle Paul describes faith as "working by love" and contrasts it against the "outward rite and ritual" of physical circumcision.
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Now let's look at the statement "saved by grace through faith."
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
First of all, what are Christians "saved" from? Well in Matthew 1:21 we read...
Mat 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Jesus shall save His people from their sins.
Jesus also made the statement...
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
Joh 8:35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
1. Those who commit sin are the servants of sin.
2. Jesus sets people free indeed from committing and thus serving sin.
The Apostle Paul taught the same thing...
Rom 6:17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Rom 6:18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
1. Obedience from the heart makes one free from sin.
2. Being set free from sin one becomes a servant of righteousness.
Paul taught...
Rom 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Obviously "faith" must logically be inclusive of "obedience unto righteousness." No wonder Paul would refer to the obedience of faith...
Rom_16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
So back to "saved by grace THROUGH faith."
Let's look at grace...
charis
From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual;
especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
Here we see that part of the definition of "grace" is the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life. This concept is also alluded to by Paul in his letter to Titus...
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Here Paul speaks of "grace that brings salvation" as teaching us how to conduct ourselves in all godly behaviour, truly the divine influence upon the heart.
Saved by grace THROUGH faith is speaking of a DYNAMIC of YIELDING TO GOD the result of which is SALVATION FROM SERVING SIN. It is not speaking of "trusting in a provision" by which an individual is "declared righteous" as is commonly taught.
When Paul says "not of works" the context is "works done apart from God" or "works done apart from God's divine influence." No human being can be saved from sin apart from yielding their heart to God's divine influence and abiding in it, hence Christians are compelled to KEEP THEMSELVES in the love of God (Jude 1:21).
What was the "boast of works"?
Rom 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
The Jew boasted in the law, yet the law cannot save (see Rom 7). It is the Spirit of life in Jesus Christ which saves (Rom 8:2), the Spirit of grace (Zec 12:10, Heb 10:29). To rest in a mere the mere OUTWARD SERVICE of rules and regulations is the absolute antithesis of "saved by grace THROUGH faith" which is why Paul opposes it so vehemently.
Paul understood the dynamic of salvation renovates completely the character of those whom yield themselves to God's influence through faith. Paul understood how ALL THINGS become new as old things have passed away (2Cor 5:17).
Now regarding Peter's offense...
Gal 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
Gal 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
That action by Peter was not an act of premeditated willful sin. Sure he missed the mark and was acting carnal and needed to be corrected for he was not walking according to the Spirit as he ought to have been.
The notion of "losing salvation" is a concept rooted in the idea of salvation being a "position" as opposed to being a literal manifest state of abiding in the love of God, a state of union with God through the Spirit. It is really a term of no meaning only given a "sense of meaning" as it is used within the false paradigm of false Christianity.
One can certainly depart from "keeping themselves in the love of God" and thus not be in a "saved state" which is why we must examine ourselves to see if we are really in the faith. One can depart the faith without realising it through complacency and self dependency, negating doing everything through God. Thus we have to be careful if so we be genuinely in the faith in the first place.
So Peter erred and was corrected, an event through which he surely learned in receiving Paul's rebuke. Yet that action by Peter was very different to him going out and committing sins unto death, ie...
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
There is no correction for that type of thing. All filthiness and superfulty of naughtiness must be forsaken before one can recieve the implanted word which saves the soul (Jam 1:21).
As for 1Joh 1:8-9, John is referring too initial repentance, not an ongoing siin/repent cycle of perpetual iniquity in the life of a Christian. John is simply elaborating on how one comes into the faith with a "true heart" (Heb 10:22) in coming clean with God in repentance. If we say we have no sin (to our account) then we have not approached God in truthfulness when we come to Him to abide in the light.
The children of God are MANIFEST in that they do not produce the fruit of sin in their life, it is the children of the devil who sin because we are slaves to whom we obey.
Be well.