Faith Alone?

[RedTent]

When we are given examples of faith in scripture, it also talks of how faith is exercised.

Abel offered an acceptable sacrifice by faith.
Enoch was translated by faith.
Noah prepared the ark by faith.
Abraham went into a strange land by faith.
Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau prophetically by faith.
Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph prophetically by faith.
Joseph prophesied of Israel’s departure from Egypt by faith.
Moses was hid as a baby by faith.
Moses kept the Passover by faith.
The Red Sea parted by faith.
The walls of Jericho fell by faith.
Rehab, the harlot, saved herself and her family by faith.
Gideon delivered Israel from the Midianites by faith.
Daniel stopped the mouths of lions by faith.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego quenched the violence of fire by faith.

When scripture was written in Hebrew so ancient it was in pictograph, the picture of faith was of an arm driving a nail in a wall. It was doing based on something as solid as a wall. We are told faith without works in dead.

Yet, I never hear of anyone talk about faith and doing together. I have only heard that it is faith alone. This would say that faith is to be applied to what we do in our life, that faith is to be used as the root of our actions.

 

[crossnote]

Faith and doing are always together, but when God justifies it is not on account of our doing, it is on account of our faith.
Another person cannot see 'faith' but can see our doing; yet God can not only see our doing He can 'see' our faith as well.
So we are justified by faith alone (as God declares) yet that faith is not alone.

 

[danschance]

True faith is accompanied with works, always!

The big question is what type of work accompanies true faith? Abraham had faith and the work of his faith was to kill his only begotten son, Issac.

Rehab believed and the work of her faith was to hide the spies and help them escape.

So a work of faith is an action that proves your faith is more than simple lip service. Yet we are saved by faith in Christ alone.

 

[biscuit]

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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" (James 2:17-18)

"But wilt you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead" (James 2:20)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26)

 

[parablepete]

Faith and doing are always together, but when God justifies it is not on account of our doing, it is on account of our faith.
Another person cannot see 'faith' but can see our doing; yet God can not only see our doing He can 'see' our faith as well.
So we are justified by faith alone (as God declares) yet that faith is not alone.

Is this double talk or what?

 

[danschance]

Is this double talk or what?

No, it is not double talk. it is a classic quote from Martin Luther.

"We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone." Meaning a saving faith is complete with works. Yet those works are a nautral action based on faith.

 

[Josh321]

faith and works... example, i ask God for faith to be more bold to speak the gospel to strangers... if i just say i have faith and without doing the process of working that faith, then faith without works is dead, but if i act on that faith, and actually believe and trust God that is faith and works, it's like abraham, he said God will provide a burnt offering for us, and u went with that faith and move to the location he was going, that is faith with works,

[h=3]Genesis 22:6-8[/h]King James Version (KJV)

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.



man what powerful faith that is... i pray to God that i may trust him so much that every single doubt that is still lingering will be removed

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Faith alone saves. But true faith will show true works.

Work proceeds out of faith. One who has mere belief will not work. Because he does not have faith. As James said. even demons believe and tremble. Can mere belief save you?

Many people believe in Christ. but will not be saved because they do not have true faith in him.

 

[Josh321]

Faith alone saves. But true faith will show true works.

Work proceeds out of faith. One who has mere belief will not work. Because he does not have faith. As James said. even demons believe and tremble. Can mere belief save you?

Many people believe in Christ. but will not be saved because they do not have true faith in him.

people don't realize that very thing you said, belief goes so deep.. but honestly believe because someone says '' sure i believe in Jesus '' or go on an alter and say yes i believe in Jesus, brothers and sisters if you have no hunger within to know God your not doing anything belief must come from inside, to believe is to surrender every single understanding you have your believing and surrendering to an unseen God, your entire being must believe it is truth, then God will accept that faith because he sees it is a true and genuine faith, i've seen some things that almost made me cry.. with some of the alter calls we have now in the churches, deceiving the people in truly thinking their save

[h=3]Acts 19:2[/h]King James Version (KJV)

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

people don't realize that very thing you said, belief goes so deep.. but honestly believe because someone says '' sure i believe in Jesus '' or go on an alter and say yes i believe in Jesus, brothers and sisters if you have no hunger within to know God your not doing anything belief must come from inside, to believe is to surrender every single understanding you have your believing and surrendering to an unseen God, your entire being must believe it is truth, then God will accept that faith because he sees it is a true and genuine faith, i've seen some things that almost made me cry.. with some of the alter calls we have now in the churches, deceiving the people in truly thinking their save

Acts 19:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.

I think it goes 2 ways, and depends on our repentance or lack of.

1. If we believe in Christ. But do not really believe we are such horrible sinners that our condemnation is just even for what we consider the littlest of sins. And do not agree with God that many things he calls sin are sin. then we may believe, But will show no change in life. This is the licentious believer.

2. If we believe in Jesus, and even believe we are rightly condemned. but are not under the belief our hope is totally in the work of God, but he requires work for us to make up for past sin. To prove to him we love him, and to keep ourselves from future sin, then we are of the legalistic sort, who does all kind of work not out of faith in Christ. but out of lack of faith in him. Hoping he will save us because of these works.

Both come out of pride. and lack of true faith in Christ.

 

[Josh321]

true repentance is when you know you something is wrong you need a change and your willing to let God change you, sin is so heavy and when i commited sin as a sinner the law would condemn me, i would feel so guilty and terrible about myselfbut didn't know why, until i couldn't take it anymore just had to meet God and let him change me, honestly when i came to christ my mind was made up, i told God i need help and i can't help myself i'm willing to give my entire life to you if you would just change me, and God saw i truly meant this from my heart so he changed me, i believe the right faith is chosen weather it is genuine faith or not because your giving your life as a sacrifice to God through faith, and if it truly comes from the health God will accept that faith

 

[Josh321]

i don't quite understand that though... but i guess everything will be revealed in the end, i have this friend we went to school together, we went to a seventh day adventist school he was an adventist and was the first person that i actually notice changed, he was very terrible in school, he would gave me his testimony, said he was a sinful person like everyone else, but then he said he started feeling different like what he was doing is wrong, then he said one day when he was in his home he started to talk to God, then he said he felt like a sheet got put over him spiritually then he jump off his seat and said hallejuah, and ran and tell his parents what happen then he said he prayed for 2 hours straight after that and he never did that before, and from since then his life had changed, but what i called understand is.. he is an adventist, and he don't believe in healing believe in eating healthy, believe if we don't keep the sabbath we can be lost and well this gets me wondering, i'll continue in another post don't want anyone do alot of reading

 

[Josh321]

but as i was saying this has me wondering.. what could that be? i mean after my salvation i see things differently not saying i know it all, but i understand that we pass from condemnation and we have to surrender to God daily after receiving him, but what i want to ask is, i just don't know.... because the bible said

[h=3]John 16:13 ESV / 6 helpful votes[/h]When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.


but how can a believer say they don't believe in healing? my spirit tells me God is the same yesterday today and forever and if his spirit is within me he will do what he did yesterday and it will be done today and forever, or how can a believer believe they can still die in Sin when the bible clearly states a believer is dead to Sin, help me understand, because the spirit of truth leads us into all truths, so what is going on there i'm not questioning anyone just want to know that

 

[RedTent]

Faith and doing are always together, but when God justifies it is not on account of our doing, it is on account of our faith.
Another person cannot see 'faith' but can see our doing; yet God can not only see our doing He can 'see' our faith as well.
So we are justified by faith alone (as God declares) yet that faith is not alone.

You are adding to God's word. God is precise, accurate, true. You are saying that Jesus forgives our sin because we have faith. We go to Him because of our faith, but God forgives us freely and without question because of our repentance, not because of our faith. The demons have faith in God, they know of His power and glory.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

You are adding to God's word. God is precise, accurate, true. You are saying that Jesus forgives our sin because we have faith. We go to Him because of our faith, but God forgives us freely and without question because of our repentance, not because of our faith. The demons have faith in God, they know of His power and glory.

No. Demons believe in Jesus and what he did. They do not have faith in him.

Faith is a pure and trust in a hope offered to you by someones promise or action.

Repentance leads to faith. You are right, we are saved because of repentance. Which leads to faith. We are justified by our faith though.

 

[chubbena]

Works always accompany faith but do works please Yahweh when one continues to sin against His ways?

Isaiah 64:5-6 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Daniel is my favorite when it comes to faith. Here's one the OP missed
Daniel 1:8-20

 

[GregoryC]

Faith in Jesus finished work upon the cross. A free gift for all who will ask.


Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

[dcontroversal]

True faith is accompanied with works, always!

The big question is what type of work accompanies true faith? Abraham had faith and the work of his faith was to kill his only begotten son, Issac.

Rehab believed and the work of her faith was to hide the spies and help them escape.

So a work of faith is an action that proves your faith is more than simple lip service. Yet we are saved by faith in Christ alone.

Faith was also applied unto Abraham before he had circumcision and states that it was put to his account and the promises given before he had circumcision....the outward evidence of an inward act as in, faith produced works--->circumcision.

 

[dcontroversal]

No. Demons believe in Jesus and what he did. They do not have faith in him.

Faith is a pure and trust in a hope offered to you by someones promise or action.

Repentance leads to faith. You are right, we are saved because of repentance. Which leads to faith. We are justified by our faith though.

Now this I agree with!

 

[john832]

Faith was also applied unto Abraham before he had circumcision and states that it was put to his account and the promises given before he had circumcision....the outward evidence of an inward act as in, faith produced works--->circumcision.

Gen 26:3 Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
Gen 26:4 And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;
Gen 26:5 because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws."