In context: Romans 4:4-5
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The seed is the word of God. And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not
believe and be saved.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
No one is a "good and honest people" until He gets changed from sinner to child of God (by faith in the Savior).
There is none who doeth good, no not one. After the new birth, after God recreates you, then you are good ground. The salvation is by grace through faith, not of works lest NewB should boast.
Sinner (bad ground) trusts Christ > Salvation (good ground) > Fruit.
No fruit comes forth without abiding in Christ, and you cannot do that until you trust Christ the Savior.
By grace you have been saved through faith, not of works lest NewB should boast. Those who have faith are created by God to bring forth good works (fruit). Eph 2.
You err first by trying to use a parable to establish doctrine.
I can see someone arguing that since no man is good ground and only good ground believes, thus God regenerates a man logically before & so that He will believe. But whatever you make of that, good ground comes before fruit, not after.
Then you err by not taking keep the word to imply believing it and doing what it says: Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.
Any reading this who have dismissed the Savior, making him a mere chance-giver, are urged to repent & trust Him as only & sufficient Savior. Any reading this who are trusting in good works & have made Water their idol-savior, are urged to repent.
BTW, in the parable there is nothing about water or works saving. It is a good illustration of how the nature of a man determines fruit.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
Good ground first, then fruit;
not works (fruit) then good ground."then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved."
So NewB, are you being an agent of the devil here, trying to take the word from the heart of those who might confess their works to be sinful, then believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved?
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
Acts 16:31
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
1 Cor 1:21
it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
Gal 2:15-16
We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh shall be justified.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believes may in him have eternal life.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
John 3:14-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 1For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. 1He that believes on him is not judged: he that believes not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only Son of God.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
believe and be saved.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
No one is a "good and honest people" until He gets changed from sinner to child of God (by faith in the Savior).
There is none who doeth good, no not one. After the new birth, after God recreates you, then you are good ground. The salvation is by grace through faith, not of works lest NewB should boast.
Sinner (bad ground) trusts Christ > Salvation (good ground) > Fruit.
No fruit comes forth without abiding in Christ, and you cannot do that until you trust Christ the Savior.
By grace you have been saved through faith, not of works lest NewB should boast. Those who have faith are created by God to bring forth good works (fruit). Eph 2.
You err first by trying to use a parable to establish doctrine.
I can see someone arguing that since no man is good ground and only good ground believes, thus God regenerates a man logically before & so that He will believe. But whatever you make of that, good ground comes before fruit, not after.
Then you err by not taking keep the word to imply believing it and doing what it says: Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved.
Any reading this who have dismissed the Savior, making him a mere chance-giver, are urged to repent & trust Him as only & sufficient Savior. Any reading this who are trusting in good works & have made Water their idol-savior, are urged to repent.
BTW, in the parable there is nothing about water or works saving. It is a good illustration of how the nature of a man determines fruit.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
Good ground first, then fruit;
not works (fruit) then good ground."then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved."
So NewB, are you being an agent of the devil here, trying to take the word from the heart of those who might confess their works to be sinful, then believe on the Lord Jesus and be saved?
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
Acts 16:31
And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus, and thou shalt be saved, thou and thy house.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
1 Cor 1:21
it was God’s good pleasure through the foolishness of the preaching to save them that believe.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
Gal 2:15-16
We being Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed on Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law: because by the works of the law shall no flesh shall be justified.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; that whosoever believes may in him have eternal life.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
John 3:14-18
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish, but have eternal life. 1For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him. 1He that believes on him is not judged: he that believes not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only Son of God.
[NO WATER! NO WORKS!]
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
The Evidence is overwhelming, not an isolated verse here or there. I have read the entire Bible, marking all the salvation passages. Have you even read the Bible once, Alligator? The evidence is too much for one post on this site.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus, & you shall be saved.
No ifs, ands, buts, or water.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
John 5:24
2Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.
John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
John 10:27
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
1 John 5:10-12
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
Ps 37:5-6
Commit thy way unto YHWH;
Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.
And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light,
And thy justice as the noonday.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
The Evidence is overwhelming, not an isolated verse here or there. I have read the entire Bible, marking all the salvation passages. Have you even read the Bible once, Alligator? The evidence is too much for one post on this site.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
What must I do to be saved?
Believe on the Lord Jesus, & you shall be saved.
No ifs, ands, buts, or water.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
John 5:24
2Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life.
John 6:47
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
John 10:27
But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who hath given them unto me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
1 John 5:10-12
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning his Son. And the witness is this, that God gave unto us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
Ps 37:5-6
Commit thy way unto YHWH;
Trust also in him, and he will bring it to pass.
And he will make thy righteousness to go forth as the light,
And thy justice as the noonday.
[NO WORKS, NO WATER!]
Above you only list 6 verses....there are many more then just 6 verses in the bible that deal with salvation. Verses that mention "belief" are not the "ONLY" salvic verses in the bible. There are also verses that speak about repentance, confession and baptism that are salvic verses also.
You see "only" what you want to see
P
I pointed this out in another thread so I'll share it here as well Jesus did not baptize the thief he saved on the cross with water. If any baptism took place it was a spiritual baptism. Baptism or no baptism will not prevent you from heaven that is the point is it not reaching heaven? The thief reached heaven and went without being baptized. Unless someone finds some scroll somewhere in the desert that manifest itself after all this time that says otherwise I'll go with the cross version addressing baptism.
Context. In James 2:14, we read of one who says he has faith but has no works. This is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith. James 2:18 - I will show you my faith by my works. You continue to quote "faith without works is dead" as if this means a dead faith produces works in order to become a living faith as if the works themselves are the actual source of life for faith. That is like saying that a dead tree produces fruit in order to become a living tree and the fruit is the source of life for the tree. This continues to be a major stumbling block for you.
Faith apart from the merit of works (Ephesians 2:8,9), not apart from the presence of works (James 2:14-18). Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not on the merits of our works. It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony.* How long will you continue to fight the truth?
Repentance is a change of mind about our sinful position and need for Christ to save us and the new direction of this change of mind is faith in Christ for salvation and water baptism follows saving faith in Christ (Acts 3:19; 10:43-47; 11:17,18). Faith is not baptism and faith precedes baptism and we are saved through faith. It's just that simple.
Faith apart from the merit of works (Ephesians 2:8,9), not apart from the presence of works (James 2:14-18). Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not on the merits of our works. It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony.* How long will you continue to fight the truth?
Repentance is a change of mind about our sinful position and need for Christ to save us and the new direction of this change of mind is faith in Christ for salvation and water baptism follows saving faith in Christ (Acts 3:19; 10:43-47; 11:17,18). Faith is not baptism and faith precedes baptism and we are saved through faith. It's just that simple.
James 2:14 - If someone says/claims he has faith but has no works he has a dead faith, not genuine faith. You need to quit reading James 2:14 as if James says the hypothetical person actually has faith but no works.
You need a living faith, not a dead faith, just as you need a living tree to produce fruit, not a dead tree.
Genuine faith bears fruit/works. All genuine believers are fruitful, but not all are equally fruitful (Matthew 13:23). Without faith it's impossible to please God, so setting out to do what the word says without faith is futile. Salvation by works is not what the word says and James does not teach that we are saved by works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine.
You need a living faith, not a dead faith, just as you need a living tree to produce fruit, not a dead tree.
Genuine faith bears fruit/works. All genuine believers are fruitful, but not all are equally fruitful (Matthew 13:23). Without faith it's impossible to please God, so setting out to do what the word says without faith is futile. Salvation by works is not what the word says and James does not teach that we are saved by works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine.
1 Corinthians 4:14-21
[SUP]14 [/SUP]I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. [SUP]15 [/SUP]For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. [SUP]16 [/SUP]Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. [SUP]17 [/SUP]For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. [SUP]19 [/SUP]But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. [SUP]21 [/SUP]What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
[SUP]14 [/SUP]I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. [SUP]15 [/SUP]For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. [SUP]16 [/SUP]Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me. [SUP]17 [/SUP]For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, and he will remind you of my ways which are in Christ, just as I teach everywhere in every church. [SUP]18 [/SUP]Now some have become arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. [SUP]19 [/SUP]But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I shall find out, not the words of those who are arrogant but their power. [SUP]20 [/SUP]For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. [SUP]21 [/SUP]What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
James said "says/claims" he has faith. James did not say he actually has faith. James even points out can "that" faith save him. What kind of faith is that? Empty profession of faith/dead faith. Is dead faith the same as genuine faith that we find in Ephesians 2:5-8?
If you say/claim you have faith but have no works to validate your claim, you demonstrate that you have a dead faith, not genuine faith which is evidenced by good works.
You need genuine faith that is alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5-10), not a dead faith that merely professes but does not possess (James 2:14-18).
In order to confirm that you have genuine faith and not dead faith. Good works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of genuine faith, but not the essence of genuine faith and not the means of our salvation.
You need genuine faith in order to properly do what the word says. Attempting to do what the word says without faith is futile.
If you say/claim you have faith but have no works to validate your claim, you demonstrate that you have a dead faith, not genuine faith which is evidenced by good works.
You need genuine faith that is alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:5-10), not a dead faith that merely professes but does not possess (James 2:14-18).
In order to confirm that you have genuine faith and not dead faith. Good works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of genuine faith, but not the essence of genuine faith and not the means of our salvation.
You need genuine faith in order to properly do what the word says. Attempting to do what the word says without faith is futile.
I hope to clear up the confusion of what Paul means by "works of the law".
Rom. 3:20,28; Gal. 2:16,21; 3:2,5,10; Eph. 2:8-9
Paul’s teaching that we are not justified by “works of the law” refer to the law of Moses or to any legal system that makes God our debtor. They do not refer to good works done in grace with faith in Christ. This makes sense when we remember that Paul's mission was to teach that salvation was also for the Gentiles who were not subject to the "works of the law." Here is the proof:
James 2:24 – compare the verse “a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” to Gal. 2:16 – “a man is not justified by works of the law,” and Rom. 3:20,28 – “no human being will be justified in His sight by works of the law.” James 2:24 appears to be inconsistent with Gal. 2:16 and Rom. 3:20,28 until one realizes that the Word of God cannot contradict itself. This means that the “works” in James 2:24 are different from the “works of the law in Gal. 2:16 and Rom. 3:20,28. James is referring to “good works” (e.g.,clothing the naked; giving food to the poor) and Paul is referring to the “Mosaic law” (which included both the legal, moral and ceremonial law) or any works which oblige God to give us payment. Here is more proof:
Rom. 3:20,28; Gal. 2:16 - Paul's phrase for "works of the law" in the Greek is "ergon nomou" which means the Mosaic law or Torah and refers to the teachings (legal, moral) and works (ceremonial) that gave the Jews the knowledge of sin, but not an escape from sin. We have further proof of this from the Dead Sea Scrolls which provide the Hebrew equivalent ("hrvt ysm") meaning "deeds of the law," or Mosaic law. James in James 2 does not use "ergon nomou." He uses "ergois agathois." Therefore, Paul’s "works of the law" and James' "works" are entirely different types of works. Again, they could never contradict each other because the Scriptures are the inspired word of God.
Rom. 3:29 - Paul confirms that works of the law in this case refer to the Mosaic law by rhetorically asking "Or is God the God of the Jews only?" It does not mean "good works."
Rom. 4:9-17 - Paul provides further discussion that righteousness God seeks in us does not come from Mosaic law, but through faith. But notice that Paul also never says “faith alone.”
Rom. 9:31-32 - righteousness is pursued through faith, not works of the law. Again, "works of law" does not mean "good works."
Eph. 2:8-9 - we have been saved by grace through faith, not because of "works," lest anyone boast. This much-quoted verse by Protestants refers to the "works" of the Mosaic law or any works performed in a legalistic sense, where we view God as a debtor to us, and not as our heavenly Father. Paul is teaching us that, with the coming of Christ, we are now saved by grace through faith, not by Mosaic or legal works.
This is why Paul refers to “works of ourselves” and so we can’t “boast.” Paul says the same thing about “works” Rom. 4:2,4 – if Abraham was justified by “works,” he would have something to “boast” about. Here, the wages are not counted as grace, but debt. “Boasting” does not attribute works to God, but to oneself. But good works done in faith are necessary for justification (James 2:24, etc.) because we receive rewards by grace, not by legal obligation, and we attribute these works to God, not ourselves.
Eph. 2:10 - in quoting Ephesians 2:8-9, be careful not to ignore the next verse. Right after Paul's teaching on "works" referring to Mosaic law, Paul says we are created in Christ for "good works" - a clear distinction between "works of law" (Mosaic law/legal payment) and "good works" (law of Christ/reward of grace).
Rom. 3:20,28; Gal. 2:16,21; 3:2,5,10; Eph. 2:8-9
Paul’s teaching that we are not justified by “works of the law” refer to the law of Moses or to any legal system that makes God our debtor. They do not refer to good works done in grace with faith in Christ. This makes sense when we remember that Paul's mission was to teach that salvation was also for the Gentiles who were not subject to the "works of the law." Here is the proof:
James 2:24 – compare the verse “a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” to Gal. 2:16 – “a man is not justified by works of the law,” and Rom. 3:20,28 – “no human being will be justified in His sight by works of the law.” James 2:24 appears to be inconsistent with Gal. 2:16 and Rom. 3:20,28 until one realizes that the Word of God cannot contradict itself. This means that the “works” in James 2:24 are different from the “works of the law in Gal. 2:16 and Rom. 3:20,28. James is referring to “good works” (e.g.,clothing the naked; giving food to the poor) and Paul is referring to the “Mosaic law” (which included both the legal, moral and ceremonial law) or any works which oblige God to give us payment. Here is more proof:
Rom. 3:20,28; Gal. 2:16 - Paul's phrase for "works of the law" in the Greek is "ergon nomou" which means the Mosaic law or Torah and refers to the teachings (legal, moral) and works (ceremonial) that gave the Jews the knowledge of sin, but not an escape from sin. We have further proof of this from the Dead Sea Scrolls which provide the Hebrew equivalent ("hrvt ysm") meaning "deeds of the law," or Mosaic law. James in James 2 does not use "ergon nomou." He uses "ergois agathois." Therefore, Paul’s "works of the law" and James' "works" are entirely different types of works. Again, they could never contradict each other because the Scriptures are the inspired word of God.
Rom. 3:29 - Paul confirms that works of the law in this case refer to the Mosaic law by rhetorically asking "Or is God the God of the Jews only?" It does not mean "good works."
Rom. 4:9-17 - Paul provides further discussion that righteousness God seeks in us does not come from Mosaic law, but through faith. But notice that Paul also never says “faith alone.”
Rom. 9:31-32 - righteousness is pursued through faith, not works of the law. Again, "works of law" does not mean "good works."
Eph. 2:8-9 - we have been saved by grace through faith, not because of "works," lest anyone boast. This much-quoted verse by Protestants refers to the "works" of the Mosaic law or any works performed in a legalistic sense, where we view God as a debtor to us, and not as our heavenly Father. Paul is teaching us that, with the coming of Christ, we are now saved by grace through faith, not by Mosaic or legal works.
This is why Paul refers to “works of ourselves” and so we can’t “boast.” Paul says the same thing about “works” Rom. 4:2,4 – if Abraham was justified by “works,” he would have something to “boast” about. Here, the wages are not counted as grace, but debt. “Boasting” does not attribute works to God, but to oneself. But good works done in faith are necessary for justification (James 2:24, etc.) because we receive rewards by grace, not by legal obligation, and we attribute these works to God, not ourselves.
Eph. 2:10 - in quoting Ephesians 2:8-9, be careful not to ignore the next verse. Right after Paul's teaching on "works" referring to Mosaic law, Paul says we are created in Christ for "good works" - a clear distinction between "works of law" (Mosaic law/legal payment) and "good works" (law of Christ/reward of grace).
So you are saying that we are not saved by works of the law, but we are saved by good works? Where did Paul say that we are saved by good works? To the contrary, Paul said that we are saved through faith, not works, created in Christ Jesus unto/for good works (Ephesians 2:8-10). That's not the same as saying saved by good works. Paul did not say that we are saved through faith "and good works" just not works of the law as if good works are completely detached from the moral aspect of the law anyway. Paul also said that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us (Titus 3:5) and He saved us and called us with a holy calling not according to our works (2 Timothy 1:9).
In James 2:15-16, the example of a "work" that James gives is: "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" To give a brother or sister these things needed for the body would certainly be a "good work" yet to neglect such a brother or sister and not give them the things needed for the body is to break the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) as found written in the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18).
In Matthew 22:37-40, we read: Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Please tell me, which good works could a Christian accomplish that are completely detached from these two great commandments which are found in the law of Moses? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Are there any genuine good works that Christians do which fall outside of loving God and our neighbor as ourself?
The Bible clearly teaches in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications" (Luke 7:50; 8:12; John 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 3:22-30; 4:5; 10:4; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:13 etc..). You don't need to add the word "alone" next to believe/faith in each of these passages to figure out that the words "believe/faith" stand alone in these many passages of scripture in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Do these passages of scripture say believe/faith and good works? No! So then it's faith (rightly understood IN CHRIST) alone.
Believers receive rewards by works (1 Corinthians 3:13-15) but not salvation.
Good works done in faith substantiate and confirm our faith. That is the sense that we are justified by works. Not saved by works, but shown to be righteous. In James 2:21, notice closely that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. No! The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22. The work of Abraham did not havesome kind of intrinsic merit to save him, but it proved or manifested the genuineness of his faith. That is the sense in which Abraham was justified by works. He was shown to be righteous. Man is saved through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8,9); yet genuine faith is substantiated and confirmed by good works (James 2:14-24). *Perfect harmony*
In James 2:15-16, the example of a "work" that James gives is: "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" To give a brother or sister these things needed for the body would certainly be a "good work" yet to neglect such a brother or sister and not give them the things needed for the body is to break the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) as found written in the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18).
In Matthew 22:37-40, we read: Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Please tell me, which good works could a Christian accomplish that are completely detached from these two great commandments which are found in the law of Moses? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Are there any genuine good works that Christians do which fall outside of loving God and our neighbor as ourself?
The Bible clearly teaches in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications" (Luke 7:50; 8:12; John 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 3:22-30; 4:5; 10:4; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:13 etc..). You don't need to add the word "alone" next to believe/faith in each of these passages to figure out that the words "believe/faith" stand alone in these many passages of scripture in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Do these passages of scripture say believe/faith and good works? No! So then it's faith (rightly understood IN CHRIST) alone.
Believers receive rewards by works (1 Corinthians 3:13-15) but not salvation.
Good works done in faith substantiate and confirm our faith. That is the sense that we are justified by works. Not saved by works, but shown to be righteous. In James 2:21, notice closely that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God accounting Abraham as righteous. No! The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22. The work of Abraham did not havesome kind of intrinsic merit to save him, but it proved or manifested the genuineness of his faith. That is the sense in which Abraham was justified by works. He was shown to be righteous. Man is saved through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8,9); yet genuine faith is substantiated and confirmed by good works (James 2:14-24). *Perfect harmony*
1) the thief is not an example of NT salvation. Heb 9:16,17. So Mk 16:16 or Acts 2:38 came into effect AFTER the thief died so he was not accountable to those verses as we today are who live AFTER these verses.
2) the bible does not say "the thief was never baptized" nor does the bible say "the thief was baptized" so no one can prove if he was or was not baptized.
In this case, it's hard to tell the different if one believe./ obey but not being good, I obey God but every day I am a rapist
It that possible?
I believe we can't produce love of itself but only if we abide to Jesus like branch abide to the tree. Then produce love. And love will produce good deed.
But we are in the process, not perfect yet. I think brother seabas is talking about catholic doctrine. Only if one become catholic or non catholic that never heard about catholic consider obey, then what ever they does as long as not left catholic faith, will be save, though must go to purgatory.
definition of merit
[SUP]1[/SUP]mer·it
noun \ˈmer-ət, ˈme-rət\ : a good quality or feature that deserves to be praised
: the quality of being good, important, or useful : value or worth
CloseStyle: MLA APA Chicago
Full Definition of MERIT
1
a obsolete : reward or punishment due
b : the qualities or actions that constitute the basis of one's deserts
c : a praiseworthy quality : virtue
d : character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem; also : achievement
2
: spiritual credit held to be earned by performance of righteous acts and to ensure future benefits
3
a plural : the substance of a legal case apart from matters of jurisdiction, procedure, or form
b : individual significance or justification
— mer·it·less \-ləs\ adjective
See merit defined for English-language learners »
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Examples of MERIT
Origin of MERIT
Middle English, from Anglo-French merite, from Latin meritum, from neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros partFirst Known Use: 14th century
Related to MERIT
Synonymscardinal virtue, distinction, excellency, grace, excellence, value, virtueAntonymsdeficiency, demerit, disvalueRelated Wordsadvantage, edge, plus, superiorityNear Antonymsblemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw; drawback, minus, negative
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Rhymes with MERIT
ferret, terret
[SUP]2[/SUP]merit
verb : to deserve (something, such as attention or good treatment) by being important or good
Full Definition of MERIT
transitive verb
: to be worthy of or entitled or liable to : earn
intransitive verb
1
obsolete : to be entitled to reward or honor
2
: deserve
See merit defined for English-language learners »
Examples of MERIT
First Known Use of MERIT
1526
Related to MERIT
Synonymsdeserve, earn, rateRelated Wordsentitle, qualify
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "merit"
Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "merit"
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definition of Obedient.
obe·di·ent
adjective \-ənt\
: willing to do what someone tells you to do or to follow a law, rule, etc. : willing to obey
It that possible?
I believe we can't produce love of itself but only if we abide to Jesus like branch abide to the tree. Then produce love. And love will produce good deed.
But we are in the process, not perfect yet. I think brother seabas is talking about catholic doctrine. Only if one become catholic or non catholic that never heard about catholic consider obey, then what ever they does as long as not left catholic faith, will be save, though must go to purgatory.
definition of merit
[SUP]1[/SUP]mer·it
noun \ˈmer-ət, ˈme-rət\ : a good quality or feature that deserves to be praised
: the quality of being good, important, or useful : value or worth
CloseStyle: MLA APA Chicago
Full Definition of MERIT
1
a obsolete : reward or punishment due
b : the qualities or actions that constitute the basis of one's deserts
c : a praiseworthy quality : virtue
d : character or conduct deserving reward, honor, or esteem; also : achievement
2
: spiritual credit held to be earned by performance of righteous acts and to ensure future benefits
3
a plural : the substance of a legal case apart from matters of jurisdiction, procedure, or form
b : individual significance or justification
— mer·it·less \-ləs\ adjective
See merit defined for kids »
Examples of MERIT
- She saw merit in both of the arguments.
- The study has no scientific merit.
Origin of MERIT
Middle English, from Anglo-French merite, from Latin meritum, from neuter of meritus, past participle of merēre to deserve, earn; akin to Greek meiresthai to receive as one's portion, meros partFirst Known Use: 14th century
Related to MERIT
Synonymscardinal virtue, distinction, excellency, grace, excellence, value, virtueAntonymsdeficiency, demerit, disvalueRelated Wordsadvantage, edge, plus, superiorityNear Antonymsblemish, defect, failing, fault, flaw; drawback, minus, negative
[+]more[-]hide
Rhymes with MERIT
ferret, terret
[SUP]2[/SUP]merit
verb : to deserve (something, such as attention or good treatment) by being important or good
Full Definition of MERIT
transitive verb
: to be worthy of or entitled or liable to : earn
intransitive verb
1
obsolete : to be entitled to reward or honor
2
: deserve
Examples of MERIT
- Both ideas merit further consideration.
- These issues merit special attention.
- His good work merits a raise.
- She did well enough to merit a second interview.
- The attention she received was not merited.
First Known Use of MERIT
1526
Related to MERIT
Synonymsdeserve, earn, rateRelated Wordsentitle, qualify
Learn More About MERIT
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "merit"
Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "merit"
SCRABBLE®
: Playable words you can make from "merit"
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: meritocracy
Previous Word in the Dictionary: meristic
All Words Near: merit
Merriam-Webster on Facebook
definition of Obedient.
obe·di·ent
adjective \-ənt\
: willing to do what someone tells you to do or to follow a law, rule, etc. : willing to obey