Salvation Not Possible Without Works

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
it's been a while since i read your posts, and i didn't go re-read them today, but just

to let you know -- i was shocked that someone falsely claimed you were anything similar to the roman catholic whore.

i.e. whatever you posted that i read before, seemed to me to be against the whore, not for it.

and that puts those attacking you over on the wrong side.... perhaps anyway (subject to testing)...

anyway, hope you're (still?) on the right side! (being anti-antichrist is a good start !!!)
...someone made a huge assumption in thinking I was Catholic...
 
Dec 26, 2012
5,853
137
0
Saving or Sanctified? :)

No one is saying good works are not important, simply placing them in their correct order of the life of the Sanctified believer.
But if that person is not being sanctified can that person truly say they are saved?

Of course. :)
 
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
I think I will add my two cents in this thread discussion while I may.
1)I believe and affirm that salvation is by works. (hold your horses guys im not Catholic)
2)Since I believe and affirm that salvation is by works, I then, must answer the critical question of WHOs works merit salvation.
3)I believe that Christs Works alone merit salvation.
The assumption and trap 'faith only' advocates try to get people to fall into is that if you do a work then you are automatically trying to earn something.

http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/94634-free-gifts-come-conditions.html

Above is a link to a thread I began a few months ago just for when this very topic pop ups from time to time. The thread has examples from the bible of God's free gift coming with conditions yet working in meeting the condition did not earn the free gift in any way whatsoever.
 

p_rehbein

Senior Member
Sep 4, 2013
30,414
6,647
113
Maybe God grades on a curve? Does He hold a two day old Christian to the same standard as someone who has been in the faith for their whole life and has rescued thousands of orphans and made millions of dollars in widows house payments?

Why yes...He does...it's the standard of Jesus' victory over sin.
I like the premise of your statement, but let us not forget that to whom much is given, much is expected....... :) So, there MAY be some wiggle room there......... :)
 
Dec 26, 2012
5,853
137
0
Saving or Sanctified? :)

No one is saying good works are not important, simply placing them in their correct order of the life of the Sanctified believer.
But what too often is left out is premise number one

Hebrews 6

[SUP]6 [/SUP]And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

If one does not have faith,how can one please God,and how can any works that we do please God without faith?
:confused: :D

So faith therefor must be the starting point and everything else flows from it. Seems pretty simple to me. :cool:
 
S

Sirk

Guest
But what too often is left out is premise number one

Hebrews 6

[SUP]6 [/SUP]And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

If one does not have faith,how can one please God,and how can any works that we do please God without faith?
:confused: :D

So faith therefor must be the starting point and everything else flows from it. Seems pretty simple to me. :cool:
Amen to this!
 
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
Seabass,what it does boils down is what part works do play in salvation. No works in and of themselves can save. Our works do not and can not cover sin. It is only by faith God declares us righteous,(And that section of scripture can not be used BEYOND what Paul is talking about. That is a very narrow part of it) that is what Paul is clearly getting at in Romans chapters 2-5. But that faith CAN NOT ever be a do nothing faith. Which is what James is getting at.

James 2

[SUP]14 [/SUP]What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? [SUP]15 [/SUP]Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. [SUP]16 [/SUP]If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? [SUP]17 [/SUP]In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

[SUP]18 [/SUP]But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. [SUP]19 [/SUP]You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
[SUP]20 [/SUP]You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[SUP][d][/SUP]? [SUP]21 [/SUP]Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? [SUP]22 [/SUP]You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. [SUP]23 [/SUP]And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,”[SUP][e][/SUP] and he was called God’s friend. [SUP]24 [/SUP]You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

[SUP]25 [/SUP]In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? [SUP]26 [/SUP]As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

A faith that does not DO shows that the heart is actually in UNBELIEF. A faith that does shows that it is in BELIEF.


By the way Seabass I was brought up Lutheran so.... (We were never taught that a living faith CAN DO NOTHING and still be saved) A living faith MUST do because that is the very nature of a living faith.
Hi,

James said "by works a man is justified". If God saves, then why didn't James say "by God a man is justified"?

God has chosen to attach certain works (belief, repentance, confession, submitting to baptism) to His free gift of salvation, therefore GOD (not any man) has declared doing these particular works brings salvation. That is why James could say 'works justify' for doing those works God has chosen will save.

God's role in your salvation was to provide a way to be saved through Christ. Your role in salvation is to obey Christ (Heb 5:9) in doing these works in order to be saved. Those that choose to do these particular works of God are in that sense "saving themselves" (Acts 2:40; 1 Tim 4:16; 2 Cor 7:1; 1 Pet 1:22). Of course, you are not saving yourself by yourself but you are saving yourself in the sense you have chosen to do those particular works that GOD has chosen for man to do.

This also means faith must INCLUDE these particular works God has chosen would save, not be void of them. That is why a faith that is VOID of doing those particular works God has chosen to save men by cannot save for that faith is in disobedience in doing those particular works God has chosen for men to do.

Since God has chosen the particular works of belief, repentance, confession and submitting to baptism for remission of sins to save, this is why I have many time for a "no works" advocates to demonstrate:

How an unbeliever is saved?
How an impenitent person is saved?
How a denier of Christ is saved?
How one in his unremitted is saved?

They cannot. God has made these works CONDITIONS to receiving salvation and those that obey them will be saved.

Imagine a poster earlier said "salvation is not by obedience or doing the will of God".

That poster is saying one can disobey God's will in NOT believing, NOT repenting, NOT confessing Christ, NOT being baptized for remission of sins yet be saved anyway. Un-be-live-a-ble.

==============

Below is the link to my thread that proves works do NOT earn God's free gifts:
salvation is not by obedience or doing the will of God
 
Last edited:
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
Works have nothing to do with salvation. Works are a fruit of salvation. Without salvation, there are no "good works." Good works being Godly works. No man is good...........no man can on his own do good/Godly works. It is only be the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit who empowers man, that man is able to do good/Godly works........which equates to doing the will of God.............doing what God purposed him for. Man is saved for a purpose, and is prepared to do that purpose by the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit.

People really need to understand this. It is very important with regards to leading others astray, which will result in more severe judgment for those that do,
If works have nothing to do with salvation, then your are saying one does not have to do the works of believing, repenting, confessing Christ or submit to water baptism for remission of sin.......yet be saved anyway. Your have created a biblical impossibility.

Man certainly does have the ability to do what God says else all the commands God gave to men to do in the bible were/are pointless and senseless. Yet we know God gave commands, men had the ability to "do good" and obey those commands.

Ge 4:7 "If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him."

God shows Himself that man has the ability to do well or choose to not do well.

Man does not have to first have an "indwelling power of the Holy Spirit" to do well. That idea puts moral culpability, fault, blame upon God/ the Holy Spirit for those that do not do well and therefore should be rejected.
 
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
But if one does NOT HAVE good works that come out of faith,can that person say they have a saving faith?
Eph 2:10; Matt 25:31-46 prove that one who is a Christian MUST do good works, else be lost.
So works have an essential, necessary role in salvation in the life of the Christian.
 
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
But if that person is not being sanctified can that person truly say they are saved?

Of course. :)
The $64,000 question: can one be a "sanctified believer" yet do not any good works at all but be saved anyway?

The faith only advocate will hem and haw about giving a straight up "yes' or 'no' answer.

They cannot answer "yes" for that goes against many bible passages that teach the Christian must do good works, the Christian has been "before ordained' by God to walk in good works.

They cannot answer "no", of course, for that kills their 'no works at all are necessary to salvation" meme.

Since FOA argue works must earn something, do those good works a Christian do earn him salvation?
 
Last edited:
S

Sirk

Guest
..not Mormon either...
Church of Christ

23. We believe a temple will be built in this generation, in Independence, Missouri, wherein Christ will reveal himself and endow his servants whom he chooses with power to preach the gospel in all the world to every kindred, tongue and people, that the promises of God to Israel may be fulfilled.

(Mic 4:1-2; Mal 3:1-4; 3 Ne 10:4; Eth 6:8)
 
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
Church of Christ

23. We believe a temple will be built in this generation, in Independence, Missouri, wherein Christ will reveal himself and endow his servants whom he chooses with power to preach the gospel in all the world to every kindred, tongue and people, that the promises of God to Israel may be fulfilled.

(Mic 4:1-2; Mal 3:1-4; 3 Ne 10:4; Eth 6:8)
I think Mormons refer to themselves as 'Church of Christ of Latter Day Saints'.


Church of Christ

Note how the above link says "At the death of Joseph Smith, Jr. the Church was cast into disarray."
 
Last edited:
E

ember

Guest
Hey there mr fishy:

what God really does not like ? people confusing their works with His...

God's COMPLETED work of salvation through His only Son, Christ the Lord, who is seated at His right hand, has fulfilled the requirement of the death penalty for sin!

Yes! Isn't that wonderful? We can rest assured that God has given us this gift of salvation and by His Spirit He will keep us until that day we go to be with Him and all the Saints...those called by His Name...in Glory!!

I tell you...that is so exciting...sometimes I wanna go there RIGHT NOW! but God decides when that time will be and until then, He has things for me to do on this earth

Things like encouraging those who are hurting, praying for others, giving when and where I can, praising and worshipping Him in spirit and in truth throughout the day, praying for folks who make me wanna give 'em a swift kick (that's a little harder but God and I are working on it together...He has SO much patience), doing what I can physically to help maintain the home my husband and I have, being helpful instead of hurtful...and oh so much more

Those are the works God encourages in me and enables me to do...BUT...that is because He has already shown mercy in drawing me and saving me and keeping me!

God places us where we are to be a witness for Him and to teach us and make us all that He wants us to be....and mostly, He wants us to grow up into the Image of His Son...our Savior, Jesus Christ Romans 8

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[SUP]i[/SUP] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
 
Mar 12, 2014
6,433
29
0
Hey there mr fishy:

what God really does not like ? people confusing their works with His...

God's COMPLETED work of salvation through His only Son, Christ the Lord, who is seated at His right hand, has fulfilled the requirement of the death penalty for sin!

Yes! Isn't that wonderful? We can rest assured that God has given us this gift of salvation and by His Spirit He will keep us until that day we go to be with Him and all the Saints...those called by His Name...in Glory!!

I tell you...that is so exciting...sometimes I wanna go there RIGHT NOW! but God decides when that time will be and until then, He has things for me to do on this earth

Things like encouraging those who are hurting, praying for others, giving when and where I can, praising and worshipping Him in spirit and in truth throughout the day, praying for folks who make me wanna give 'em a swift kick (that's a little harder but God and I are working on it together...He has SO much patience), doing what I can physically to help maintain the home my husband and I have, being helpful instead of hurtful...and oh so much more

Those are the works God encourages in me and enables me to do...BUT...that is because He has already shown mercy in drawing me and saving me and keeping me!

God places us where we are to be a witness for Him and to teach us and make us all that He wants us to be....and mostly, He wants us to grow up into the Image of His Son...our Savior, Jesus Christ Romans 8

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[SUP]i[/SUP] have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
I have never argued MY works save, that is a straw man. What I have said is doing GOD'S works that HE has given man (belief repentance, confession, baptism) to do saves.

There is a difference between one doing his own works and one submitting to God's works/commands, Rom 10:3.
 
S

Sirk

Guest
I have never argued MY works save, that is a straw man. What I have said is doing GOD'S works that HE has given man (belief repentance, confession, baptism) to do saves.

There is a difference between one doing his own works and one submitting to God's works/commands, Rom 10:3.
You employ a psychological gimmick to trick yourself into thinking your faith is stronger than it is.