Faith Alone?

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eternally-gratefull

Guest
Romans 2:13 is often used by people works salvationists, including (Roman Catholics, Campbellites, Mormons, etc..) to say that we must keep the Law (along with faith in Jesus) to be saved, but this isn’t so. Paul was talking to the Jews (Romans 2:17) about their judging of the Gentiles and then points them to their own Law (standard of judgment) and hypocrisy and tells them that the doers of the Law are just before God (v. 13).

The standard they wanted to keep was the Law. Paul was telling them that they could be justified before God by keeping it. So, keep the Law. *Keep all of it, but if you don’t, you’re in trouble. It is the doers of the Law who are justified before God. He tells them that the Gentiles who didn't have the Law according to the knowledge of the Jews were instinctively keeping the Law (v. 14) and will be judged accordingly. How much more the Jews?

*Paul was showing the self-righteous Jews who judged the Gentiles that they were not able to keep a perfect standard. *They were hypocrites. *This is why Paul tells us in the very next chapter in Romans 3:28 that we are justified by faith apart from the works of the Law. *No one is able to keep a perfect standard of the Law. *If you fail even once (stumble in one point), then you become guilty of it all.

James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” Galatians 3:10, “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

The Jews (and anyone else) can be justified before God by keeping the Law, but he or she has to be 100% perfect. *A person can’t fail even once--ever. *But all have failed (Romans 3:23; 6:23), that is why we must be justified before God by faith (Romans 3:24-28, 4:2-6; 5:1).

James 2:24 is misinterpreted by works salvationists. In the first place, James is not using the word "justified" to mean "accounted as righteous" but is "shown to be righteous." James is discussing the proof of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works), not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3). Works bear out the justification that already came by faith. *In James 2:14, we read of one who says-claims he has faith but has no works (to back up his claim). 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/dead faith. *Please listen closely - *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. Simple!

In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word for justified "dikaioo" #1344 is:

1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads, "acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads, "they declared God just.." This is the sense in which God was justified, "shown to be righteous" not accounted as righteous.

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds."

The harmony of Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:24 is seen in the differing ways that Paul and James use the term "justified." Paul, when he uses the term, refers to the legal (judicial) act of God by which He accounts the sinner as righteous (Romans 3:24; 4:2-3; 5:1). James, however is using the term to describe those who would prove the genuineness of their faith by the works that they do. Man is saved through faith and not works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is vindicated, substantiated, evidenced by works (James 2:14-24). *Please pay close attention - The word "alone" in regards to salvation through faith "in Christ alone" conveys the message that 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.*

Amen Brother

Sadly, I think some people just may never get the simple truth.
 
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My thoughts on faith and works..

Faith is not what I do to get God to respond to me. This is works - dead works.

Faith is when we are immovably confident in the character and motive of God.

Understanding the finished work of the cross really takes the struggle out of faith. Faith is simply receiving what God through Jesus has already provided through grace.

Faith can't make God do anything. Faith just receives what He has already DONE by His grace.

If we don't believe the work is finished - then faith will become a work.
 
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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.
Maybe if we view it that we are saved by faith alone, we will want to do actions out of love for God, not with a view they will better enable us to get to heaven, isn't the same thing

Do you think Moses and Abraham had actions as a result of loving God, or because they thought their actions would make sure they got to heaven?
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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To eternally- grateful, # 162
You say: “With all do respect. the passage says faith not works.” Response: The Scriptures speak of both works of faith (1 Thess. 1: 3) and works of the law or works of merit. (Gal. 2: 16; Titus 3: 5) The works that save are works of faith and they are by definition “of faith”. Therefore, IMO to be saved by a work of faith is to be saved by faith.

You say: “faith minus anything is the same as saying faith alone. If anything other that faith was required. Paul would have been misleading people by not saying, we are saved by grace through faith plus (whatever else is required)” Response: God has chosen to reveal His will through the narrative form, not as a law or systematic theology. We do not necessarily get the whole story at one site. For example Paul did not say anything about “calling on the name of the Lord” in the Ephesian letter but he did in the Roman letter. We are not saved “by grace through faith plus (whatever else is required),” we are saved by faith which works in love. The latter appropriately keeps the emphasis on faith. However faith without love is nothing and faith without works of faith is dead and useless.
You say: “So we are not saved by works of merit, But we must work to merit salvation..
That makes no sense. This makes no sense, You said I was wrong, by posted something which s in agreement with what I said.”
Response: No, my friend, that is not what I am saying. I am saying we are not saved by works of merit, but we must do those things God has commanded in order to perfect our faith (James 2: 22) We are saved by a perfected faith and perfected love. Both are perfected by keeping His commandments (1 John 2: 5) and paradoxically we obey through faith (Heb. 11: 8) and love (John 14: 15). The parable of the unprofitable servant tells us that if we did all that God commanded we would still be an unprofitable servant; we have done only that which we should have done. (Luke 17: 10) God bless.
The Bible does not say that we are saved by works of faith. It says we are saved through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9). Being saved through faith and being saved by works of faith "works produced out of faith" is mutually exclusive. Your formula is still salvation by works no matter how much you try and sugar coat it. Any works that you "add" to faith in Christ as a supplemental means to salvation becomes works of merit. *Notice the words "work of" faith, "labor of" love and "patience of" hope in 1 Thessalonians 1:3. These are the practical outworking of the Thessalonians' conversion. The "work" the Thessalonians do is a result or consequence of their faith. So too their "labor" flows from love and their "endurance" comes from hope. Work "of" faith does not mean that faith in essence is the work accomplished. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Their work is a result or consequence "of" their faith. The work done is "of" faith or done "out of" faith. These are good works in which we are saved FOR and NOT by (Ephesians 2:8-10). Faith was already established at conversion (saved through faith, not works) and then the work followed as a result or consequence "of" faith (created in Christ Jesus FOR good works). Faith is the root and good works are the fruit of salvation. You mix this up.

As I said in post #165, the Bible clearly teaches in Ephesians 2:8 that we are saved through faith, not faith and baptism or faith and works. Actually, the Bible clearly teaches in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications." (Luke 8:12; John 1:12; 3:15,16,18; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 3:22-28; 4:5; 5:1; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:13 etc..). You don't need to add the word "alone" next to belief/faith in each of these passages to figure out that the words belief/faith "stand alone" in these many many passages of scripture in connection with receiving salvation. Do these passages say faith "plus something else?" NO! So then it's faith (rightly understood) IN CHRIST alone. We are saved through faith FIRST and THEN our faith works through love. Our faith does not work through love in order to save us but BECAUSE we are saved. You put the cart before the horse, just as you do with faith and works. Paul did not have to say anything about "calling on the name of the Lord" in these verses in which he clearly stated that we are saved through faith because we already called on the name of the Lord when we received Him through faith. Faith that does not work through love and produces no works is not genuine faith in the first place or else it would work through love and produce good works, but we are still saved through faith and not through acts of love/good works which follow. 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. James is discussing the proof of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works), not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3).

You are still saying that we are saved based on the merits of accomplishing certain works, which still equates to salvation by works. Not saved by works of merit but saved by accomplishing a check list of works is sugar coated double talk. James 2:22 - ..by works faith was perfected/completed means bring to maturity, carry to the end, to complete like love in 1 John 4:18. It doesn't mean that Abraham was finally saved based on the merit of his works when he offered up Isaac on the altar, which is when the faith of Abraham was said to be perfected or made complete by what he did. When Abraham performed the good work in Genesis 22; he fulfilled the expectations created by the pronouncement of his faith in Genesis 15:6, *but at what point was Abraham's faith accounted to him as righteousness? *In James 2:21, notice closely that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God's 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 have some kind of intrinsic merit to save his soul, but it proved or manifested the genuineness of his faith. This is the sense in which Abraham was justified by works, "shown to be righteous." We are saved by faith in the perfect One and then afterwards, our faith is perfected by works. You have this backwards because you teach salvation by works. Believers "keep" His commandments (the word "keep" comes from the Greek word "tereo" - Strongs #5083 and means to keep, to guard, to watch over, preserve and not sinless, perfect obedience to all of His commandments) BECAUSE we are saved and not to become saved. Acts of obedience that we accomplish by or "out of" faith (that is already established) are WORKS and WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, BUT THROUGH FAITH IN CHRIST. *YOU JUST CANNOT GRASP THIS. :( The point of the parable of the unprofitable servant was that a servant should expect no special reward for doing what was his duty in the first place, not that we are saved by having done that which we should have done.

You still need to repent and believe the gospel plain talk. Please prayerfully consider the truth and God bless. I will continue to pray for you.
 
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Hoffco

Guest
Anyone who reads James and Hebrews know that faith without works will never save the sinner. The Jews after being physically saved from Egypt never left the idolls of Egypt; God sworn that ecause of the "unbelief and disobedience", chs.3&4. they were not allowed to enter the Canaan land and the Jews of paul's day were in the same danger of missing Christ and being lost. The basic truth was a "repentance from dead works to faith toward God". We must "follw that holiness without which we will not see God." ch.10:12:14.
 
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Rom.3:21-5:17 and the Book of James are NOT harmoning trues; They are contrasting trues. Each with its own story to tell Truth, truth is often parallel or contrasting. The book of James harmonizes with Rom.chps. 1,2,5:18= ch.8 Both passages tell of the powerful transformation of the New Birth,(Not Justification). The harmonizing true is in Romans 2:13 " It is not the hearers of the law who are justified ,but the Doers of the law who will be Justified." This harmonizes with James 2:24."Knowing that a man is justified by works aand not by Faith
ALONE."
Talking about salvation;so then what about John 3:16.Does scripture Interpret and harmonize scripture?sounds like you are saying no.

GOD Is not the author of confusion.
 
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Anyone who reads James and Hebrews know that faith without works will never save the sinner. The Jews after being physically saved from Egypt never left the idolls of Egypt; God sworn that ecause of the "unbelief and disobedience", chs.3&4. they were not allowed to enter the Canaan land and the Jews of paul's day were in the same danger of missing Christ and being lost. The basic truth was a "repentance from dead works to faith toward God". We must "follw that holiness without which we will not see God." ch.10:12:14.
Unless you can harmonize scripture your words will cause confusion.
 
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KennethC

Guest
Talking about salvation;so then what about John 3:16.Does scripture Interpret and harmonize scripture?sounds like you are saying no.

GOD Is not the author of confusion.
Yes it does still harmonize as keep reading on down from John 3:16 to John 3:21, and you will still see the same "DO" action word is used for believers here as well.
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
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You say,” Yes, but rom 6 is not water baptism, it is actually a work of God baptizing us into Christ.” I assume that you are speaking of the baptism with the Spirit unless you are making up a third baptism. One person who posts on this forum became very innovative, claiming there are four baptisms. Hmm?? Again I must respectfully disagree with your statement for the following reasons:
(1) There is only one baptism that applies to Christians today. (Eph. 4: 5) That one baptism has two elements, water and Spirit. Similarly, there is one spiritual birth which also has two elements, water and Spirit. (John 3: 5) We cannot be born (come forth) of water and Spirit unless we have first been immersed in both elements. Cornelius needed both the baptism with Spirit and water.
(2) The baptism of Rom. 6: 3- 7) has to do with death, the death of our Lord and death of our old self. The baptism with the Spirit has to do with life, regeneration and renewal. We need the baptism in both elements, water and Spirit, to complete God’s purpose in our lives.
(3) The baptism of Rom. 6: 3-7 has to do with freedom from sin, forgiveness, which is given when we die to self (Rom. 6: 6, 7) and when we obey that form of teaching within the gospel. (Rom. 6: 17, 18)
(4) The baptism with the Spirit is a promise, contingent upon repentance and baptism in the name of Christ, which is a command of our Lord.
(5) In the paradigm of consecration of priests under the Law (Ex. 29: 1-9) the priests were---washed with water from the laver which was before the tent of meeting--- clothed with the priestly garments---anointed with the oil gladness which was representative of the anointing with the Holy Spirit. This foreshadows our own consecration as priests to God (1 Peter 2: 5, 9; 1 John 2; 20, 27) and explains why Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to fulfill all righteousness. The baptism of Romans 6 results in freedom from sin or forgiveness which is accompanied by a washing with water for forgiveness as in Act 22: 16 and Ephesians 5: 22 and Hebrews 10: 22). This washing, baptism, comes before the anointing with the oil of gladness.
(6) The baptism of Gal 3: 26, 27, into Christ, is the same as the baptism of Roman 6, which is also, into Christ, they are both baptisms in water and they both result in being clothed with Christ. IMO that corresponds with the priests being clothed in priestly garments (Ex. 29: 5, Isa. 61: 10). God not only forgives our sins but He clothes us with the attributes of Christ which include life, righteousness and sonship.
(7) The baptism of Romans 6 has to do with obedience to that form of teaching—death—burial—resurrection. (Rom. 6: 17, 18) The baptism with the Spirit is a promise and not a command of God.
(8) The Christian community believed and taught for 1500 years the baptism of Romans 6 was baptism in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit before the likes of John Calvin came along with his tulip.
(9) The baptism of Romans 6 is not a picture of the reality of baptism with the Spirit; the baptism of Romans 6 is a washing that symbolizes the washing with the blood of Christ which is initiated when we obey. (1 Peter 1: 2, Heb. 10: 22; 9: 14)
God bless.
 
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Hoffco

Guest
Plaintalk, You are wrong to think of just one baptism, with two elements. "Baptisms" is used in Heb. 6 and the "Bap of the Spirit" is the same as the Spirit's new birth in Jh.3:5
Rom.6: is "Spirit"bap and has nothing to do with water 1Cor12:13 is the "Spirit" Bap. and saves us ,with the new birth, "a new creation" 2Cor 5:17we seek the new birth but we are passive as GOD does the work in our hearts as a pure gift of GRACE, ( Power and Mercy). . , 2Cor.5:17. and Rom.6:22-23 Eph.2:1-10 Col. 2:12-13The Circumcision of the Spirit is the same as the Bap. of the Spirit. The FAITH and Good WORKS follow GRACE as the results of our salvation by GRACE. The water bap. "saves", 1 Peter 3:21, in the sense of our Confess of Jesus as LORD saves, Rom.10:9-10, as Repentance and Faith and Works saves as our resp. to GRACE. "saves" usHeb.5:9 etc..
 
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Hoffco

Guest
You "faith alone" people need to stop compareing "apples with oranges" it is not the way to "rightly relate scripture" Salvation has two sides, God's "REAL" side that "really saves" and our side which responses to HIS salvation in our heart. Only God can change the Nature, "heart"
 
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Hoffco

Guest
Kenneth, you have a good handle on John 3:3,5,7,16, 21 36. If people would read the whole setting and don't TWI
 
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Hoffco

Guest
I lost half of my post. "TWIST" the verses out of context, we would all agree. The Fi5th Gospel,
Romans, is so important to nail down right, God's order is Sanctification first,(chps.1-2-5:18-ch.8 and Justification second, Rom.3:21- ch.5:18.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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You say,” Yes, but rom 6 is not water baptism, it is actually a work of God baptizing us into Christ.” I assume that you are speaking of the baptism with the Spirit unless you are making up a third baptism. One person who posts on this forum became very innovative, claiming there are four baptisms. Hmm?? Again I must respectfully disagree with your statement for the following reasons:
(1) There is only one baptism that applies to Christians today. (Eph. 4: 5) That one baptism has two elements, water and Spirit. Similarly, there is one spiritual birth which also has two elements, water and Spirit. (John 3: 5) We cannot be born (come forth) of water and Spirit unless we have first been immersed in both elements. Cornelius needed both the baptism with Spirit and water.
(2) The baptism of Rom. 6: 3- 7) has to do with death, the death of our Lord and death of our old self. The baptism with the Spirit has to do with life, regeneration and renewal. We need the baptism in both elements, water and Spirit, to complete God’s purpose in our lives.
(3) The baptism of Rom. 6: 3-7 has to do with freedom from sin, forgiveness, which is given when we die to self (Rom. 6: 6, 7) and when we obey that form of teaching within the gospel. (Rom. 6: 17, 18)
(4) The baptism with the Spirit is a promise, contingent upon repentance and baptism in the name of Christ, which is a command of our Lord.
(5) In the paradigm of consecration of priests under the Law (Ex. 29: 1-9) the priests were---washed with water from the laver which was before the tent of meeting--- clothed with the priestly garments---anointed with the oil gladness which was representative of the anointing with the Holy Spirit. This foreshadows our own consecration as priests to God (1 Peter 2: 5, 9; 1 John 2; 20, 27) and explains why Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist to fulfill all righteousness. The baptism of Romans 6 results in freedom from sin or forgiveness which is accompanied by a washing with water for forgiveness as in Act 22: 16 and Ephesians 5: 22 and Hebrews 10: 22). This washing, baptism, comes before the anointing with the oil of gladness.
(6) The baptism of Gal 3: 26, 27, into Christ, is the same as the baptism of Roman 6, which is also, into Christ, they are both baptisms in water and they both result in being clothed with Christ. IMO that corresponds with the priests being clothed in priestly garments (Ex. 29: 5, Isa. 61: 10). God not only forgives our sins but He clothes us with the attributes of Christ which include life, righteousness and sonship.
(7) The baptism of Romans 6 has to do with obedience to that form of teaching—death—burial—resurrection. (Rom. 6: 17, 18) The baptism with the Spirit is a promise and not a command of God.
(8) The Christian community believed and taught for 1500 years the baptism of Romans 6 was baptism in water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit before the likes of John Calvin came along with his tulip.
(9) The baptism of Romans 6 is not a picture of the reality of baptism with the Spirit; the baptism of Romans 6 is a washing that symbolizes the washing with the blood of Christ which is initiated when we obey. (1 Peter 1: 2, Heb. 10: 22; 9: 14)
God bless.
All of your arguments on salvation by water baptism have already been refuted in this thread on multiple pages - http://christianchat.com/bible-disc...ches-baptism-commanded-remission-sins-23.html You are not fooling any genuine believers with your perverted gospel of salvation by "water and works" as you continue to "parrot off" what your church of Christ predecessors before you have taught.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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You "faith alone" people need to stop compareing "apples with oranges" it is not the way to "rightly relate scripture" Salvation has two sides, God's "REAL" side that "really saves" and our side which responses to HIS salvation in our heart. Only God can change the Nature, "heart"
Don't confuse people who TRUST IN CHRIST ALONE FOR SALVATION AND NOT IN WORKS (Ephesians 2:8,9) with "faith alone" - per James - people who say/claim they have faith but they have no works (to back up their claim). Where is the fruit? Such people do not have genuine faith, but an empty profession of faith/a dead faith (James 2:14-20). Here is the balance that too often gets out of balance. Man is saved through faith and not by works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is vindicated, substantiated, evidenced by works (James 2:14-24).

The word "alone" in regards to salvation through faith "in Christ alone" conveys the message that 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 3:24-28; 4:2-6; 5:1); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). Simple!
 
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Yes it does still harmonize as keep reading on down from John 3:16 to John 3:21, and you will still see the same "DO" action word is used for believers here as well.
Would you interpret In your own words how John 3:16 says whosoever believeth and deeds harmonize.

I would say salvation first and then sanctification will follow and only GOD can clean the Inside.
 

plaintalk

Senior Member
Jul 20, 2015
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To eternally- grateful, # 162
You say: “With all do respect. the passage says faith not works.” Response: The Scriptures speak of both works of faith (1 Thess. 1: 3) and works of the law or works of merit. (Gal. 2: 16; Titus 3: 5) The works that save are works of faith and they are by definition “of faith”. Therefore, IMO to be saved by a work of faith is to be saved by faith.
You say: “faith minus anything is the same as saying faith alone. If anything other that faith was required. Paul would have been misleading people by not saying, we are saved by grace through faith plus (whatever else is required)” Response: God has chosen to reveal His will through the narrative form, not as a law or systematic theology. We do not necessarily get the whole story at one site. For example Paul did not say anything about “calling on the name of the Lord” in the Ephesian letter but he did in the Roman letter. We are not saved “by grace through faith plus (whatever else is required),” we are saved by faith which works in love. The latter appropriately keeps the emphasis on faith. However faith without love is nothing and faith without works of faith is dead and useless.
You say: “So we are not saved by works of merit, But we must work to merit salvation..
That makes no sense. This makes no sense, You said I was wrong, by posted something which s in agreement with what I said.”
Response: No, my friend, that is not what I am saying. I am saying we are not saved by works of merit, but we must do those things God has commanded in order to perfect our faith (James 2: 22) We are saved by a perfected faith and perfected love. Both are perfected by keeping His commandments (1 John 2: 5; James 2: 22) and paradoxically we obey through faith (Heb. 11: 8) and love (John 14: 15). The parable of the unprofitable servant tells us that if we did all that God commanded we would still be an unprofitable servant; we have done only that which we should have done. (Luke 17: 10) God bless.
 
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Hoffco

Guest
Sorry, Seed-time -Har, You mis understand Regeneration, It is the First work of sal.. God chose you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth"2Thess2:13 "you are washed, sanctified, Justified" 1Cor.6::11 "called" then "justified" Rom.6:29-30 Sanctification comes FIRST. Nic. had to be "born of God" FIRST to "SEE" the KofG. Jh.3 Paul was born again First. Acts, 9. I was make alive , then I received Jesus. 1961; Before I was born of God, I received Jesus as my savior two times, BUT, NO CHANGE. The washing of regeneration, Tit.3:5, is not the same as being "born of the water " in Jh.3:5 That is the natural, "flesh " birth of our mother, check the context of Jh.3. "born of flesh, is flesh,sinful.
 
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Sorry, Seed-time -Har, You mis understand Regeneration, It is the First work of sal.. God chose you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and faith in the truth"2Thess2:13 "you are washed, sanctified, Justified" 1Cor.6::11 "called" then "justified" Rom.6:29-30 Sanctification comes FIRST. Nic. had to be "born of God" FIRST to "SEE" the KofG. Jh.3 Paul was born again First. Acts, 9. I was make alive , then I received Jesus. 1961; Before I was born of God, I received Jesus as my savior two times, BUT, NO CHANGE. The washing of regeneration, Tit.3:5, is not the same as being "born of the water " in Jh.3:5 That is the natural, "flesh " birth of our mother, check the context of Jh.3. "born of flesh, is flesh,sinful.
John 3:16 Is straightforward .Sometime people will not let the bible get In the way of what they believe.