Hey Fran, No one states that we are not to do works after salvation...the premise is simple....
Before God men are saved and justified by faith void of any works <--Paul, Romans
Before MEN the invisible faith that saves and justifies before GOD void of works is SEEN by MEN in our works
The whole key to JAMES is SHOW ME YOUR FAITH......
I, EG, Mailmandan, ETC....have never denied that one who is saved will produce fruit and or works.....the contention is and has been do the works save us or keep us saved and the answer is NO
any work or fruit that is produced is the direct result of the faith and salvation one already possesses in JESUS
even nature teaches this....AN apple tree is an apple tree from the day it sprouts from seed (spiritual birth and salvation)
after a period of GROWTH and maturity it finally produces....it may only be one apple or it may be an abundance....but the fruit is the result...not the source!
Your first sentence is perfect. As perfect could be.
We are justified by faith void of any works. It is totally a work of God. Perfect. We are saved by grace through faith. OK.
The last two paragraphs.... Perfect.
Where does the problem come in? Here. You said:
I, EG, Mailmandan, ETC....have never denied that one who is saved will produce fruit and or works.....the contention is and has been do the works save us or keep us saved and the answer is NO
You ask do the works save us, NO. And this is right.
You ask do the works keep us saved, NO. And this is wrong.
THIS is where the big misunderstanding is.
You say that you and EG and Mailman all agree that after being saved, our faith PRODUCES good works.
Now, let's say we're saved and born again.
But we decide not to do works.
We're nasty on the job.
We treat our family badly.
We disrespect people, our parents.
We refuse to help the poor.
We're arrogant and prideful.
Do we CONTINUE to be saved?
What do you think of 1 Corinthians 9:27?
1 Corinthians 9:27New American Standard Bible (NASB)
27 but I [a]discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Paul is running the race and is saying that even HE could be disqualified if he does not do his job and preach the gospel and stay alert and live a sloppy life.
What is wrong with saying that we are to do our part once we're saved? Are we not responsible persons? Can we not accept the responsibility that comes with belonging to the Kingdom?
Are there any responsibilities in belonging to the Kingdom?
If the tree itself makes us produce the good fruit, which is works, why not accept the fact that works are a given if we are born again?