I think you have spoken well. No one is able to see what you are saying though. I see how you are seeing and saying it. And I appreciate that you say it in love rather than malice and pride. You are hindered by the fact that you use a word that is a trigger for many. But you speak with love and care for us and that love is what matters.
IMO - The area of contention is not really works per se - that is a smoke screen for the real issue - it's the belief that our loving Father throws His beloved children into hell for not doing good works.
This is the outcome of "doing good works to be saved or to keep being saved". This is an anti-Christ belief system.
They take passages that are descriptive of the life of Christ looks like when He is manifesting His life in and through us and then they make it a "work that needs to be done in order to be saved or to keep being saved." No matter how much "lip-service" or "mental assent" we give to being saved by grace through faith in Christ's work alone.
There are those that believe we are secure in Christ - that is the true believer - born from above - sealed with the Holy Spirit and then there are those that believe we are not - we need to save ourselves by what we do or don't do.
That is a works-righteousness belief system that actually nullifies the very grace of God that is in Christ from operating in our lives like it was meant to. We end up creating a religion of self-works.
Some believe that if we don't do good works - however this is defined by some is different because it changes depending on our denominational church teachings - that we are kicked out of Christ. That is complete foolishness and religious nonsense.
Good works are a fruit of His life in and through us as we are living by the spirit. Good works do not produce salvation - they are a by-product of His life that is in us.
The orange tree is still and orange tree even if it doesn't produce the "man seen" appearance of the actual fruit. Man look at the outward appearance - God looks on the heart.
Anyway - I am off for the day. Have a good one!
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