But as it stands brother, the scriptures agree with me that we are not saved only faith without works...
Below is what saint James says;
James 2:
14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?
24 You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
Sir, what are your takes on the above scriptures? And how do you also harmonise them with your belief?
In context::
James 14 KJV
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith,
and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith
without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
This above scripture is talking about people who claim to believe the LORD but do
NO works .. they have
not works ,, meaning they do not do any good deeds they do not have any genuine love..Obviously if a person is without any works in their life they are fakes and do not have the Faith in the LORD Jesus Christ..
Again those who have Faith will be motivated to do good works in one way or another.. But again their good works do not play a role in them paying for/ winning their own salvation.. Salvation is a gift from God through the Atonement of the LORD Jesus Christ..
Now i do believe those who do more works will receive a greater reward in eternity..
Matthew 16 KJV
27 For the
Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then
he shall reward every man according to his works.
Revelation 23 KJV
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me,
to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
And finally this passage supports my position clearly::
I Corinthians 3 KJV
11 For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any
man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 Every
man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Each man build upon the foundation that is the foundation of salvation through the Word of God.. The LORD Jesus Christ..A person has that foundation if they believe Jesus teachings and trust 100% in the atonement Jesus secured for their salvation... Once they are standing on that foundation they will be saved.. But in their lives they will go out and build their own works upon that secure foundation.. Some will do great works and will be a blessing to all around them.. Some will do less.. Some will have poor works.. But even the ones who do poorly will lose all their bonus reward.. But they themselves will be saved from the eternal lake of fire.. Because they built upon the Foundation of the saving Gospel of the LORD Jesus Christ..