Research: Majority of Americans Believe Works Are the Key to Salvation

  • 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.

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
Why complicate salvation?...

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
(Joh 6:29)
And this also Word of Jesus

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

The problem is how you understand that john 6:29 not contradict Matt 25 :34-36
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
And this also Word of Jesus

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

The problem is how you understand that john 6:29 not contradict Matt 25 :34-36
Here is how...

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(Joh 5:24)
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
Here is how...

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
(Joh 5:24)
Do you think thi verse contradict these

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
Seem to me some people think john 5:24 contradict Matt 25:34-36

In john Jesus say salvation by believing
In Matt Jesus judge base helping poor or not

Is there correlation between faith and loving work?

Are those verse related and consistence or contradict?
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,945
863
113
I have delved into what some works are many times. Of course believing isa work as long as it leads to action. Before you think otherwise, simply praying is works, waiting onthe Lord is works, anythiing or action for our Father is a work.
I would disagree with faith being a work.

Since faith without works would be a contradictory statement.
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
Is that posible a man have faith but not doing this

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 
May 22, 2020
2,382
358
83
I would disagree with faith being a work.

Since faith without works would be a contradictory statement.

WOW...not true.
The Bible says...faith without works is dead.
That means that one must do God's works also and that faith alone will not meet God's commandments.
In no way does that INFER that works alone will save you.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
113
Do you think thi verse contradict these

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
It doesn’t apply to the Christian, I believe it’s a judgment of the nations (v.33) in how they treated the Jews during the tribulation.
 
Mar 4, 2020
8,614
3,691
113
Jesus said faith is a work:

John 6:28,29
28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

The work that God does, like sending down mana to feed Israel tin the desert, is sending down Jesus, “the bread of life.”

John 6:33
35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Israel literally ate the mana from heaven which was their work. If they didn’t eat the bread they would have died from starvation. Jesus is the “bread” from heaven sent down by God. So believing Jesus is being compared to eating bread. That’s how believing in Jesus is a work; it requires some action on our part. People who don’t believe in Jesus will die.

Matthew 4:4
4But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

John 1:1,14
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,)

I know this is a bit of a convoluted topic, but starting to connect the dots now?
 
Oct 6, 2021
496
83
28
The obvious answer.

The New Testament will not condense into; by grace through faith plus the law.

Grace and law do not mix. It is one or the other.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.

Romans 6:15
What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace?
As I have stated earlier, any arguments any of us have over Works and Grace, are because we argue from two different foundations. Paul and I argue from the position, Jesus was the Author of Salvation. You and many other argue from the position, Paul was the Author of Salvation. Paul not only calls Jesus the Author of Salvation, in his Gospel, but says he built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you built on something, that on which you build is a foundation. I hope you and many others, wake up to that reality before it's too late.

I can find Pauls teaching in the Gospel of Christ, but I can not find yours.
 

Jackson123

Senior Member
Feb 6, 2014
11,769
1,371
113
It doesn’t apply to the Christian, I believe it’s a judgment of the nations (v.33) in how they treated the Jews during the tribulation.
So you believe non Christian will save as long as do this

34Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
 
Oct 6, 2021
496
83
28
the man asked "what may i do to inherit eternal life"

is that our faith, that we "do" in order to inherit salvation?
or that we believe?
We do what he tells us to do...because we believe he is the Son of God.
Be honest now....According to Jesus...in which category do you fall?
“Therefore, whosoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him unto a wise man, who built his house upon a rock.

And every one that hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them, shall be likened unto a foolish man, who built his house upon the sand;
Matthew 7:24,26

I hope you have a better understanding of what it means to "Do" now.



and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?
(John 11:25-26)
Do you believe this?
If you don't, then so be it.
but if you do -- then clearly Matthew 19 is much more complex than the superficial gloss you presented, and rightly interpreting it is going to take much more discussion.
if we know the gospel, then what He says to this man should smack us like a brick wall! as it did the disciples - because look, what did they say when they saw this? they were amazed, and said who then can be saved??
Absolutely!! But in the context of what I wrote in the other part of your post.
Also....It can't be both clear and complex. It's clear to me, but you have made it complex.
 
Oct 6, 2021
496
83
28
1) I don't preach salvation by works, I preach good works are the EVIDENCE of having received salvation and the absence of good works are the evidence it has not yet been received.,
Just saw this and it surprised me a little,... For this is an area in which I must disagree....
I teach Salvation... by Good Works....but it's not as simple as that.
To be clear...of what I know to be the Truth.
Good Works...are works which generate love in the believer. And a love for your neighbor which was not there before you did the Good Works. These Good Works are what changes the heart. Any work done out of love... Wether it be keeping the Laws of omission or of commission.....are good works.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,945
863
113
WOW...not true.
The Bible says...faith without works is dead.
That means that one must do God's works also and that faith alone will not meet God's commandments.
In no way does that INFER that works alone will save you.
What are you talking about?

Someone previously stated that faith was a work, to believe is a work, in itself.

I pointed out that faith and works are separate entities.

Works, your effort, your will in action, follow from your faith. A legal work or a good work, is an exertion of self to achieve a goal.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,945
863
113
As I have stated earlier, any arguments any of us have over Works and Grace, are because we argue from two different foundations. Paul and I argue from the position, Jesus was the Author of Salvation. You and many other argue from the position, Paul was the Author of Salvation. Paul not only calls Jesus the Author of Salvation, in his Gospel, but says he built upon the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you built on something, that on which you build is a foundation. I hope you and many others, wake up to that reality before it's too late.

I can find Pauls teaching in the Gospel of Christ, but I can not find yours.
So what is your Church denomination?

How are you saved?

Who taught you the primary doctrines of Christianity?
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
After 31/2 year is milenium isn't it's.
Is that mean after1798 milenium an we are in it?
We can't forget about the 2300 days. The 70 weeks are cut off from it and the 70 Weeks begin in 457 B.C. for reasons I've shared before here:

Cyrus' and Darius' decrees are too general to fit the prophecy's description, which leaves Artaxerxes' 457 B.C. decree and his 444 B.C. reinstatement of it, after it was suspended pending investigation of accusations of Tobias and company against the Jews.

457 B.C. is the only one that makes sense. It has Messiah the Prince being baptized in 27 A.D. which lines up with surrounding historic events, for instance, such as Luke 3 telling us it happened the year Herod, Pilate, and Caesar Augustus reigned together, which history points to as being 27 A.D.

So, although 1798 saw the reign of the papacy end with a "deadly wound" after which the deadly wound would be healed, and all the world would wonder after the beast, the 2300 days didn't end until 1844. Next up on the prophetic timeline is the coming of Jesus, which will then commence the 1,000 years.
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
Paul definitely spoke directly to the Jews and rebuked them. As the verse below states.

Romans 2:23-24
You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” just as it is written.

The letter to the Romans also explains the history of the law and Israel, to the Gentiles.

This is important to understand because Paul is discussing the law and faith. If one assumes that Paul is talking only to the Gentiles, then one would assume naturally. That the Gentiles are under the law, which they are not.

Romans 4:13-15
For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the Law are heirs, then faith is made void and the promise is nullified; for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

If you place the Gentiles under the law, then you are subjecting the Gentiles to the wrath of God.

where there is no law, there also is no violation.
Romans 2:12 KJV
[12] For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

Gentiles who do the law without having the law are OK, but Gentiles who don't do it are as condemned as those who have the law and don't do it.

Let's be real: Paul's talking about the conscience all men have but most refuse to follow. Even savages in the deepest recesses of the jungle know it ain't right to steal from another. They by this are "under the law" having not the law.
 
Aug 3, 2019
3,744
507
113
however if you think that makes me catholic - well, it does in the sense that 'catholic' literally means 'general' - but i am not a member of the RCC by any means, and you have a very perverse idea of what catholics actually believe, as witnessed earlier in this thread by two, both me giving you a link to actual catholic doctrine & by an actual catholic answering your slander.
You believe dead folks ain't dead, Mary and the "saints" are glorified in heaven, Jews are central to eschatology, Antichrist is one man and its arrival is future, Sunday sacredness, Sabbath irrelevance, no difference between clean and unclean, partiality in the law, etc. If that ain't Catholic, nothing is.
now that's rich! a slick televangelist on youtube is what you call "real research" but you dismiss primary sources as fake! ha!
This video contains so many research excerpts and quotations out of the horses' mouths that if you watched it, you'd be begging my forgiveness, but you won't watch it because you prefer the blissfulness of ignorance over the light of uncomfortable truth.