Justified/Saved by Faith & Faith Alone

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oyster67

Senior Member
May 24, 2014
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Works and words can be faked.
Not when the Spirit gives discernment.

How much works prove faith?
The concept is that absence of works disproves faith.

We don't do works to prove we have faith. Thats not how works works.
It is Christ and His Spirit which work in and through us.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
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If you think it's possible for a person to be INDWELLED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (which is what "salvation" is), and manifest/experience NO PERSONAL CHANGE, then I'd question what you think "salvation" is all about.



People aren't PERFECT whether they're saved or not, and some folks have really BAD theology. But bottom line: No personal Change = No Salvation. How can a NEW CREATION IN CHRIST have no effect of that in their lives???
The bottom line in Christianity is salvation through Jesus alone. Yet, as you correctly pointed out. We will bear fruit, if we have indeed. received the Holy Spirit.

The long term instruction from the apostles was agape love from a pure heart, and a sincere faith.

Colossians 1:6
Which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth.

Such a simple message, the good news, how could anyone get it wrong?
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
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Could be that they were effected by some BAD teaching (even Peter was effected by it). Christians ain't PERFECT. Are YOU??

OF course, Following the LAW isn't a BAD THING - I haven't murdered anybody, nor Stolen, not had an affair with anybody's wife. The LAW is God's Will for man.
Following the law is a futile attempt to change the flesh, it does not work. You must be crucified with Christ!

Romans 6:8-11
Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all time; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. So you too, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

The flesh must die, your passions, your desires, your self obsession, your ambition, must be crucified.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
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Correction: HAVING FAITH in the sin offering of Jesus to cleanse you from your SIN. "Belief" doesn't get it. FAITH (Heb 11:1) gets the job done.
Belief and faith are the same Greek word.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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Your not explaining how a person is saved in the first place?

Of course, faith without fruit, works, is a dead or dormant faith.

How is someone saved?
It’s the same for someone being saved in the first place as it is for someone who is already saved:

Simply put, believe in the gospel of Christ, repent of evil, obey God going forward.

What this actually looks like in context of the Bible is that those who Christ was telling to believe in him were being instructed in the ways of righteousness with the hope they would follow these ways because they are required.

John 8
51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

John 14
23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15
10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
 

Inquisitor

Well-known member
Mar 17, 2022
2,258
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It’s the same for someone being saved in the first place as it is for someone who is already saved:

Simply put, believe in the gospel of Christ, repent of evil, obey God going forward.

What this actually looks like in context of the Bible is that those who Christ was telling to believe in him were being instructed in the ways of righteousness with the hope they would follow these ways because they are required.

John 8
51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

John 14
23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15
10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
Obviously, you see salvation itself, resulting from a mixture of Jesus and yourself, working together to save you.
 
Mar 4, 2020
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Obviously, you see salvation itself, resulting from a mixture of Jesus and yourself, working together to save you.
If I may ask you a serious question, do you believe the below verse? If yes, what is the word Jesus is saying to obey so that one won’t see death?

John 8
51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
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Obviously, you see salvation itself, resulting from a mixture of Jesus and yourself, working together to save you.
Works-salvationists typically confuse 'descriptive' passages of scripture with 'prescriptive' passages of scripture and the end result is salvation by works. Unbelievers do not obey His word (Romans 10:16; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4) no matter how much illegitimate obedience that they attempt to conjure up in a vain effort to obtain salvation based on works. (Matthew 7:21-23)
 

HeIsHere

Well-known member
May 21, 2022
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The concept is that absence of works disproves faith.
This absolutley not taught in scripture.

Abraham was justified by his belief. Period.

Works cannot prove something that was not acquired by works. Period.
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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When I see people in error, whether in belief or practice, it reminds me of myself and how many things I held wrongly and the patience so many people exercised towards me. So I pray for people knowing God must have had an army of saints praying for me. After praying for someone, it's hard to act contrary to their good. It nullifies your prayers.
one thing we have to remember, is we have to be humble. I used to think I was right and everyone else was wrong.. I would stand my ground. Then God opened my heart when I started to question things and I found alot I believed my whole life was in error.

If we go around saying we see someone in error, because they do not believe like us. would we already be off on the wrong foot? I think we have to remember that we may be wrong. if we are not open to what others say, we will never see our mistakes.

one of the issues with the calvin debate is so many people see it solely as a calvin vs arminian debate. So many calvinists will always see someone who does not agree with them as an arminian. and because of the century old war. there is no debate because of their hate for arminian. hence anyone who does not believe in OSAS is an arminian. even if they are not. Same goes with the arminian, Anyone who believes in OSAS must be calvin, hence I must fight and defeat that thinking at all cost. and this is where the fighting comes from. That was the fight a few years ago on here. many people on both sides got banned, and I ended up leaving because I lost interest. i saw no growth. I was being called an Armenian by the calvinists because I believe in free will and a calvinist by the arminians because I believe in eternal security (OSAS)

its crazy
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
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Perhaps if these questions can be sufficiently answered, I would have a better understanding of faith and works.

What works did Abraham perform? How did he display his faith?
Abraham came within inches of killing Isaac. The fell swoop was well on its way in the intent to connect a knife with his son's heart.
Is this what counted toward Abraham as righteousness?
remember, this was decades AFTER God said Abraham believed and was accredited with righteousness.. ie. decades after he was saved

Abraham also sinned some pretty good sins between then
 

Everlasting-Grace

Well-known member
Dec 18, 2021
4,605
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If I may ask you a serious question, do you believe the below verse? If yes, what is the word Jesus is saying to obey so that one won’t see death?

John 8
51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”
in context. what is the word?
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
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Belief and faith are the same Greek word.
But with VASTLY different meanings. Heb 11:1 = Biblical FAITH has to have two attributes: "SUbstance" and it has to be an "EVIDENCE".

"Belief" (Mental assent) has no "Substance, and is evidence of NOTHING except how you feel at the time. YOU have to hold on to your "beliefs" and defend them. But Faith holds on to you.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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But with VASTLY different meanings. Heb 11:1 = Biblical FAITH has to have two attributes: "SUbstance" and it has to be an "EVIDENCE".

"Belief" (Mental assent) has no "Substance, and is evidence of NOTHING except how you feel at the time. YOU have to hold on to your "beliefs" and defend them. But Faith holds on to you.
Faith is believing when there is no evidence to see. Faith comes from hearing the word of God. One can believe by seeing, but faith is the absence of sight.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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there is a belief that is not faith though.

even demons believe....yet they did not have faith
What do devils believe? That there is one God. That's different than what is required for the eternal salvation of man's soul. We are to believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was resurrected the third day.
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
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Following the law is a futile attempt to change the flesh, it does not work.
It doesn't work to make you RIGHTEOUS, because you can't consistently keep it, as Jesus did. But it's still God's WILL for us.

As a Life plan, it's just fine. Personally I haven't stolen my neighbors wife, Lied, Murdered anybody, or had any other Gods.

The flesh must die, your passions, your desires, your self obsession, your ambition, must be crucified.
SO how are YOU doing with you "Perfect living"??
 

Bob-Carabbio

Well-known member
Jun 24, 2020
1,230
592
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Faith is believing when there is no evidence to see. Faith comes from hearing the word of God.
And there's your EVIDENCE!!! God's WORD to you.

One can believe by seeing, but faith is the absence of sight.
"Absence of "Sight" BUT STILL GROUNDED on God's WORD. FAITH IS NEVER BLIND!!!!