This is exactly where we differ.
Here is what Chat GPT has to say about faith and works, the gift and the works, salvation and obedience.
1. Is salvation based solely on Christ's reconciliation, Christ's death on the cross?
A literal reading suggests that salvation is tied to Christ’s death and resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:1-5 emphasizes this:
"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve."
This passage explicitly ties salvation to Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It frames this as "the gospel," or the good news, that brings salvation to believers.
2. Is eternal life a gift given to us in an unconditional way?
The New Testament describes eternal life as a
gift of grace but ties its reception to belief in Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 states:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
This passage emphasizes that salvation is not earned by human effort but is a gift from God. However,
faith is highlighted as the means through which this gift is received.
Similarly,
Romans 6:23 describes eternal life as a gift:
"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
3. Do we contribute to our salvation?
The texts repeatedly emphasize that salvation is not based on human effort or merit. For example:
Ephesians 2:9: "Not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Titus 3:5: "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit."
However, other passages imply that a response of faith is necessary to receive this salvation, such as
Romans 10:9:
"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
This suggests that while salvation is not "earned," an individual must respond in faith and confession.
4. What does grace mean?
In the New Testament, "grace" (Greek:
charis) is presented as God's unmerited favor or kindness, freely given, not earned by human effort. Key passages:
Ephesians 2:8: Grace is the basis of salvation, given as a gift.
Romans 5:15: "But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many."
Grace is consistently portrayed as the foundation of salvation, offered through Christ.
5. Is faith perfected by works?
While salvation is described as a gift received through faith, the New Testament also suggests that genuine faith results in action or works.
James 2:17 states:
"So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
James argues that faith must be demonstrated through action, but he does not contradict the idea that salvation itself is a gift. Instead, he emphasizes that works are evidence of true faith:
"You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." (James 2:24)
This complements Paul’s writings, which stress salvation by faith while also highlighting the transformation faith produces. For example,
Ephesians 2:10 follows the discussion of grace and faith with:
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Summary
- Salvation is based on Christ’s death and resurrection, as emphasized in passages like 1 Corinthians 15:1-5.
- Eternal life is described as a gift of grace, received through faith, and not based on works (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23).
- While humans do not "contribute" to earning salvation, faith and confession (Romans 10:9) are required to receive it.
- Grace is unmerited favor from God, the basis of salvation (Ephesians 2:8, Romans 5:15).
- Genuine faith is demonstrated by works, as James 2:17-24 and Ephesians 2:10 suggest, but these works are not the cause of salvation.
This reading avoids adding interpretation beyond what the text directly says.