Faith/belief is a work (Jn. 6:29), which would mean believing and having faith in the gospel would be a work (1 Cor. 15:1-4)
No, my friend. Belief/Faith is a work of God, and not a work of man.
This is not Calvinism by any means. Man has free will to either accept or reject God, but this happens when God illuminates the truth to a person at the right time or times in their life (Under the drawing of Christ and the conviction of the Spirit). For even Lydia’s heart was opened to understand Paul’s message. In other words, a person cannot believe without the working of God in their life to make that happen. But a person will know of the truth at the right time God chooses them to know the truth. It is up to the individual if they accept or reject the truth (See:
2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Logic dictates that a belief is not a work. I say this because you cannot use any real world example where a belief is a work. This is important because Jesus accepted the real world example or extended parable of the Canaanite woman when she said that even the dogs can eat the crumbs from the table. God is not the author of confusion. The only logical way that our believing is a work of God is if it was actually God doing the work in order for us to have the capacity to believe. It’s not that it would be a work on our part. Again telling a person you did work today by just believing will only gain you crazy looks.
Also, in real life, if you apologize to somebody, it is not considered a work (Even though it is something you do). So naturally, if you apologize to God, it also would not be considered a work.
While works of faith are later required as a part of the secondary aspect of our faith, this should not be confused with the first aspect of our initial salvation in how we are saved without works but by His grace and mercy.
There are three big places in Scripture that refutes your “
Perpetual Works ALONE Salvationist“ belief here.
#1. Luke 18:9-14
#2. Romans 4:3-5
#3. Titus 3:5
On my point #1 involving Luke 18:9-14, the focus is on how the tax collector who cried out to God and sought God’s mercy and forgiveness was more justified than the Pharisee who focused on doing righteous acts. This parable is a lesson of how you need to give God the glory or His due in seeking His forgiveness and mercy over doing something that you can boast in (Ephesians 2:8-9). There really is no way to shoehorn in works to be saved in this parable. The contrast is a man seeking forgiveness with God vs. doing things for the Lord. Jesus is saying that the Tax Collector is favored here in this scenario. Meaning, this parable must be offering a truth that must fit our real world life today.
On my point #2, in Romans 4:3-5, if we are to look at the example in Genesis 15:1-6, we would see that Abraham’s belief is not an action or anything major physically that he did but it was Abraham’s belief in God’s promise that he would have an heir and that his descendants will be as the stars of Heaven.
Romans 4:9-12 says,
"Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision."
This passage above shows that circumcision was a work that followed faith, rather than something that contributed to righteousness.
Speaking of Abraham, the Scriptures continue to say, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:20-22). So the contrast here is Abraham believing God involving the promise (a belief / faith) vs. circumcision (which is a work). This is where your belief starts to crumble. To say that a belief is a work and then circumcision is also a work in this scenario will only cause confusion, and God is not the author of confusion.
On my point #3, Titus 3:5 says,
”Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
So this is clearly describing when a person comes to the faith and God for the first time because they have been saved by His mercy, and washed in the regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. This is identifying a specific point in time when works do not apply. We did not do anything to GET saved. We were saved by His mercy, and by the washing and regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. To squeeze in how you are saved by works in this verse is simply a denial of what this verse plainly says. It says not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, etcetera. But you see belief as a work of righteousness here that you have done and not solely by his mercy that he saved you. This means you are not giving God all the glory in being saved by his mercy and by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost. You must let God’s grace reign and shine at a specific point in your life. Glorying in the fact that you did a work when you believed in God is contrary to God’s plan of salvation for your life. You must let grace reign, my friend.
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