Works Complete Faith?

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

- John 15:4-5 (KJV)

So then, our good works produce fruit in keeping with those that Christ has prepared for us to do.

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

- Ephesians 2:7-10 (KJV)

How is this verse supposed to help your view?
There were offenses that could be committed by Jews that could see them "cut off" from among their people (ie, God's people), and this same dynamic is active under the new covenant (Ro 11:17-23).
What's the offense that causes a believer to be "cut off" under the New Covenant? Unbelief.
This reality, this doctrine, is not welcome or appreciated in your view, because it's "inconvenient", it threatens your view's entire house of cards. I know you won't accept this truth, but I share it for anyone who will.

James compares the persuasive power of a statement "I have faith" against a walk of faith whose actions shout "I have faith". Obviously, one is more convincing than the other. One therefore glorifies God more than the other. And the entire purpose of Christianity is God getting glory through our good deeds. He's trying to convince them of this to move them to works.

Perhaps it may be worth some more thought. If you draw a line in the sand and say that those who keep sinning, cannot enter heaven. Then you effectively slam shut the doorway to heaven.

Actually, the converse is true. All are unrighteous and sinners, only those that confess their sin will be forgiven.

Anyone who claims to be sinless is simply a liar.

A solid reply.

The new creation is designed and empowered for good works!

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

One must believe in Jesus first in order to receive the Holy Spirit, the seal. Then we are a new creation and can proceed unto good works. Only the saved can perform good works.

We are always saved by the grace of God.

Actually, the question wasn't about who gets into heaven--and I'd already cited the 1 John 1 stipulation in the reply, so...

So, as the verse says, we are His workmanship, and He is at work in us to will and do for His pleasure, thus we are God's righteousness: doesn't this mean every sin you commit thwarts (your interpretation of) His "predestined" "good works" you were to walk in? Interesting that you're able to do that. Unless you hold that Christians never sin. "Predestination" is apparently not what you think it is.

I may have to start asking God about predestination and election, and, perhaps, God willing, start a thread on that topic. I'd like a more comprehensive understanding--to understand how all the other Scriptural evidence that salvation can be lost actually fits together with these doctrines.

I've seen some good presentations on a more context-based (ie, actually reading the passages he cites in their original contexts--not just superficially understanding them, as the vast majority do) reading of Romans 9, where it is explained that Paul's argument is actually against the Jewish objection to the Gospel that sees Jews not receiving mercy and grace, despite promises (eg, "all Israel shall be saved"), and how the current election may seem to thwart those promises and the "election" (not to salvation) (Ro 11) the Jews still have on account of those promises.

In other words, so the argument goes, Ro 9 is supposedly about answering the Jewish believers' objections to God's having seemingly been unfaithful in having decided different bases for "chosenness" in the Gospel.

I don’t think it does. Look at what James said.

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?
- So we see already that having faith does not equal works.

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

If you come to my door and ask for bread, and I open the door and tell you “I believe in Jesus, then shit the door…. My faith has produced no works.

1 Peter 4:8 King James Version (KJV)
And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

Are you suggesting that Muslims are not entitled to this covering because they are muslims?

Romans 2.14-16, “For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

I was just about too…. I’ve hesitated, but perhaps I should now that I see you are thinking the same.

I do enjoy no matter the topic your endgame is always, please God, focus on God, glorify God…

By all means, go ahead and make a thread.
I don't understand it (haven't prayed about it) so I'm not ready to do so.

We should not fail to acknowledge that, despite their mangled doctrines, the intent, and, in many cases, the result, of Monergists and Monergism is the same.

I’ve studied it, prayed on it, but understand it… ummmm But I will release what I have.

I used to have more of a grace of fasting, so I fasted a lot more. I've been going through some issues, including, especially, kidney failure, that have derailed my fasting, so I detest my "carnality" of eating often (ie, daily), and even enjoying it, and looking forward to it, paired with insufficient fasting. I feel that I am drowning sometimes. It's really confusing. Anyway, God is working on me; I just don't want to give the impression I am more than I am. I just remember when I was different, more filled with an intent of Christ-glorifying, though I pray and strive for it, and am disappointed often.

… but a “saint” will not (habitually) sin and if he does, he will repent and ask God to forgive him, and God promises that He will.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

- 1 John 1:9 (KJV)

Even Paul sinned, and he was a chosen vessel.

For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

- Romans 7:19-25 (KJV)

None of that addresses my point: the fact that if we interpreted "predestined" the way you're doing it, it wouldn't work. Nevertheless, that is tangential to the topic.

I truly don’t believe that predestination is tangential to the topic. Honestly, do you think that a predestined person never sins? And that if he sins, he will lose his salvation?

Not saying Paul was sinless (even he would only say he wasn't aware he was sinning--his conscience didn't testify against him--but that that alone wasn't conclusive, since he understands, from the OT, there are sins people commit without knowing, and, he concludes, he will be judged not by his conscience, but by God's Word, Christ), but Romans 7, which you have cited, is not "Christian" Paul, but "pre-Christ" Jews (including Paul).

I've addressed this before: