The works of the law of righteousness vs works by faith to justification

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know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
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#1
Are works of the law the same as works of faith? And if not, then what's the difference?
 
A

Abiding

Guest
#2
No!!

works of the law would be to follow the law for justification without faith.Doomed position. romans 9:30-33

where you got the term "works of faith" i dont know unless you mean James

"faith which worketh by love"....would be my best reference Gal 5:6
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
166
63
#3
No!!

works of the law would be to follow the law for justification without faith.Doomed position. romans 9:30-33

where you got the term "works of faith" i dont know unless you mean James

"faith which worketh by love"....would be my best reference Gal 5:6
No, I was referring to,
Jas_2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas_2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas_2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
And,

Gal_2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Do you have any examples of works of the law and/or of faith?
 
A

Abiding

Guest
#4
No, I was referring to,
Jas_2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas_2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas_2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.


And,

Gal_2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Do you have any examples of works of the law and/or of faith?
Bedtime.....i did already for each.:)
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
3,071
166
63
#5
I hear people use scripture like the one below, saying that those that do such things will be damned and/or cause one to lose their salvation.
1Co 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
1Co 6:10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
So does the above fall under the works of the law? If so, then why are we judged according to the law if we are no longer under the law?
James talks about faith without works being dead, what kind of works is he talking about?
 
Oct 31, 2011
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#6
I found that to fully understand what God wants us to know takes a lot of work, it takes knowing all God says about something. For "law" I got out the concordance, looked up every reference and was sure to read scriptures around the reference so I knew the contents of the scripture. If I had more questions, I got out history of the period of the people who God was using as an example to explain His principle. That isn't an easy task.

After all this, it came down to that first, every scripture must fit into God's character, God's principles and those principles fit every scripture. If you think they don't, better look closer because God never ever disagrees with God. You learn that the law is all of God, and the law expresses God's love for His family. We become His when we love Him, and when we go to Christ for cleansing. The Holy Spirit is necessary for us to understand God's law. Obedience is necessary, but faith and love are to be so intertwined with obedience that the "doing" without that is not really being obedient.

Justification, however, stands alone. We are justified through Christ, and Christ specified the steps we must take to being forgiven. They include turning from sin to Christ, and being a forgiving person so Christ is free to forgive us. That is the whole of justification.
 
Nov 26, 2011
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#7
Works of Faith versus Works of the Law

I consider it important to address the subject of works due to the misunderstanding which is prevalent in the church system. To say that works are an essential part of salvation is viewed as heresy by most professing Christian's. This is due to the false gospel which is preached in far and wide throughout the world today.

The Gospel, as commonly taught today, has been reduced down to a package or provision consisting of Christ's death on the cross being viewed as a wrath substitute for the sinner. As long as the sinner admits their condition and then trusts in the provision they are then pronounced saved and eternally secure. Sanctification then becomes a long drawn out process of sinning less and less and as long as one is generally walking in the right direction then there is no real concern. This false gospel has removed any fear of God and judgment, made holiness optional, removed the strait gate and narrow way, and it the very reason why there is so much hypocrisy among professing Christian's today.

In the church system there is no real distinction made between the works of the flesh or law and the works of faith. In fact, works altogether have been eliminated from salvation and have been made subsequent and optional.

By removing the working dynamic from the Gospel the saving power of the Gospel has been totally neutralised. The result is that millions of people have been deceived by Satan into thinking they can be saved via a simple mental acknowledgment of some facts apart from them having to do anything. It is really Satan's masterpiece and it is very difficult for people under this deception to come out from it.
Jesus warned that if the light in us actually be darkness then that darkness is great indeed.
Mat 6:23But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how greatisthat darkness!

Jesus warned that few would find the strait gate and narrow way and that many false teachers would come and would deceive a vast multitude.

Mat 7:14Because straitisthe gate, and narrowisthe way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Mat 7:15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Mat 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.
Mat 24:5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

When one is deceived that simply do not know it. Is it possible that you are deceived? Think carefully about it.

Hebrews 11 clearly teaches that faith is substantial and is thus effectual in application. Faith is akin to obedience or authentic belief.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Heb 11:8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.


Faith is a working principle.

Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

The verses above clearly refute the “faith alone” or “sola fide” which is so commonly bandied about today.

It is the works of the flesh which don't avail anyone. Any work done apart from God is vanity and is worthless in regards to salvation. This is the error that the Pharisees made, they sought to be justified by the law in and of itself and totally neglected the spiritual aspect. The law was simply an outward manifestation of love. Hence...

Gal 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

If one is walking after the Spirit they establish the law in the heart and thus fulfill it by faith.

Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Thus a believer is to walk by faith in everything they do. Not holding to a list of do's and don'ts but rather to a working faith based on love.

Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

This is an extremely important concept to understand because it relates to a correct understanding of things like salvation, justification and sanctification.

When we abide in Christ we are no longer doing our own works apart from God. We are yielding to God and doing His works, through us, by faith.

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Php 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Thus when Paul wrote Ephesians 2:8-10 the works he is referring to are works of the flesh or works of the law which we are not saved by. He is most definitely not negating obedient faith. We are saved by the effectual working of God on our heart which we voluntarily put to use by a working faith. If we are disobedient then we simply receive the grace of God to no effect.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

The boast Paul is speaking about in Ephesians 2:9 was in the keeping of the law.
Rom 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God,
Rom 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
Rom 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
Rom 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
Rom 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
Rom 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
Rom 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

Seeking to establish righteousness by keeping the law was the error that Paul warned the Galatians about.
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Those who throw out the works of faith thus denying that any works are necessary in regards to salvation are terribly deceived because they are essentially saying that you can be a hearer only and not a doer. Doing thus becomes subsequent or optional.
Satan knows that the only way to God is through a genuine repentance and faith and thus he has perverted repentance and faith, repentance has been redefined to simply mean “confess and admit you are a sinner,” and faith has been redefined to simply mean “trust.”

Satan, through the false teachers, has turned the grace of God into a license to keep on sinning.
Jud 1:4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now the reason that works done apart from God are vain (works of the flesh/law) is that they only serve to clean the outside of the cup. God wants the inside of the cup cleansed and that only happens through working together with God.
Mat 23:26Thoublind Pharisee, cleanse first thatwhich iswithin the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

When the inside of the cup is cleansed then the natural result will be a clean outside. Thus a good tree will bare only good fruit because the root is pure.
We are cleansed through the instructions that God has given us when we put them to use through an obedient faith.
Joh 15:3Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

The engrafted word which is able to save our souls is the seed of Jesus Christ within. Jesus Christ is that vine of which we are to abide in, and it is only then that we are able to bear fruit.

Joh 15:4Abide 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.
Joh 15:5I am the vine, yearethe branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
 
Nov 26, 2011
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#8
Jesus preached a Gospel of works but those works were to be done together with God by faith.
To deny that works are essential to salvation is to deny the Bible and thus deny the words Jesus Christ Himself. Don't be deceived!
If there was absolutely nothing we had to do then why would Jesus say the following?

Luk 13:24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Mat 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Mat 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

Luk 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Joh 15:10If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

If there was nothing we had to do why is it written...

Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

1Jn 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
1Jn 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Rom 2:6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Rom 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
Rom 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Rom 16:25Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Rom 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

A Gospel that removes the obedience of faith, the works of faith, and the steps of faith from salvation is no different than preaching Satan's first lie of “Ye shall not surely die.”

Heb 11:8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

Joh 8:39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.

Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.


Do not be deceived!

Gal 6:7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Gal 6:8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Are you sowing to the flesh or to the Spirit? Or perhaps you are deceived and think you can serve both?


1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;




http://thesinmuststop.blogspot.com/2012/01/brief-note-on-works.html
 
Sep 4, 2012
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#9
In essence, works of law is you trying to save yourself; works of faith is you letting GOD save you.
Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. Luke 17:33

Works of law are the efforts of man's will to try to justify himself because he doesn't believe he is fully justified (or even justified at all). These efforts produce the fruits of death.

Works of faith are yielding to GOD to let him do what he has said he will do. They produce the fruits of the spirit against which there is no law.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23


Where there is no law, there is no condemnation. Where there is no condemnation, there is life.​

Consequently, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what was impossible for the law, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin; he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the requirement of the law would be fulfilled in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4

 
Sep 4, 2012
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#10
Jesus preached a Gospel of works but those works were to be done together with God by faith.
Labour not for food which perishes, but for food which endures into everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you: for him God the Father has sealed. Then they said to him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe into him whom he [GOD] hath sent. John 6:27-29
 
H

haz

Guest
#11
No, I was referring to,
Jas_2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Jas_2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Jas_2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
And,

Gal_2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Do you have any examples of works of the law and/or of faith?
Jesus said that our works are to believe in Jesus, John 6;29.
This is consistent with the gospel, John 3:16.
Believing in Jesus is God's will for us, John 6:40.
In believing in Jesus we overcome the world, 1John 5:4,5.
In believing in Jesus we are born of God, 1John 5:1.

And it's the sin of unbelief in Jesus that the world is convicted of, John 16:9.

As for works of the law, that is unbelief in Jesus. Anyone who determines righteousness by obedience to the law, is in unbelief.

There are some on this forum who even follow a lukewarm mix of grace with works of the law. This is unbelief also as grace and works of the law cannot be mixed, Rom 11:6.
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#12
"The works of the law of righteousness vs works by faith to justification "

your title itself is very confusing.

its like you don't understand what the Law of righteousness to begin with, which is faith in Christ and His redeeming work on the cross. so the term "works of the law of righteousness" would refer to the work Jesus has already done. However, I don't think that is what you are trying to refer to. but maybe it is?

what you mean by the term "works by faith to justification" is also confusing because we are not justified by our works but by Jesus work.

That is NOT to say we refuse to do the works God created us for, just that we are not justified by doing them. fish are expected to swim, we are expected to do as Our Father tells us to do.

why do you have both terms opposed to each other?
 
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A

Ariel82

Guest
#13
see then you add these questions with their vagueness adds even more to the confusion:

Are works of the law the same as works of faith?
Are you referring to the "law of righteousness" or the "law of sin and death"?

Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.



And if not, then what's the difference?
works of faith are done after a person knows in their heart they are God's children and have the Holy Spirit guiding them to do good works not for their own salvation but for the salvation of others around them. It is work done with faith that God has already justified and redeemed them with Christ's blood and done not for themselves but for the glory of God.


works of the Law of righteousness is faith in Christ and what He has done on the cross. It is being given a New heart humble and able to be lead by His Holy Spirit. It is being washed clean of your sins by the blood of the Lamb.

works of the law of sin and death is following the letter of the law without faith in God. it is doing things for their own rewards. it is looking good to the world but cursing and being prideful in your heart. it is placing yourself above others and thinking you "deserve" praise, material wealth and prosperity instead of thanking God for His many blessings. it is having a heart hardened to others suffering, a heart greedy and eyes blind to the need of others.
 

notuptome

Senior Member
May 17, 2013
15,050
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#14
The essence of religion is doing for God. The essence of Christianity is God has done for us.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
 
Nov 26, 2011
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#15
Labour not for food which perishes, but for food which endures into everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you: for him God the Father has sealed. Then they said to him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe into him whom he [GOD] hath sent. John 6:27-29
Labour - G2038 - ergazomai
Middle voice from G2041; to toil (as a task, occupation, etc.), (by implication) effect, be engaged in or with, etc.: - commit, do, labor for, minister about, trade (by), work.

Mat 21:28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
Mat 21:29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
Mat 21:30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Mat 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Mat 21:32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

Genuine belief produces action because genuine faith is the active dynamic whereby one is a DOER of the will of God. Thus true belief is equivalent to true faith is equivalent to submission to God.

This comment is a good one.

Works of faith are yielding to GOD to let him do what he has said he will do. They produce the fruits of the spirit against which there is no law.
The work of faith is simply being yielded to God from the heart whereby the power of God is made manifest through us to the saving of the soul. It is in yielding to God that we are in cooperation with God and hence are led by the Spirit as sons of God.
 

starfield

Senior Member
Jun 13, 2009
3,393
58
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#16
The essence of religion is doing for God. The essence of Christianity is God has done for us.

For the cause of Christ
Roger
...and because God has done for us, we do for Him. 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
 
W

Widdekind

Guest
#17
Genuine belief produces action because genuine faith is the active dynamic whereby one is a DOER of the will of God. Thus true belief is equivalent to true faith is equivalent to submission to God.
so,
works of God = have faith to Him whom God sent, i.e. Jesus = John 6
faith works by love = Gal 5

"works by faith to justification" (OP) ----> "faith to Justification, which then works, bearing fruit, via loving kindness"


 
L

Laodicea

Guest
#18
Romans 3:20-22 KJV
(20) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
(21) But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
(22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Righteousness is not attained by works of the law but by faith of Jesus.

Romans 3:31 KJV
(31) Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.


Even though we are made righteousness by faith of Jesus and not by works of the law is does not do away with the law.

John 14:15 KJV
(15) If ye love me, keep my commandments
.
Exodus 20:6 KJV
(6) And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.


In both the OT and NT we are meant to keep the commandments because we love God not to attain righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 KJV

(6) And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#19
Are works of the law the same as works of faith? And if not, then what's the difference?
Hello know 1
iI think that works of the law,in todays world would be....ie..doing things to get GOD to love you....like giving a homeless person money and then going on about your buisness like you did a good thing.

I think works of faith.....would be seeing a homeless man and going up to him with a concerned heart for humanity,and finding about him ,sincerly,and trying to help him,and telling him about JESUS.
 

know1

Senior Member
Aug 27, 2012
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#20
Jesus preached a Gospel of works but those works were to be done together with God by faith.
To deny that works are essential to salvation is to deny the Bible and thus deny the words Jesus Christ Himself. Don't be deceived!
Can you give me an example of a work done in faith that is essential for salvation?
And, can you give me an example of a work that would cause one to lose their salvation?