Originally posted by Justbyfaith
Better open up the Word Of God and check again on that..."For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 😄
"wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" (James 2:20)
This verse does not make a statement that works are unnecessary for salvation. It states that no matter how good you are, no matter how many good things you do, if you are saved it was by God. It does not state that faith without works is in any way an acceptable state. It does not contradict James 2. In fact the semicolon is a break between two independent clauses. They are related by the phrases "not of yourselves" and "lest anyone should boast." It is a sentence that is warning against pride, not against works.
Works do not save you. Never did I say it was a gift of the works, it is a gift of God. God's gift is that we may, by grace, be saved through faith, which without works is dead, being empty. We cannot, by ourselves, without God accomplish our salvation, no matter the "works" we do. But, God is justified in saving us by our Faith, which without works is dead, being empty.
James 2:14
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:17-26
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Originally posted by Regret
"it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."This verse does not make a statement that works are unnecessary for salvation. It states that no matter how good you are, no matter how many good things you do, if you are saved it was by God. It does not state that faith without works is in any way an acceptable state. It does not contradict James 2. In fact the semicolon is a break between two independent clauses. They are related by the phrases "not of yourselves" and "lest anyone should boast." It is a sentence that is warning against pride, not against works.
Works do not save you. Never did I say it was a [b]gift
of the works, it is a gift of God. God's gift is that we may, by grace, be saved through faith, which without works is dead, being empty. We cannot, by ourselves, without God accomplish our salvation, no matter the "works" we do. But, God is justified in saving us by our Faith, which without works is dead, being empty.James 2:14
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?James 2:17-26
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. [/B]
I don't have any problem with what you just said Regret. 🙂 The best part was the scriptures you quoted! YES! YES!! This is good!!
Originally posted by Justbyfaith
Better open up the Word Of God and check again on that..."For by grace you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 😄
* yeah, you better open up your Bible really wide... just read the next verse...
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works , which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them ."
Ephesians 2:10
* oh, you didn't read that part? i'm not surprised... 😉
"That the man of God may be perfect, fully equipped unto all good works ."
II Timothy 3:17
* and this?
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men , especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Galatians 6:10
* and this?
* oh, man... 🙄
Originally posted by peejayd
* yeah, you better open up your Bible really wide... just read the next verse..."For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works , which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them ."
Ephesians 2:10* oh, you didn't read that part? i'm not surprised... 😉
"That the man of God may be perfect, fully equipped unto all good works ."
II Timothy 3:17* and this?
"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men , especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
Galatians 6:10* and this?
* oh, man... 🙄
Ok, where are you going with this?
Originally posted by peejayd
* if you value salvation that much, the Bible states people needs good works / deeds, not just faith alone... 😉
Well, I will let God judge my works...but as far as salvation... that happened right when I was born again by accepting Jesus as the Lord and Savior of my life! 😄 I will let Him continue to be the Author and Finisher of my faith. 💃 He is the one who will finish what He has started to do in me.