Albion
Facilitator
Returning to the original question of faith+works and how you know if you are doing enough of the latter, acceptance by God is always a matter of faith or faithfulness (same word in Greek) yet faith is indeed a merit (like hope and love) albeit one that is given to us (Eph2:8). If one has faith, works will flow from it, in particular love (agape). The context of Paul’s polemics in Romans and Galatians is the "Judaisers" insisting on circumcision and Torah observance to be marked out (justified) as the people of God. No, says the apostle, circumcision and the like will profit us nothing, what matters (to God) is faith working through love (Gal5:6). The Matthew 25 “sheep” were accepted into the Kingdom because they had loved (shown compassion) showing they had faith. No mention is made of how much compassion or how frequently they showed it; rather they showed they possessed it and utilised it. Jesus I think therefore answers the question but no doubt raises new ones!
Some good points there, but I think yogosans went right to the crux of the issue when he asked,
I was wondering those who believe Faith and works together saves us, how do they know if they are doing ENOUGH works?
You have said that it's not legalisms and the performance of religious rituals that will save, but those churches that teach that we are saved by the works of mercy that Jesus commended to us have developed a very structured approach to the matter. It's not at all what you said. It's not just to do good and not count or rank or keep score of the acts you do.
These people do really engage in all of that, such that anyone who takes their approach seriously ought to know 'how many?' and 'what kind?' are needed. But they don't know and no one seems to know, either.
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