According to the scriptures we are saved by being born again...starting with repentance, we put our faith and trust for our salvation in Jesus and what he did on the cross for us. We then continue this earthly walk with God living as HE instructed in order to live a satisfying, productive, and blessed life.
There are some though, who think that keeping God's instructions (doing works) mean that we are trying to earn our salvation. However, that's not what the Bible says....
What the Bible says:
My thoughts: God's instructions are to show us how to live and how to act toward God and toward our fellow humans. Obviously "winging it" is not working. Learning how God wants us to act is not trying to atone for our sins when works by themselves don't do it AND if we have put our faith and trust for our salvation in the shed blood of Jesus then our sins are already atoned for and our names are in the book of Life. There is nothing we can do to make what Jesus did any better. It does however, make our life here on earth better....meaning we get along better with each other, with ourselves and we have a closer walk with God by walking as close to Him as we possibly can. That's not a bad thing.
There are some though, who think that keeping God's instructions (doing works) mean that we are trying to earn our salvation. However, that's not what the Bible says....
What the Bible says:
- James 2:14-22 "
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
My thoughts: God's instructions are to show us how to live and how to act toward God and toward our fellow humans. Obviously "winging it" is not working. Learning how God wants us to act is not trying to atone for our sins when works by themselves don't do it AND if we have put our faith and trust for our salvation in the shed blood of Jesus then our sins are already atoned for and our names are in the book of Life. There is nothing we can do to make what Jesus did any better. It does however, make our life here on earth better....meaning we get along better with each other, with ourselves and we have a closer walk with God by walking as close to Him as we possibly can. That's not a bad thing.
