Having faith is enough or not?

proverbs3

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I'm seeing a lot of: "by grace through faith" to be saved is enough.

Although it's true -- it may not be how you're taught it. It's no surprise this is one of the most popular and repeated mantra's of the Bible: it's an easy ticket to heaven.

First let's interpret this verse in context. The author is writing to those who boast about their salvation, by thinking they are saved by their own doing.

The author is simply pointing out the foundation for salvation. In layman's terms, "your good deeds cannot save you".
So if good deeds can't save you, then what can?

Does it end at, "by grace through faith"?

Let's look at what Jesus said.

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 16:24

Wait...but preacher said all I needed was to have faith?

Jesus points out 3 important things: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him.

What's denying yourself? To deny your flesh, all worldly pleasures, accept that you are capable of nothing on your own, and most importantly before anything in your life, including eating, sleeping, breathing...God comes first.

Taking up your cross? Be ready to die for your faith, crucify your old flesh, are you ready to hate your mother, father, brother, sister? Are you willing to give up everything you have?

Follow him? Be like him -- obey the Fathers will, follow him how a sheep follows it's Shepard, put your trust in his ability to lead you to good pastures, don't doubt, be baptized.

"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." John 3:5

But preacher said all I need is faith?

Well Jesus says, you need to be born of water and the Spirit.
so you are accepting the fact that those writers contradicts each other? isn't God not the author of confusion?

Ephesian 2
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Romans 3
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the lawis 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:

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Romans 4
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.

5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,

7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.

8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:

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.

13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:

15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.

18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.

19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb:

20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

James 2
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be yewarmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

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.
 
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JacksBratt

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Faith is defiantly something you need to have but i feel like it isn't the only thing, You also need to not be sinful , and believe that Jesus died on the cross for you. Those are the 3 things are the the things i believe you need.
Can I ask you how we can not be sinful?

I believe that this is an impossibility for any human. You do realize that this would mean never being angry when it is not righteous to be so. Or, not ever break a speed limit, curse if you hit your thumb with a hammer. Look at a man or woman with desire, say "Oh my God". Tell a lie to you child to keep them from worry. Eat too much... ya, there's the one that gets everyone holding out.... get lazy..... the list goes on.

No, we are always sinful... But, Christ's blood forgave our sins from before we had faith and called on His name and each one after that.

The works... is the heart that desires to never sin, even though we keep failing to do so. That is the works that proves the salvation. The works that, although it does not bring salvation, it is proof of the fact that you have it already.
 
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Jags

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Can I ask you how we can not be sinful?

I believe that this is an impossibility for any human. You do realize that this would mean never being angry when it is not righteous to be so. Or, not ever break a speed limit, curse if you hit your thumb with a hammer. Look at a man or woman with desire, say "Oh my God". Tell a lie to you child to keep them from worry. Eat too much... ya, there's the one that gets everyone holding out.... get lazy..... the list goes on.

No, we are always sinful... But, Christ's blood forgave our sins from before we had faith and called on His name and each one after that.

The works... is the heart that desires to never sin, even though we keep failing to do so. That is the works that proves the salvation. The works that, although it does not bring salvation, it is proof of the fact that you have it already.
What i mean is that we shouldn't try to sin But i do believe that Faith is the only thing you need.
 
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ViaCrucis

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One of the big problems with debates about sola fide is that there's usually a lot of confusion about what faith actually is. And it's a problem I see from both sides.

So the faith of sola fide is not believing certain things, it's not intellectual adherence to specific theological propositions. The faith of sola fide is faith in Christ, that is, it is trust in Christ.

To quote Martin Luther, faith "is a living, bold trust in God's grace". Further, "faith is God’s work in us, that changes us and gives new birth from God. (John 1:13). It kills the Old Adam and makes us completely different people. It changes our hearts, our spirits, our thoughts and all our powers. It brings the Holy Spirit with it. Yes, it is a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith."

Faith isn't a human activity. It's not something we do, it's not about our intellectual assent to certain thoughts, or having certain ideas, it's not about thinking or believing the right things. No, faith is God's gift, given to us apart from ourselves, "For by grace you have been saved, through faith. And this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast."

This faith comes to us from outside of ourselves, as pure gift from God. How do we gain this thing, this faith? The Apostle tells us, "For faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17).

So that by the very preaching of the Gospel God works to create faith in us. For this very reason, "All who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved." For they do not call on One they do not know and have never heard, but on the One they have heard, because of those sent, who have preached, and by this preaching the Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts by God's grace.

The one who has been born again, renewed by God, through the working of God through Word and Sacrament has faith. This is God's promise to us.

If we properly understand what faith is, then we would never ask "is faith enough?" If we know what faith is, then we have all things in Christ by the grace of God. Faith is more than enough, it is more than enough because it is the full treasure of grace, the fullness of Christ crucified and risen from the dead--for you. To say "faith is not enough" is to say Christ is not enough, and to ask, "Is faith enough?" is to say one does not know what faith is.

-CryptoLutheran
 
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JacksBratt

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What i mean is that we shouldn't try to sin But i do believe that Faith is the only thing you need.
You are right that we shouldn't try to sin.. In fact, we will sin without even trying... we will sin even when trying out best not to..

A sign of salvation is a struggle to be sinless. A desire to be more like Christ and follow His example.
 
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