How do I know it's sufficient?

The works in James chapter two are works of love . . .

helping a needy person

Abraham put God first, doing what God directed him to do

Rehab helping God's servants

There is personal helping, being personally guided by God in personal communication with Him, and personally helping servants of God.

So, there is personal loving . . . not distant and theoretical loving self-produced.

So, in order to do what God means by works, we need to submit to God in His peace, and discover what He has us doing. And His peace satisfies us to do what He guides us to do.

This is why Jesus says to take His yoke upon us . . . so we can learn from Him and do what He has us doing with Him with rest for our souls >

"'Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.'" (Matthew 11:29)

We are sacrificed . . . committed . . . to obeying God in His peace . . . not worrying and stressing and wasting ourselves. And then, as we are discovering how to love ourselves by doing things in rest with Jesus, now we can also love others by helping them to rest in the LORD.

So, when I get worried and fearful and confused and stressed, I need to trust God to correct me, and pray this for all of us . . . love all of us and not only my own self.

Because we are called to be God's family, caring and sharing as His family > this is included in how we do our works > while relating as His family >

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

So, our works are not done in isolation from other Christians.

So our attention, then, needs to be to God, so we do what He has us do. And we help and encourage one another in this.

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith? What if I choose to neglect an opportunity to help someone out? Does that mean that my faith is actually not real and I'm just deceiving myself that I am saved? I know that we have to do our good works to glorify God and out of gratitude for Him saving us, but I'm always worrying if my walk is good enough to qualify for real faith and I spend a lot of time ruminating if something I do is sin or if I have sinned. I want to know for 100% sure I'm right with God, no room for doubt, and I don't want even want to be 99,999999999999% sure. Because if I'm wrong I will regret it for all eternity.

Click to expand...

Having a pure heart and clean hands is very important. Jesus judges the motives of our hearts. Is it done with pure intentions? Sometimes we do not pay attention to our hidden agendas and our hidden motives. We should all begin to take it more seriously.

Yes, Salvation is a gift of Yahweh through His Son’s sacrifice.

Now, many take this to mean “Great, I’m saved no matter what!” which is incorrect and it seems as if you have picked up on this truth in the Scriptures. But don’t feel heavy-hearted about that - rejoice as the Spirit has opened your eyes to this matter for a purpose and is not leaving you to ignorance. So again, take courage my friend!

It is a good thing to have good works. But none of these works can convince God that you are more worthy to be saved. Don’t get me wrong, good works are rewarded but they do not contribute to securing salvation.

What about obedience? Obedience is important. Whilst obedience to His Law will not secure your salvation, it is expected. It’s disobedience which jeopardises your salvation.

So, what does secure your salvation? He does. Well, how do we know He will? By having an obedient heart and good works produced by faithfulness in Him, His ways and His promises. But let’s get more practical…

I would say to you is to ignore any Christian self-help book or program and turn to the Word. If you read the whole Bible (both testaments) and adjust your behaviour according to it, seeking to be corrected by it, you will find the truth and peace in walk. You’ll no longer waver to and fro wondering “what if” or need reassurance from sermons but have a confidence given to you from God.

Am I saying you need to obey every commandment? No. Plenty of them are not applicable to you. You’re not a priest, judge, at war and will be either a male or female (hopefully!) So many won’t apply. But what you can do you should do. NOT to secure your salvation, but to walk in the path of righteousness which brings the light of a clear conscience deep within and a confidence before Him.

We know that King David was a man after God’s own heart. Consider how he wrote about the instructions of God here in Psalm 19:7-11 -
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.

Do make an effort to read the longest Psalm in the Bible. Psalm 119. In this Psalm, David praises God for the wisdom and guidance of His instructions which are like a lamp for his feet. I think this Psalm will explain to you perfectly the beauty of understanding Yahweh’s instructions and you may even yearn to feel what David felt as he wrote it. That’s good. It should be every believer’s goal to read that Psalm and say “amen!” wholeheartedly and in truth – however long that journey takes to get there.


And consider what the Messiah said in Matthew 5:19
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Now, one final thing and I’ll stop rambling! Seek the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Seek this above all things. When you are baptised with the Holy Spirit you will be filled with a deep inner joy and peace which will not be moved. The Spirit will also guide you in the Word and obedience, bringing you to a place of comfort in your walk – far from the discontent you seem to feel today. Then you will know that you know that eternal life is yours.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know my friend.

Love & Shalom

David2019 said:

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith

Click to expand...

There is no ' if '.
What are you trusting in for your salvation?

Jesus' death and resurrection or the filthy rags of your good works?

It is by grace we are save through faith, which is the gift of God.

Because you are saved you show that by, in love, doing good works/deeds etc.

Praise God for his love, mercy and grace to you.
Thank him for all he has done and for the opportunity to do acts of love in a show of gratitude for what he has done for you.

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith? What if I choose to neglect an opportunity to help someone out? Does that mean that my faith is actually not real and I'm just deceiving myself that I am saved? I know that we have to do our good works to glorify God and out of gratitude for Him saving us, but I'm always worrying if my walk is good enough to qualify for real faith and I spend a lot of time ruminating if something I do is sin or if I have sinned. I want to know for 100% sure I'm right with God, no room for doubt, and I don't want even want to be 99,999999999999% sure. Because if I'm wrong I will regret it for all eternity.

Click to expand...

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith? What if I choose to neglect an opportunity to help someone out? Does that mean that my faith is actually not real and I'm just deceiving myself that I am saved? I know that we have to do our good works to glorify God and out of gratitude for Him saving us, but I'm always worrying if my walk is good enough to qualify for real faith and I spend a lot of time ruminating if something I do is sin or if I have sinned. I want to know for 100% sure I'm right with God, no room for doubt, and I don't want even want to be 99,999999999999% sure. Because if I'm wrong I will regret it for all eternity.

Click to expand...

When you walk with the Holy Spirit daily good works are the fruits of that walk. It flows naturally like breathing. We have been regenerated through His Spirit when we believe. Rest in Him. Be blessed.

It can be a little confusing because people in the Old Testament were required to be "righteous" when they died to have a resurrection unto life. Ezekiel 18:21-22

The nation of Israel was required to keep the law and as James was writing to the 12 tribes (James 1:1) he would stress the works requirement.

Salvation by grace was something new that Jesus brought. The Philippian jailer was told that all he had to do to be saved was believe (trust).

This still leaves the problem of knowing that one is saved. Assurance can be derived by considering that the bible describes several conditions. The bible is described as foolishness to those that are perishing. If you do not think the bible is foolish, you may have saving faith.

We are told to love other Christians. If we have a self sacrificing love for other Christians, it can also be an indicator that one is saved.

No one else can tell you you are a Christian. there is no work or metric that can be applied. However, the closer you grow to Jesus through his word, the more the comforter can impress upon you the truth of your salvation.

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith? What if I choose to neglect an opportunity to help someone out? Does that mean that my faith is actually not real and I'm just deceiving myself that I am saved? I know that we have to do our good works to glorify God and out of gratitude for Him saving us, but I'm always worrying if my walk is good enough to qualify for real faith and I spend a lot of time ruminating if something I do is sin or if I have sinned. I want to know for 100% sure I'm right with God, no room for doubt, and I don't want even want to be 99,999999999999% sure. Because if I'm wrong I will regret it for all eternity.

Click to expand...

We are not saved by our works. The way it works is when we are saved the Holy Spirit begins to work in us, He gives us desires to do good. This occurs as we spend time with Jesus, in the word (the bible) and prayer.

Mat 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

We as Christians will always struggle with some form of weakness, but as we spend time in prayer we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit, and His desires come into our life.

As for worrying about everything being a sin. The bible says:

Ecc 7:16-17 Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldest thou die before thy time?

We need to take a middle road. Not be so righteous that everything is a sin to us, but not be partaking in dark sins. If in your heart you really want to do something, and it is a little grey, but not a dark sin, it is probably ok.

For me I play computer games, you will never find one that is 100% free from some questionable theme. But often it is just some small thing. Same with books, movies, TV. We live in an imperfect world, but we should not stop enjoying our life due to small deviance. That is what Ecc 7:16 is talking about, not being so righteous that we hate our lives, but enjoying life.

However, we should be allocating as much time as possible to pray, to let the Holy Spirit out work in our lives.

I think this is a simple answer regardless of your denomination. You do good deeds wherever you can. If you sin you pray for forgiveness. The past doesn’t matter. Only what you do and sincerely believe in your heart is what will gain you salvation. God is the judge, not anybody on this forum or in your church. None of us can possibly know what God will make of our lives, and worrying about eternal damnation will only make it harder to be a good person.

Did the criminal who died next to Jesus do enough good works? Probably not by any human measurement, but Jesus promised him redemption, not because of good works, but because he recognized and was sorry for the way he lived his life. The other man next to him did not and was not. It is not a scorecard.

Nobody can be 100% right with God, but if you want to be closer, then pray for him to show you how, not us. All we can do is continually improve, not be perfect. That’s what I think is the meaning of Matthew 25:14-30. We are all given our own unique talents that we can use to make things better. We need to be careful not to bury our talent in the ground, hiding from life to avoid making mistakes.

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith? What if I choose to neglect an opportunity to help someone out? Does that mean that my faith is actually not real and I'm just deceiving myself that I am saved? I know that we have to do our good works to glorify God and out of gratitude for Him saving us, but I'm always worrying if my walk is good enough to qualify for real faith and I spend a lot of time ruminating if something I do is sin or if I have sinned. I want to know for 100% sure I'm right with God, no room for doubt, and I don't want even want to be 99,999999999999% sure. Because if I'm wrong I will regret it for all eternity.

Click to expand...

What's the First and Great Commandment? (Matthew 22:36-38)

What does Paul say about our righteous living, apart from obedience to the First and Great Commandment? (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

What did those to whom Jesus said "I never knew you," in Matthew 7:21-23 never claim about their living? They were doing good things but if you were going to make a case for having done the will of God, wouldn't you start with having kept His First and Great Commandment?

It's possible to live a very God-obedient life and have a heart that is far from Him. This was Jesus's criticism of the Pharisees. They were professionally obedient to God; it was what they were known for. But not coming from a heart of love for God, their obedience was a kind of disobedience and totally spiritually useless. See above.

If you want to be confident you're saved, obey God's First and Great Commandment. Be careful, though, not to confuse actions arising from love with love itself. Paul clearly indicates in the passage I cited above that there is a difference. Love for God precedes actions that reflect that love. What is this love, at bottom? It's a desire for, a longing for, a thirsting for God; it's a deep hungering passion for Him, for His will and way in your life, for intimate communion with Him.

Psalm 63:1 (NASB)
1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Psalm 84:1-2 (NASB)
1 How lovely are Your dwelling places, O LORD of hosts!
2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the LORD; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NASB)
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for You, O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?

Philippians 3:7-10 (NASB)
7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith? What if I choose to neglect an opportunity to help someone out? Does that mean that my faith is actually not real and I'm just deceiving myself that I am saved? I know that we have to do our good works to glorify God and out of gratitude for Him saving us, but I'm always worrying if my walk is good enough to qualify for real faith and I spend a lot of time ruminating if something I do is sin or if I have sinned. I want to know for 100% sure I'm right with God, no room for doubt, and I don't want even want to be 99,999999999999% sure. Because if I'm wrong I will regret it for all eternity.

Click to expand...

We are all sinners and I believe we can never fully know we are saved since Jesus reads the heart and it's really a case by case deal. It is personal. The most we can do is have absolute faith that Jesus is our Savior and be ready to lay your life down for Him at any cost. Only He knows what it would do to you if you had to live without Him. Would you cease to live or would you carry on bugged by it but still managing to hang with friends and live your life? Personally my life is not worth living if I can't have Jesus. At all.

David2019 said:

I received the temptation to renounce my faith several times, but I only see emptiness outside the faith. It gives me the motivation to live. Before I was a Christian I was severely depressed and longing for the end of life (and death). I just hate it that I developed scrupulosity after conversion since I've been suffering from OCD for more than a decade.

Click to expand...

Once we realize that life is part of an exercise to make the soul complete and not take it so personal, we can remember that in the end
No one passes away. We are all still in existence. We can never die. There is no
record of God being able to eliminate a being once it exists. Once created it exists somewhere. There is reason to believe that if you take your own life, you will exist on earth until your natural death would have occurred seeing the pain you caused everyone but without the ability to interact with them. It is horrible. We are here to fulfill the human experience and feel every emotion possible so that we know what GOD and love truly is because we will know what it is not. The experiences we encounter will allow us to react to them and feel the feelings and in the end, the feelings are the only thing that is real. OCD? That is rough man.

"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise." - Galatians 3:26-29

If you have faith, you are already saved. That does not mean God is done with you or anyone else, we are all learning and hopefully becoming more Christlike until we go to heaven. And if we do screwup, if we think, "I should have helped so and so when they asked or I saw an opportunity", there is always tomorrow. We are in God's hands. He loves us as we are and helps us to be better.

"Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6

NASB 1977
And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

Romans 15: 4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

1 Peter 5: 6Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

1 Timothy 2:1- First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.]

Ephesians 2: 8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 10For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Romans 6:11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 7:23But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.

Romans 8:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

David2019 said:

I believe that we are saved by grace through faith in the shed blood of Christ for the atonement of our sins against God, but I can get really terrified when I read chapters in the bible like Matthew 7, James 2 and other chapters that discuss works and salvation.

If real faith has works, how many works do I have to do every day to know that my faith in Christ is actual saving faith?

Click to expand...

There is no "5 works per day or more and you are fine" text in the Bible.

There is no "auto-pilot" or "fire-and-forget" mode for Christianity. It is all "hands-on".

1 Cor 9:
23 I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.
... 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest after I have preached the gospel to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Rom 11:9 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand only by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 See then the kindness and severity of God: to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; for otherwise you too will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in; for God is able to graft them in again.

So as you say - the warnings are there.

But the solution is not a magic phrase/formula/trick rather is connection with the Holy Spirit

Rom 8:13 if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons and daughters of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons and daughters by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God,

It is daily interaction and listening to God's Holy Spirit