Is believing/faith a work ?

God's effectual call and the Spirit's work of regeneration produces faith. while clinging to this initial faith and professing it is a good work, we only are able to believe because of what Jesus has done. we are saved by faith, not by works, so that no one may boast. belief in God is not a work of human intelligence. despite this, i urge you to have all the more vigor in your walk of faith! pursuing God in any number of ways is a good work

So how are we saved then? Paul says it's through faith we are saved, but if faith is a work and salvation is not of works how is that possible?

Brightfame52 said:

Now believing is either a work of the flesh [unregenerate] or of the Spirit [ regenerated]

But now Salvation is not by works, Neither by works of the flesh or works of the Spirit.

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Many believed after hearing His testimony and seeing
His works, but then never entered into the walk of faith.
Because faith actually means 'to commit to one's trust'.
We are saved by GRACE, through faith, and we are
instructed to GROW in grace and the knowledge of our
Lord and Savior. This is the working out of salvation, unto a mature faith, leading to faithfulness.
Revelation 17:14 These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.
[See the parable of the minas, Luke 19]

Hebrews 13:
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 Make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Many when they speak of salvation are actually referring to reconciliation.
Romans 5:10 For when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

This is absolutely the work of the Spirit
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Those who ignore the full testimony of the Gospel
risk not hearing "well done, good and faithful servant",
and a future with NO GLORY. In the name of avoiding a
"works based salvation", they live out a worthless salvation.

1 Corinthians 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

Isaiah 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
Fearfulness has seized the hypocrites:
Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire?
Who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?

Faith/Belief/Trust is a passive action/work. A person is simply taking God at His word. They have examined the evidence and have been persuaded, that what God says is true.

The question is, if a person accepts something as true can they chose to not believe it.

So a believer correctly presents to a person how to receive God's free gift of Eternal Life and they in turn trust/believe in The Messiah for Eternal Life. Then actually all they have done is to listen to the presentation and have come to the acceptance. That what they were told was true, so they believe and have Eternal Life and have become a born again child of God.

But some may not accept this as easily, they may have to weed out all out the incorrect ways (food which perishes) they have been taught on how to receive Eternal Life (salvation).

That is what Jesus is saying in this verse.

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2

Brightfame52 said:

The answer is absolutely yes. If we agree with the overall definition of work according to the greek word for work ergon:

See strongs # 2041:

1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
   1. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
   
   
   
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
   
   A work is anything done, accomplished by #1 hand, #2 art, #3 industry, #4 or MIND
   
   The mind is :
   
   (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
   
   Psychology. the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.
   
   So believing something via the mental activity and process of reasoning is work. The process of decision making is a activity, work of the mind.
   
   Now for instance, the sin of hatred Gal 5:19-20
   
   
   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
   
   
   20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
   
   How is that sin committed ? It starts in the mind or heart ! Yet in Vs 19 its stated as an work of the flesh
   
   So activity in and with the mind/heart is a work, this cannot be denied..
   
   Now believing is either a work of the flesh [unregenerate] or of the Spirit [ regenerated]
   
   But now Salvation is not by works, Neither by works of the flesh or works of the Spirit.

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ivy may said:

we are saved by faith, not by works, so that no one may boast

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How are we to do the good works we are created in Christ to do...

John 15:1-17 tells us how.

ByTheSpirit said:

So how are we saved then? Paul says it's through faith we are saved, but if faith is a work and salvation is not of works how is that possible?

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I understand John 6:29 to be a play on words by Jesus when he said, "This is the work (singular) of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent," when He answered the Jews (who were taking a legalistic approach) when they asked, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works (plural) of God?" So Jesus was not saying that believing is just "another work" in a series of works in a quest to obtain salvation by works, which would contradict Ephesians 2:8,9. *Note the distinction between faith and works - "..saved through faith, not works."

Is believing/faith a work ?

Here are my thoughts as it relates to salvation, that is, to the nature of genuine, saving faith :

The sole ground or basis of our acceptance by God concerning our salvation has nothing to do with human instrumentality, it is 100% by Christ's substitutionary atonement. However, the only condition that must be met by mankind is placing or directing the object of their faith in Christ's work [not their own ... i.e. moral attainments, excellence, abilities etc. ... absolutely nothing].

Apart from a person freely choosing to trust in Christ's work in order to receive the free gift of eternal life ... they will die in their sins. Any type of mixture will fall short of the type of faith required for their salvation. That is to say, trusting Christ for 99% of our acceptance before God; adding even 1% our own righteousness or "works" to the equation will not cut it.

With that said, and understood within that established context, there is something that man must "do" to attain salvation, but that "doing" only entails trusting in Christ's finished work ... a work that was fully accomplished entirely apart from human instrumentality.

So, in the end, the question "is believing/faith a work?" could essentially be reworded as, "Is making a choice to direct our faith exclusively in Christ's work for eternal life a "work" on the part of man?" My answer to that question would be a resounding "yes", being understood as it being one which is wholly non-meritorious. It is a necessary condition that must be met, but in order for that choice to remain non-meritorious, it must be both perceived and received as a free gift given exclusively by the grace of God.

Therefore, if you were to ask me, "is it possible for man to "work the [acceptable] works of God"?... my response would be "absolutely".

Jesus clearly gave us the answer in John chapter 6 :

28 Then said they unto him, WHAT SHALL WE DO, that we might WORK THE WORKS OF GOD?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye BELIEVE on him whom he hath sent ...

39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and BELIEVETH ON HIM, may have EVERLASTING life: and I WILL raise him up at the LAST day.

Brightfame52 said:

The answer is absolutely yes. If we agree with the overall definition of work according to the greek word for work ergon:

See strongs # 2041:

1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
   1. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
   
   
   
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
   
   A work is anything done, accomplished by #1 hand, #2 art, #3 industry, #4 or MIND
   
   The mind is :
   
   (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
   
   Psychology. the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.
   
   So believing something via the mental activity and process of reasoning is work. The process of decision making is a activity, work of the mind.
   
   Now for instance, the sin of hatred Gal 5:19-20
   
   
   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
   
   
   20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
   
   How is that sin committed ? It starts in the mind or heart ! Yet in Vs 19 its stated as an work of the flesh
   
   So activity in and with the mind/heart is a work, this cannot be denied..
   
   Now believing is either a work of the flesh [unregenerate] or of the Spirit [ regenerated]
   
   But now Salvation is not by works, Neither by works of the flesh or works of the Spirit.

Click to expand...

Is a truly needy person righteously begging for pure undeserved charity, working and thus earning the charity given them? Did the first century Jews look upon beggars as earning what they got?

Is worship to be considered “work”, were the priest of the Old Law being paid to worship, since they did get money?

If you “work” then you are deserving of something (a payment).

If while I am frighting and hating my enemy God, I decide to wimp out, give up and surrender to my enemy God and for purely selfish reasons (sinful reasons) I am just willing to humbly accept pure undeserved charity from my enemy, am I doing anything “worthy of anything”? God should have me tortured to death for my previous war crimes, but instead showers me with unbelievable gifts, so did I get any payment for what I “worked” for?

Salvation is the work of God. He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Faith allows us into a relationship with the Holy Spirit who then through grace allows us the desire to do good works in his name which is the evidence of the therefore mentioned faith/grace.

"You will know them by their fruits."

ICONO'CLAST said:

Salvation is the work of God. He works in us to will and to do of His good pleasure.

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After reading my post 9 ho would you answer the questions?

bling said:

Is a truly needy person righteously begging for pure undeserved charity, working and thus earning the charity given them? Did the first century Jews look upon beggars as earning what they got?

Is worship to be considered “work”, were the priest of the Old Law being paid to worship, since they did get money?

If you “work” then you are deserving of something (a payment).

If while I am frighting and hating my enemy God, I decide to wimp out, give up and surrender to my enemy God and for purely selfish reasons (sinful reasons) I am just willing to humbly accept pure undeserved charity from my enemy, am I doing anything “worthy of anything”? God should have me tortured to death for my previous war crimes, but instead showers me with unbelievable gifts, so did I get any payment for what I “worked” for?

Click to expand...

Hello Bling,
we cannot pay God back for His infinite mercy as we deserve judgment and not mercy.

because God has set His love on us, we should willing serve in His kingdom by asking Him to enable us to serve Him from a pure motive, not the idea of earning a wage.

St. Paul says upon repentance that we are to do works worthy of repentance:

Acts of the Apostles 26:20

This is similar, in it’s basics, to what St. John the Baptist the forerunner preached in Luke 3:7-17.

I believe St. Paul in all of Colossians 1 explains the relationship of worthiness of our works within salvation ( especially Colossians 1:10 & Colossians 1:23). This, I believe conforms to a summation in Ephesians 2:8-10. St. Paul concludes Ephesians with instructions for Christian living in Ephesians 4:17-32 & while Ephesians 4:28 speaks particularly of repentance of thieves to work so as to be charitable, charity applies to all of us ( Matthew 6:1-4, Isaiah 58 etc.).

This is where living by and in faith ( Habakkuk 2:4)keeping the commandments etc. apply in living out our salvation ( Philippians 2:12). See also John 14:15-18. The commandments are our guiding principles ( see Matthew 19:16-19, Romans 13:8-10 etc.). Prayer for ourselves and others is our ultimate commitment to the Lord & our neighbor ( see Matthew 6:1-15, 1 Timothy 2:1-6) This is our commitment to what grace God may give us all to love God & neighbor & treat each other accordingly ( Matthew 22:36-40, Matthew 7:12).

ICONO'CLAST said:

Hello Bling,
we cannot pay God back for His infinite mercy as we deserve judgment and not mercy.

because God has set His love on us, we should willing serve in His kingdom by asking Him to enable us to serve Him from a pure motive, not the idea of earning a wage.

Click to expand...

Can you explain how this addresses my questions:
Is a truly needy person righteously begging for pure undeserved charity, working and thus earning the charity given them? Did the first century Jews look upon beggars as earning what they got?

Is worship to be considered “work”, were the priest of the Old Law being paid to worship, since they did get money?

If you “work” then you are deserving of something (a payment).

If while I am frighting and hating my enemy God, I decide to wimp out, give up and surrender to my enemy God and for purely selfish reasons (sinful reasons) I am just willing to humbly accept pure undeserved charity from my enemy, am I doing anything “worthy of anything”? God should have me tortured to death for my previous war crimes, but instead showers me with unbelievable gifts, so did I get any payment for what I “worked” for?

Brightfame52 said:

Whenever you condition salvation on what you do, its a work !

Click to expand...

That is not a Biblical definition of "work".
God does the saving, we just have to be willing to humbly accept pure undeserved charity.

Brightfame52 said:

The answer is absolutely yes. If we agree with the overall definition of work according to the greek word for work ergon:

See strongs # 2041:

1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied
   1. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
   
   
   
3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
   
   A work is anything done, accomplished by #1 hand, #2 art, #3 industry, #4 or MIND
   
   The mind is :
   
   (in a human or other conscious being) the element, part, substance, or process that reasons, thinks, feels, wills, perceives, judges, etc.
   
   Psychology. the totality of conscious and unconscious mental processes and activities.
   
   So believing something via the mental activity and process of reasoning is work. The process of decision making is a activity, work of the mind.
   
   Now for instance, the sin of hatred Gal 5:19-20
   
   
   Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
   
   
   20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
   
   How is that sin committed ? It starts in the mind or heart ! Yet in Vs 19 its stated as an work of the flesh
   
   So activity in and with the mind/heart is a work, this cannot be denied..
   
   Now believing is either a work of the flesh [unregenerate] or of the Spirit [ regenerated]
   
   But now Salvation is not by works, Neither by works of the flesh or works of the Spirit.

Click to expand...

Faith is both an obligation/requirement and a gift of grace. It’s also a human choice, to accept and act upon that gift. Works, after the free gift of justification, are also gifts of grace, such as those prepared for us in advance (Eph 2:9-10), that we can likewise accept and act upon, or not. Those are definitely not works of the law.
“To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.” Rom 2:7

Similarly the sheep are separated from the goats in Matt 25 based on what they did, for “the least of these.” Love is the key in the Christian life; it’s the authentic motivator for true righteousness. Gods purpose, His work, is to produce His love…in us. So love, while also a gift, is also the ultimate choice for man, that which literally defines his justice or righteousness which is why the greatest commandments are what they are. It’s the result of continuously remaining in Him, the object of our faith, who we’ve come to know by knowing His Son. That faith is what makes Him our God again, the God who’s godhood was first denied in Eden with Adam’s act of disobedience.

“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.” Jer 31:33-34