Faith without Works

[iam13]

I happen to believe that Faith without works will not save anyone. Can you share scriptures that support such claims? Share knowledge to shoot down such claims? Please share.
Love, Light and Power,


13

 

[abysmul]

Would you define "works" for us?

 

[iam13]

Works for us? I don't understand what you mean. Allow me to clarify. I have often felt that while many Christians know the bible and scriptures well the great majority of Christians don't appear to live their life as such. Perhaps the following statement can help further clarify what is meant by "works":

It is time to stop the Jesus talk, and begin to walk the Jesus walk.

And another statement to even further clarify what is meant by, "works":

It's no longer about your "belief" in Christ, but about your "DOING" in Christ.

In other words, why don't ALOT more Christians live their lives like Jesus lived his? Doing things instead of just talking about it.

Love, Light and Power,
13

 

[St_Worm2]

Can you share scriptures that support such claims? Share knowledge to shoot down such claims? Please share.

Hi iam13! First off, I see you are pretty new here, so WELCOME TO CF ..

Secondly, since these particular boards are for all (IOW, they are not Christian "only"), perhaps this would have been a better thread to start in General Theology>Soteriology (there is an official "Debate" board there as well, but it would just be Christians discussing this very "Christian" subject). Of course, if you are after non-C input as well, then this is the place it should be.

Finally, here are a few verses in support of our salvation being by faith apart from works. This is not to say that works have nothing at all to do with salvation (please see the quote below in my signature line by John Calvin). When we were born again, we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works", Ephesians 2:10, but "good works" are not the cause of our salvation, nor do they sustain it.

Works are also that which "justifies" our claim of faith, our claim of being a Christian, before others. (James 2:14-24) The Lord, who knows our hearts, doesn't need to see our works to know if we are saved (or not).

Here are the promised verses:

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life." John 5:24

"These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name." John 20:31

"To the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." Romans 4:5

"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved; for with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 10:9-10

"By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

"He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy" Titus 3:5

"These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life." 1 John 5:13​

That's it for now.

Yours and His,
David

 

[LoveDivine]

One passage comes to mind that would support the OP's position:

James 2:14-26New King James Version (NKJV)
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus 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 without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

 

[LoveDivine]

I just noticed after I posted, that the previous reply from St_Worm2 already included this passage.

 

[St_Worm2]

I just noticed after I posted, that the previous reply from St. Worm2 already included this passage.

That's ok, I should have posted the whole passage from James 2 like you did, so thanks ..

 

[jacks]

I believe if you truly have faith, good works follow. And my personal experience is most Christians I know are pretty good. Are they perfect? No where close. Do they mess up? Of course. Are they truly Christlike? Rarely. However, for the most part they are trying and slowing becoming better people and improving their "works".

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Admin Hat...

Thread moved from Formal Debate

Mark
CF Admin

 

[oi_antz]

Saved from what? The consequences of sin (death)? How? By being victorious and eating fruit from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God. Rev 2:7 Therefore, it is sin that warrants our death, and only by taking Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can free us from the consequence of sin. What does this mean "Lord and Savior"? To take as Lord means to give higher honour than one's self. Therefore whatever Jesus tells you, you will respect. Remember Hebrews 4:12 tells us the Word of God is living and powerful. John 1 tells us the Word of God became flesh (Jesus Christ). Then to take Jesus as our Lord means that we will listen attentively, give respect to, honour and obey the living Word of God (not just the bible, but actually the living message of God to us). If someone is not doing this, they are not living out their faith and therefore their faith is dead.

 

[orangeness365]

James 1:22-25
22But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.