If you use Matthew 7 to disprove faith alone, you shoot yourself in the foot

[Guojing]

No, I do not agree. And I do not agree because I know what it means. They are using the term "works" to describe several different categories of actions. One case is Ephesians 2 where the writer uses the term to mean previous works. The writer goes into detail on all of the things the Ephesians were wrapped up in but God offered them salvation despite themselves contingent on their repentance. Jesus offers to repay us based on our works, meaning good works of mercy and charity. Those are the works James states as necessary for salvation. The other "works" are the "works of the law" -such as circumcision- that have never been part of Christianity.

I was asking you to consider the hypothetical “if” part, but I can see it’s impossible for you to do that.

Alright then, thanks for sharing.

 

[fhansen]

Many people often use this passage from Matthew 7 trying to disprove "faith alone" salvation,

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." - Matthew 21:23

Do you seriously think this is teaching works-based salvation? In my opinion it is one of the best and clearest passages in the entire Bible to prove that salvation is indeed faith alone. Think for a second, why exactly are those people in the passage not going to heaven? Because they were boasting with their works. Asking things like, have we not done many wonderful works. If you think you are going to heaven by your works, in reality God looks down from heaven and sees you as a worker of iniquity.

It's one of the best go-to passages if you want to prove that salvation is by faith-alone, and yet some people are so blinded that they use it in attempts to prove the opposite.

The passage shows very clearly that sin/iniquity- something we do-will continue to separate us from God.