Do you think it takes faith & good deeds to get to heaven?

Question

I used to think faith alone would get you into heaven untill I read the book of James. James2:17 - So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
James2:19-20 - You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. How foolish! Can't you see faith without good deeds is useless? James2:26 - Just as the body is dead without breath, so also faith is dead without good works.

( my bible is new living translation )

What do you think? I'd like to know your opinion.

Answer 1

Deeds without faith are just as useless as faith without deeds. The 2 must go together. Do your deeds for God and not for recognition, and your faith in God will present itself in the deeds you do for others.

Answer 2

Hello friend,
Consider this, does a dog bark in order to be a dog, or does a dog bark because he's a dog and that's what dogs do?

I am not being sarcastic. Faith and works are not hard to understand as they relate to the life of a Christian.

If you are Born Again, you had to have faith to get that way. (that faith,by the way was also a gift from God), and having that faith, you will want to know what God wants and want to do it. That faith will produce good works.

Getting to heaven has nothing to do with ANY good works you do or don't do. Entrance to Heaven is through the only Door to Heaven which is Jesus Christ. Having faith in Christ will cause you to do good.

You do good works because you are a Christian, not in order to be one.
Blessings,
2 Tim. 2:7

Answer 3

OK, since you asked:
Think of a rose bush, for instance. Each branch produces beautiful buds, that soon blossom into gorgeous flowers, giving off the most beautiful perfume!
But what happens when a branch is cut away from the bush? Nothing!
We are like the branches on that bush, and the bush, well, that, of course, is none other than Jesus Christ. Apart from Him, no bud, no blossom, no fragrance.
It is your faith that roots you into the bush. The blossoms and the fragrance you produce are the evidence that your faith is alive and growing. Just as a vintner knows that a vine that doesn't produce grapes is dead, and must be cut away, so James could honestly say that faith without works (flowers) is dead.

Answer 4

The issue in James is referring to those who say they are Christian but then never have any change in life, attitude, actions, or relationship with the Father. Saving faith always produces fruit, and if it doesnt, it will be cut from the vine. James is not talking about doing works in order to become saved. Salvaion is by faith alone, through grace alone, from the father alone, through the son alone, for the glory of God alone. (the five pillars of the reformation)

Answer 5

Faith justifies initially, but good works are needed for Salvation.
Having said that, all the faith and works in the world will not do without a third element - God's Sanctifying Grace.

Answer 6

Faith and works are not separable things.

Works are part of faith.

As a Catholic, I do not believe in salvation through faith PLUS works.

That would be saying that I drive across town with a car PLUS an engine.

Rather, I believe in salvation through faith in Christ -- and that good works are one of those things that make my faith alive and "workable."

Good works are one of those things that make up our faith. It's not the only thing, of course, but it is part of faith.

We have no faith without works. At the same time, our works are not really good ones without faith.

Faith without good works is useless -- just as a car without an engine is useless for transportation. They go together.

Answer 7

First get yourself a King James Bible and see what God says` about so called " new edition Bibles "..Read Revelation Chapter 22 , verses 18 through 21, the last 3 verses in the King James Bible...This pretty much tells you what God said about it , and he meant it .......... Next , it looks like you didn`t fully accept the Lord as your Savior when you asked him to forgive you of all your sins . When you get saved there is no doubt about how you get to heaven. When you truly have asked the Lord into your heart with a contrite spirit you become a new creature in Christ , and you want to give up the things the world has to offer , and uplift yourself to live a life as close as you can to the way Christ lived his ! Of course you cannot be Christ , but your life should be lived studying and learning all that you can to bring honor and glory to his Holy name. Thats why we are called Christians , meaning Christ like !! Doing good deeds and living right are the right things to do , but they in of themselves alone will not get you into heaven ! You must be saved by asking the Lord to forgive you of your sins , and you know his son Jesus died on the cross for you and everyone else that will ask and acknowledge this........... You need to read the King James text for the verses you quoted ..James 22 - 18:26 , and notice how the words being omitted and the words being changed around from their original KJ text change the whole meaning of the way it was meant to be read ! Remember what Jesus said in John 3 : 5 - 8 Jesus answered , " VERILY ,VERILY I SAY UNTO THEE , EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT , HE CANNOT ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD...THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH ; AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT... MARVEL NOT THAT I SAY UNTO THEE ,YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN......THE WIND BLOWETH WHERE IT LISTETH , AND THOU HEAREST THE SOUNDTHERE OF , BUT CANST NOT TELL WHENCE IT COMETH , AND WHITHER IT GOETH : SO IS EVERY ONE THAT IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT.................God guild you in your search for the TRUTH..
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Answer 8

Read this: NOBODY is going to heaven, neither hell. If God wanted us to go to heaven he'd have created us there in the first place. He created earth with a purpose. Now, about hell: We have a justice system, the courts, that sets the penalties and punishment for all kinds of crimes. Even life in prison has a time limit (they say "life in prison" because you're not expected to life 120, 200, and so on years). Now, do you think that God will send somebody to "burn" in hell for not one decade, not a millennium, not a billion of a billion years, but for ETERNITY, for what that person did in, let's say, 70 years of life??? That makes no sense.

Besides, Hell, Inferno (Latin), Seoul (Hebrew), Hades (Greek), mean all the same: a grave, a hole in the ground where people are put to rest. It doesn't mean any burning place.

Answer 9

what creates good deeds.....HEART! If you think doing goods deeds like a robot will do it without any attachment-goodluck. one good deed with heart is far superior in importance than doing good things like courteousness which also is important but not life changing.....REMEMBER there's alot of peole out there without limbs, correct state of mind,badluck they've put themselves in,with drug addiction, no sight, unable to hear, quadraplegic or impaired in some manner or even disease stricken(cancer) who could use assistance,help or someone to talk to so they know that other people do care about them & not just the doctors/nurses/family they are with.....nobody likes to deal with a problem alone and when they do, it's harder to make them listen or cooperate with the outside especially if they do need to see a doctor or medical professional. think about it!!!!
Do you still wonder if faith w/ good deeds is even enough w/out passion to get into heaven?sadly, in this world now there's obviously not enough towards one another-almost everywhere but not everyone!!!

Answer 10

Read Ephesians 2 - you are saved by grace through faith without works. The works in James do not get you to heaven but they are proof that your faith is real.