good works question...?

Question

Now I know that christians believe you are saved through grace and not through works, but Isaiah 58:6 - 10 says ...
"Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help.“Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply. Remove the heavy yoke of oppression. Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors! Feed the hungry, and help those in trouble.Then your light will shine out from the darkness"

Don't you think good works has something to do with it?

NT references: Titus 2:6-8, James 3:13-18, and James 2:25-26

wow... a lot of you don't READ the question do you? I didn't ask if doing good works is what makes you "saved" I asked if you don't think doing good works has something to do with it... by which I mean do you think you can ask for the grace of god and then just be a lazy person and go on living your life without doing good works..

Answer 1

I think you've answered your own question. Faith and works are both necessary. We prove our faith by our works.

At the same time, everlasting life is a gift that no one can earn by works. Romans 3:23, 24 says, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom [paid] by Christ Jesus."

Here's another scripture to add to your references: John 3:16. Which speaks of exercising faith. Faith was never meant to be a passive belief.

Answer 2

You ask the wrong question. There is no such thing as grace vs. works. The question is faith vs. works. The Church Christ founded, the Catholic Church, has always taught what the Bible teaches, that faith and works are both essential for salvation, but that grace is the source of both the required faith and the required works of Christian charity. Therefore salvation IS by grace alone, and not by our own efforts. But salvation is not by faith alone, since the Bible plainly states that we will each be judged on our works, and that those who have no works to show will not be saved, regardless of what they claim to believe. Just read the last paragraph of Matt 25.
.

Answer 3

Jesus himself in the bible said over and over again that works is required. He even told the young ruler to fulfill the law first before he can follow him. Jesus told man to bear there own cross, and walk in HIS example! He told them to be as he is, that the disciple should "be as" teacher, insomuch to say that "be ye perfect as your father in heaven is perfect." Jesus says so, so why do people speak otherwise? He said there is a narrow path, this is a narrow way of application through his example.

So Jesus say it is....

Answer 4

You can not earn salvation, therefore it is a free gift.

But just because it is free, doesn't mean there aren't requirements.

If you don't have faith you won't be saved, so faith is a requirement.

If you don't repent and turn around you will not be saved, so repentance is a requirement.

If you don't have love, then your faith is worthless, so love is a requirement.

If we are hypocites, we are white washed graves, so living by Christ standards, and by our own statement of faith are requirements.

I hope this helps

Answer 5

Jesus freed us to live the way God intended. The things you've listed are things we were meant to do. Jesus didn't want us to point our finger or spread rumors. He wanted us to point to Heaven and bring it here, spreading it all around, here, now.

Answer 6

Good works seems to be like the icing on the cake. The cake by itself is nice, but with icing, turns into what it was meant to be.

Answer 7

They are certainly related, Faith and Works.

As C.S. Lewis said: "Arguing which is more important (faith vs. works) is like arguing about which blade of a pair of scissors is more important" !!

Answer 8

Thats one reason I stayed Catholic. Its everywhere in the Bible, as you have pointed out. Catholics are encouraged to get out and help--to make a difference.

Answer 9

Good works are evidence of true saving faith, not a means to it.

Answer 10

here is what I think:

what we do could NEVER top what God did for us
(Jesus' death on the cross)

the reson why Jesus/God wants us to be this way to others is so that they can see the LOVE of God through us & perhaps want to get to know about God because of
our actions towards them.
Hope this helps