do you think we seek salvation by faith, works, or both?

Question

I as a catholic believe both. but a lot of christians think you just have to have faith and you can go to heaven. they think all you need to do is accept jesus as lord savior, and your good to go. you can be a murderer even, and not repent but still accept jesus and be good.

i think we seek salvation by both. in the OT it was all works, and when a prophet came they were merely a prophet. i think jesus wasn't just merely a prophet, he was more, but i still think we have to be good people to go to heaven. if hitler was saved, he still doesn't deserve heaven (unless he repents, and if hell wasn't eternal and i were god i might let him in later on)

i'm a liberal and would love it to be by just faith but i just don't see how it can be.

so what do you think?

so lightangel i could be a murderer, killing thousands, not even repent but still believe in god and i can go to heaven? the MS 13 gang.. they love god more then anyone i have seen but they kill people and don't repent.. they get into heaven?

i think they should eventually get to heaven as long as they repent, and if they repent then yes they should,but if they don't you think god will let them in heaven because they believed?

Answer 1

If Hitler were saved, he wouldn't have done what he did now would he? (consider Matthew 7:15ff)

Jesus told a woman, as recorded in Luke 7:50, "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." (as well as a blind man in Luke 18:42)

In Ephesians 2:8-9 we find, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

James 2:14ff has more. While it is not a contradiction, some people suppose it to be. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"--this is talking about evidence of faith seen in godly works. Abraham had to do his deed, as the following parts of the passage declare, but it was the faith of following God's command that counted, not the act in and of itself. We don't go offering our children on altars as sacrifices. (consider Romans 4 for more on Abraham, particularly, v. 20, "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God")

As king Saul was told in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry."

Consider the story of the rich young ruler that came to Jesus. In the Mark 10 passage, Jesus says, "One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me." What was the "one thing"? If you believe it was works, then the answer was "sell whatsoever thou hast". If you believe it was faith, then the answer is "come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Is following Jesus then an act of faith or works?

Hitler's works show he wasn't following Christ. But the works, as works, do not save us any way. As with the Samuel passage, Saul was given a kingdom, but God took it away because of Saul's works or lack thereof. It was obedience that God wanted. Saul didn't respect God's wishes. Saul, and Hitler, and everyone else that fits, did not receive their salvation, not because of their works, but because of their unbelief. (consider the end of Matthew 13 or early in Mark 6)

I like John 14:1-3, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also."

What do I think? I think it wonderfully kind that God would offer me more than just this pitiful little existence. I have to trust (faith) and obey (works).

Answer 2

Believing in faith is the only requirement to get saved, but we have to work at our salvation in order to grow. Just because we obey the traditions and do what were told, doesn't mean that we are saved. And just because we believe that Jesus is the Son of God doesn't mean we are saved. (the demons believe and tremble).
We must have a meaningful relationship with Christ on a daily basis , using faith, and doing the works that He has called us to do.You have heard the expression used, What is faith without works, or works without faith? The two go hand in hand. But initially it only takes faith in accepting Jesus as ones Savior to recieve the gift of salvation. People on thier death beds don't have time to good works, but can still get saved if they believe in faith even at the last dying breath.

Answer 3

Salvation is by Faith alone in Jesus alone. Eternal rewards are earned through works.

The OT is the book of the law for the Jews. Christians were set free from the Law by the Death and Resurrection of Jesus.

Paul teaches this in his writings. And he also teaches that by doing good works, we earn treasures in heaven. Examples of the treasures are the crowns you may wear, the size of the mansiion you will live in.

If Hitler were saved, then he would be in Heaven. But, he would not have many (if any) rewards.

Answer 4

Hey that first answer is really good btw. But hey i was a catholic at one time and im telling u right now. U need to question your faith. Religion is mans way to god. God left it to men to decide on how they would worship god and Jesus christ. To catholics he gave the keys to Peter and thats what started the catholic church. Now its by grace that we are saved. Not by works. Catholics would say we are saved not by works alone... yeah not much of a difference but a huge decision has to be made. If u stopped going to church then u wouldnt be doing works and to catholics u would go to hell for lack of confession and reconcileation. Or u would go to purgatory because of gods grace. WELL, u are a liberal catholic, and guilt from not doing works will continue to scrape u. But u cant earn your way into heaven. just know that. I mean how much price can u put on eternal life? Yes hitler might of been saved but, it was thru grace. Just read the bible and figure it all out for yourself.

Answer 5

It's by faith alone, lest any man boasts! Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of works, lest anyone should boast. (For by God's grace I have been saved through believing/faith in the redemptive work of my Lord Jesus Christ & his atonement for me on the cross. Not by my own works in trying to atone, lest I boast!)
And Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Lord & Savior who is the Word made man. The disciple James said that faith without works is dead. (James 2:20 - But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 2:22 - Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?)

And Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, our Lord & Savior who is the Word made man.
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:17 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Answer 6

This is a tricky question but I think we receive salvation through faith and we keep our salvation through continual faith and by works but we can't get to heaven by works alone.

Answer 7

Works without faith is useless.

Faith without works is dead.

We are justified by faith, and faith is seen through our works.

Read James.

James 2:14-26


14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

Answer 8

Blind Faith,people live on that but i chose a different route and i',m ok with it 4 now.I still love life GOD JESUSAnd my family i Get confused as well but that is life one question answered than a new one

Answer 9

Salvation is by grace through faith. Works are the evidence of salvation.

Answer 10

That's funny, because when I went through eight years of Catholic school, the nuns NEVER told me I was saved by anything I did, but because Jesus the Christ loves me enough to have died to pay for my sins. It is by Grace alone that we are saved, lest we boast. YBIC

Answer 11

Salvation by FAITH-- Proven by Works!



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