How many people know that they are saved by the grace of God and not just good works?

Question

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

Like this scripture says God saves people based on their faith which rewards them with his grace. Many religions such as Catholicism which really isn't Christianity, believe that you have to earn your salvation through rituals and rights. Jesus came to save us from the curse of sin and death through the law (old testament sacrifices and laws) since it was weak through the flesh(romans8:2) meaning that that man can't achieve salvation based on his mortal power. Man needs God's spiritual and eternal power to be perfect like him.

Answer 1

Except for the little condition that people keep putting in there, you have to accept. Interesting that you didn't say that. But that would be a work.

Catholicism is Christianity, but the emphasis is more on avoiding hell than meriting heaven. A sufficiently holy life can achieve this, with merits additionally being applied by the bride of Christ and the saints. Hence works as being important -- and defended.

Catholicism is a sound theology that has its priests going to school for many years in order to reach their status. They have their bases covered with apologetics, do not underestimate them.

Answer 2

Not of works, but work, the work first "finished" in John 17; For sin, when "it is finished"(John 19) brings forth "death": James 1:15. Not to mention do the will of God precedes receive the promise: Hebrews 10:36; And the will of God is: "I will have mercy(grace), and not sacrifice(law)": Ps 40:6; 51:16; Hos 6:6; Mt 9:13; Heb 10: also notes God never desired sacrifice for sin, nor ever took pleasure in such law law.

As for faith: "the law is not of faith": Galatians 3:12

Law: a schoolmaster that failed every student: Rom 9:31
Grace: I will never leave thee nor forsake thee: Heb 13:5

The GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ with you all. Amen.

Answer 3

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

Romans 8:2

Answer 4

Faith and Grace come first. The works should be a natural response to following Jesus and wanting God's will to be done. There cannot be one without the other.

May God Bless you.

Answer 5

hehehe! i love this particular verse. it implies that being a good person and doing nice things is a worthless waste of time since such attitudes and actions don't get you kudo points from the Bible god. why bother to be a good person when all ya have to do is say the magic words. "jesus christ died on the cross to save me from my sins" and poof! you get into heaven no matter what. if your a selfish greedy miser or even a murderer if you're a Christian you're "saved" but a nonChristian who has lived a selfless saintly life ends up in teeth gnashing agony forever. yep ... the Bible god is all about "justice".

Answer 6

OH that old argument? Paul was in reference to the fact that Christians are saved by the faith that Abraham had rather than the works of the Law. Get your facts straight dude. If good works were not important then why the heck did Jesus teach us to forgive or why did he heal sins? Hey what about Judas? He surely believed that Jesus was divine but yet through bad works he fell into perdition?

Answer 7

Well, I’m sure you know the Bible better than I do, so tell me—does it say somewhere in the Bible that we shouldn’t confess our sins to a man? That we should confess our sins to God alone?

Well, if we’re not supposed to confess our sins to men, I’m a little confused. Maybe you can explain this to me. Doesn’t James 5:16 tell us that we are to confess are sins to men? And, in Matthew 9:8, why does God give the authority on earth to forgive sins to men if we are supposed to confess our sins to God alone?Read Matthew 9:8.....What does that mean?

The Catholic Church teaches that both faith and works play a role in our salvation. But I think you believe in salvation by faith alone, right? Where in the Bible does it say that we are saved by faith alone?

What it says in the Bible speaks of belief in Christ or "faith." Catholics believe we are saved by faith, and our understanding of faith means that we believe Jesus is God, and, therefore, we trust what he says and we do as he asks, which demonstrates our love for him. That’s biblical (Matt. 5:48; 19:16–17; John 14:21; Gal. 5:5–6). But nowhere does the Bible say that we are saved by faith "alone."

If we are saved by faith alone, then do we need to love in order to be saved? If so, then we are not saved by faith alone, are we? We are saved by faith and love—which Catholics refer to as faith working through love (cf. Gal. 5:6). If a person says we do not need love in order to be saved, then he is saying we can get to heaven without loving God or our fellow man—a patently ridiculous position to take. Also, if faith alone saves us, faith without love, why does 1 Corinthians 13:13 say that love is greater than faith? After all, if salvation is the greatest thing we can achieve, and it is by faith alone that we achieve salvation, then faith should be greater than love. But the Bible says differently.

Answer 8

"Not everyone that saith unto me 'Lord Lord' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven."

But the Baptists have a better idea. Go and kneel at the preacher's altar and do the special incantation, and say 'Lord Lord' or words to that effect, and you are spontaneously saved.

The beauty of it is, you can still sin. (You can't find a better deal anywhere, not even in the Catholic church.)

The Baptists and other church people have a better idea than Jesus' idea.

Contact your local Baptist church for details, and please have your credit card ready.

Answer 9

I am not in need of being saved, thanks for your concern. Should I ever find my self drowning or getting mugged or something, I'd appreciate some saving, but physical saving. My soul is fine.

Answer 10

Thanks for the info. Now I can go forth and sin some more.