Why is there still confusion over salvation by faith and good works?

Question

I've asked this question, another person pointed out that another answerer brought a good point about works but because the answer came from a Buddhist many kept with the idea of 'faith alone salvation' even though this person was inspired to go out and do something. 'Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, that you do unto me'...does this resonate with anyone? It really should in my opinion. The world isn't collapsing i.e Darfur, Iraq etc because of lack of prayer, it's because no one is really taking action to help. Man created the problem but no one is going to fly down from anywhere and fix it. That is like burying your head in the sand.
We CAN make a difference with our actions and we are at the point where we MUST act. I am really having a hard time with this. Yes, I'm a Buddhist as well, so let's get that out of the way.
Further thoughts?

So, if you sit around and do nothing for others you honestly believe you will be rewarded for this? It makes no sense.

Answer 1

If only we could all live by that simple truth. I appreciate the buddhist beliefs and I have always lived by the golden rule and have had faith in the higher power (s) above me. The # one thing to me is taking care of what is in the here and the now. We all have the power to make a difference - most just believe 'someone' else will come along. The truth of the matter is - society is waiting to be saved. and I don't mean at the point of their death like the christians are obssessed with. I mean - if we want something good to come out of this place we have to get up and do it. practice what we preach.

Answer 2

I'm with you, although everyone's actions are their own private matter. I don't believe a group effort will get people into heaven any faster than a solitary effort. I'm not in politics so I can't help in Darfur or Iraq, but I will pray for them. And as for the conflicts going on there and the rest of the world, I use it as an inspiration, to remind myself of what I have and what I can do to help others. I don't think war will solve the problem, and I am a firm believer that hate spreads more hate, so although it might sound like a good idea to roll over Iraq with a bunch of tanks, I don't think that is the best way to solve the problem. How I see it is, the Middle East has extreme problems revolving around dogmatic beliefs, and although the West is not as bad, I think our mental temperaments are just as chaotic, the only difference is we usually do not take it to the level of violence. However verbal insults is just as bad if not worse because of our freedom of speech. I think that muslim teenagers are confused and isolated children that are being manipulated to give themselves to Allah for no good cause at all. I am not going to say that I have the one perfect solution to this problem, although I think that the more people who understand religion and spirituality, as a blessing, and not a dogmatic watchdog or control method, the more the world will be able to know peace. Because two things are for sure. One is that nations bicker because one side has fewer resources than the other, and people bicker because they have retalliation and hate in their hearts. Both can be solved only by people themselves, and we can not expect a political body to intervene, since that body is made up of people. It is within everybody's best interests if we limited our wants and desires, and learned to control our temperaments and portray patience and understanding rather than hate.

Answer 3

I find it strange that many of the same people that are against war want us to stop so called Muslims in Africa from committing the atrocities that they are performing there.

What are we supposed to do? Go to war in Africa. Would that make them happy? It didn't make them happy when we helped Ethiopia against Somalia recently. Why don't they make up their minds?! I think that I know the answer-- it's getting close to another election, and the Libs are wanting to bait and switch George Bush, no matter which military personnel might die. The Libs that are in power know exactly what they are doing.

As to faith and works-- it's because we have the wonderful half brother of Jesus in the Bible being the said author of the Letter of James. He got it worng, and Christians are trying to reconcile Paul with James-- which is not what should happen. James was simply wrong.

If you go to factoropinion.net and begin to ask me more about this, I will show you that James was a Legalist. By using the Bible I will make it blatant, obvious, doubtless.

I am known as KingReef there.

Answer 4

How bout this: Hate black people. Hate Jews. Hate Catholics. Beat your significant different. forget approximately approximately your little ones. circumvent going to church. purchase your liquor in a close-by city to circumvent been considered as a drinker. and then merely SAY you're stored. it is so elementary! sign me up. faith without sturdy WORKS IS lifeless. If what you declare to have faith does no longer impression your life yet is merely words, then I heavily doubt which you're "stored" in any way, shape or variety. lots less demanding than the sacrifices needed to attempt to stay the Christian life. merely say the words and you will hate everybody else who sees issues in yet differently. merely ask Jerry Falwell. carry forth against virtually each and every thing, and merely pretend Gluttony merely would not be conscious to you. There now, wasn't that undemanding? merely SAY you think. No reason to ought to circumvent gluttony or hatred or intolerance once you're already save-duh. That merely would not artwork. yet admitting that could desire to take openness and honesty. sturdy success.

Answer 5

Paul says in Ephesians 4..."It is by grace that you are saved by faith and not by works.It is a gift of God (one can't earn a gift otherwise it is wages) least any man boast ( say "I worked more than you therefore I'm more saved than you")Jesus taught in a parable that those who work for salvation(He used farm workers for an example)who start early in the morning and work until night,the ones that started at late afternoon were just as saved as the ones who started in the morning.When they complained the "Farmer" said "You agreed to a wage for work and I paid it,why be mad at me for being generous with my money to the ones who started late".
So it doesn't matter ,works are the result of our gratefulness for salvation not the wages for salvation.When we are saved we are like a good tree and fruit(works) grows on a good tree ,not before the tree is good.
All God asks us to do is believe on the one that he has sent.
The only Biblical wages mentioned are the "Wages of sin are death" you can have that wage!!

Answer 6

In the Christian view of the world, every one has done wrong against God and against their fellow man, this is called sin. We are born into this state of existence and are incapable of getting ourselves out of this problem because we aren't God. Only God has the knowledge, the power, the love, etc. to fix the problem, so man being incapable of saving himself because of his sin cannot starting obeying his way out of the problem he is in, He must have faith in God's solution to the problem which is Jesus Christ. As a result of our faith in Jesus Christ man will be declared righteous, because Jesus was perfectly righteous and did no sin. Good works without the God the Creator and Author of this world being the source for the good works is merely end's up being men doing good works to fulfill man's own desires and men have a bent toward evil desires.

Answer 7

I think when Christian people tell you you have to be saved by faith, it really means: "You ask too many inconvenient questions. Can't you just believe because I say so?"

When they tell you you have to be saved by works, they mean, "The church fellowship hall needs a thorough cleaning. You weren't doing anything Saturday, were you?"

Answer 8

You are right. Faith is worthless. As a Buddhist, you shouold know living compassionately is the only thing that will help.

Answer 9

Im sorry to inform you of this,but you can work your fingers to the bone,helping others,feeding the hungry ,,clothing the poor,give to every charity in the world,and still you are lost,and will not enter the Kingdom of God. It is not by works,lest any man should boast, But by FAITH alone are we saved from Hell. Buddist you are so sadly mis-informed, Please believe me,God said it is FAITH and FAITH alone,that saves a mans soul.There is only one God,One way to Heaven,and that is thru Faith in the God of Abraham,Jacob and Isac, The God who died for us all, There are no other Gods. Because there are no other TRUE GODS,accept the one who died on Calvary.,and rose again,and assended unto the Father, He went to the cross and was cricified,so that you and I,and any buddist that believes the truth,any muslem that believes the truth,, might have eternal life. God loves the Buddist,the Muslims the Mormons, he still loves the catholics that pray to Mary,instead of Him.He loves the ones that He created, regardless of how mis-informed they are.But he will not save any of their souls at judgement day,unless they have surrendered their lives to him,and have believed in Him,worshiped Him,and lived for Him. Any one who worships,prays to, or believes in a wooden God,a Human God,or a statue that represents a God,will never see the kingdom of Heaven. And Beleve me there are no virgins awaiting a single person on the other side,there is only Heaven or Hell.

Answer 10

I don't know just stupidity and jealousy. If the Apostles understood things as Faith alone they could have just stayed in the upper room and prayed for everybody and they didn't have to go out and evangelize and get martyred.