do we just IGNORE JAMES and continue believing that we can be saved through grace alone?
or ...might works play into the equation?
2007-03-26 09:52:20 · 12 answers · asked by juanes addicion 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Anyone who's really saved will be driven to do good works
answer the question..is it one OR the other???
2007-03-26 09:57:42 · update #1
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
2007-03-26 09:59:12 · update #2
26 For as the body without the aspirit is bdead, so faith without cworks is dead also.
2007-03-26 09:59:46 · update #3
so we're not saved just because we BELIEVE in him....
we actually have to have works?
why work..if we're saved merely by believing?
2007-03-26 10:01:30 · update #4
Let me try to explain it to you this way:
Someyears ago, my son gave me, for Mother's Day, a rose bush. Together, we put it in the yard, and for years, it gave me joy with it's beautiful roses.
Then, one day, we moved. Now, even though I know roses don't transplant well, I couldn't bear to leave my son's love gift behind, especially since he had now grown up and left home, so, I carefully dug it up and took it along, and carefully planted it in our new yard.
Sadly, I watched as it's branches grew brittle, dry and brown. That first year, I was sure my precious rose bush was dead, but I couldn't just give up. I dug around the roots, I gave it special rose food, I tended it carefully, even though I thought it was dead...
And sure enough, the following spring, I was rewarded by seeing hesitant green leaves begin to come out on newly formed stems. Again, I pruned, dug, fed, and tended, but...no flowers that year.
Now, two or three years later, my little rose bush is blooming more beautifully than ever.
Those flowers are proof that the bush is NOT dead, just as good works in the life of a Christian are proof that his faith is NOT dead. Faith may go through some rough times, and the branches may look brown and brittle, but be sure that Jesus is carefully digging, feeding and tending...and new blooms WILL appear. It is His promise.....
2007-03-26 10:27:58 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The "works" of Paul's writing are the sacrifices and other "works of the Law" which the Jews held onto. Paul agrees with James about WHAT the saved person DOES. The supposed conflict arises from different definitions being applied to the words translated "work" and "faith."
2007-03-26 17:14:27 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course works play into the equation. We must have faith in Christ in order to partake of the grace offered. Faith includes works. Therefore, works are necessary, along with faith, to be saved. The scriptures seem pretty clear on this point.
2007-03-26 16:57:23 · answer #3 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
True faith produces works. We do not deserve to be saved (hence the grace), we cannot "earn" our salvation, but if we truly believe in and love God, we should do good works. Faith without works is dead.
2007-03-26 16:56:50 · answer #4 · answered by Laura H 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you faith is true and alive then works are the natural by product of that faith. Faith without works is evidence of a dead, or false faith. Works alone do not provide salvation.
2007-03-26 16:56:53 · answer #5 · answered by thatswhatshesaid 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Faith without works is dead!!!!!!! We are saved by grace, and it will be shown in our works.
If I was to hire you to work for me, I expect you to show me that you appreciate your job by doing your work. In the same manner the reason we are still on this Earth is to show other people Christ, by our works. If you are not going to lead others to Christ the best thing we could do for you is, right after you accept Christ we would kill you before you have a chance to turn your back on God and walk away from HIS salvation.
2007-03-26 17:02:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Works are the result of Grace. We most certainly are saved by Grace alone.
The thief on the cross was saved by grace through faith as we all are.
Further the Apostle Paul wrote that ..."For by grace are ye saved through faith; that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." ( Ephesians 2:8-9
2007-03-26 16:58:49 · answer #7 · answered by bonsai bobby 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone who's really saved will be driven to do good works, so the whole thing works out by itself.
2007-03-26 16:56:12 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The passaging is talking about proving your faith by works, not that we are saved by works
2007-03-26 16:59:08 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Catholicism is based on James.
Although works are needed to be done. The works are done as a result of being saved.
Done before, they are as filthy rags.
They are not necessary to be saved.
Faith in itself is a work.
2007-03-26 17:02:22 · answer #10 · answered by chris p 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋