2007-03-26 14:50:06 · 19 answers · asked by ghispilon 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
We are saved by grace, not by works, so that no one can boast.
We are saved by grace alone. Recall that in Acts 16:31 the jailer asked Paul and Silas how to be saved. They responded, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved." The jailer believed and immediately became saved.
Close to 200 times in the New Testament salvation is said to be by faith alone - with no works in sight. Consider the following:
John 3:15 tells us that "everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
John 5:24 says, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my words and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life."
In John 11:25 Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies."
John 23:46 says, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 20:31 says, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
If salvation were not by faith alone, then Jesus' message in the Gospel of John - manifest in the above quotations - would be deceptive, stating that there is one condition for salvation when there are allegedly two - faith and works.
I must emphasize that we are saved by faith for works. Works are not the condition of our salvation, but a consequence of it We are saved not by works, but by the kind of faith that produces works.
Eph 2:8-10 God saved you by his special favor when you believed. And you can't take credit for this: It is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
2007-03-26 15:53:50 · answer #1 · answered by Freedom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nobody really believes you are saved by good works. Everyone that calls themselves a Christian (Catholics too), knows that we are saved through the Grace of Jesus' Merits from his death and Resurrection from the cross. Don't try to split hairs. A person's faith from this grace makes them WANT to do good works. You know the Apostles didn't just sit in the upper room and pray for everyone, --- they got out there and did works. This is why they call the book in the New Testament "ACTS".
2007-03-26 22:01:27 · answer #2 · answered by Midge 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are not saved by good works. Ephesians 2:8-9 says for by grace are ye saved by faith, not of yourself, for it is a gift of God, not of works, last any man should boast. Being a good person won't get you into Heaven, only Jesus will
2007-03-26 21:57:41 · answer #3 · answered by the pink baker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes Ghislain, Jesus did say it a different way, He advised us that we all need to be 'born-again' which is a choice we make and that The Creator God, honors, when we are born again The Holy Spirit fills our hearts, minds, spirits, souls and total being. As we live this newly born life, we start to change from wanting to do everything for our own selfish purposes, and desire to live under God's Word (which is really simply Love!) When God honors our request to be a part of His Life and Truth, He enables us to do that by giving us The Gift of HIS HOLY SPIRIT....His Holy Spirit living in us incites us to do good works and to love God, our own selves, and all others too.
You can find many great resolutions to controversy or clarification of questions at The Source.
Enjoy Life and be Blessed :) !
2007-03-26 22:00:12 · answer #4 · answered by mabzar 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a mix of good works and grace. We accept the grace of Christ by what we do in our lives. If you are helping your fellow man, serving others and trying to live the commandments, you are doing good works. I think if you believe that only grace will save you, you will be sorely mistaken when you are judged (Matthew 7:21-24). Although, people who have never had the chance to learn about Christ will be judged by what they did in life, and how well they lived by what they believed, not on whether they believed in Christ. I think it may be different for each of us, depending on what we believe. If you live what you believe, then you will be better off then if you don't.
2007-03-26 22:31:21 · answer #5 · answered by odd duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Matthew 16:24-28... pay attention to V 27...
24 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
Yes, my works are necessary, but they aren't worth sh-- without what Jesus has done. My salvation is a team effort-- Both my best effort and Jesus' sacrifice. Jesus has done His part, now it's up to me to do my best- obey, repent, change, grow.....
2007-03-26 22:51:55 · answer #6 · answered by Yoda's Duck 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Of course he is. Grace is what saves; salvation comes from faith, not by good works, as He has already open the path for us, and for each believer, his work on the cross and resurrection are made worthy.
2007-03-26 21:55:03 · answer #7 · answered by Yiya 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes.
'Consider all of the people who live in the remote regions of the world who have never even heard the "gospel" of Jesus Christ. Consider the people who have naturally adhered to the religion of their parents and nation as they had been taught to do since birth. If we are to believe the Christians, all of these people will perish in the eternal fire for not believing in Jesus. It does not matter how just, kind, and generous they have been with their fellow humans during their lifetime: if they do not accept the gospel of Jesus, they are condemned. No just God would ever judge a man by his beliefs rather than his actions.'
2007-03-26 21:53:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Our good works will not save us only the shed blood of Christ, but when we are saved we practice good works for the glory of God.
2007-03-26 21:54:28 · answer #9 · answered by s. grant 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you can find a verse in the bible where Jesus states we are saved by what we do...I'd be most interested.
2007-03-26 21:57:51 · answer #10 · answered by Esther 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋