M.S. Christians, Mormons, JWs: Which is right? faith or faith + works for salvation?

Question

M.S. meaning: "mainstream" Christians. I hate to use this term, but I needed to differentiate between the different groups for a variety of answerers.

Please state your faith so I can know what you believe.

Answer 1

This is a "chicken or egg" kind of question. Faith in Jesus Christ saves. However, faith without works, is dead. Therefore, one MUST have works in order to have faith. Therefore, one MUST do works in order to be saved.

Though taking it to that extreme is a futile exercise in semantics. The bottom line is that if one truly believes (ie has faith), one will "walk the walk" as well as "talk the talk". If someone proclaims to have faith, but their actions say otherwise, they don't really have faith. That is one of the core messages that Jesus taught while He was on the earth.

Answer 2

Actually, technically neither. In Ephesians 2 we read:

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift -not from works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:8-9 (HCSB)

Salvation is a free gift of God. Our faith appropriates that which as already been done. It's all God's idea but the choice of whether we accept the gift is down to us.

Let me explain it this way. Suppose someone rings you up and says I hear you'd like a new car. Well go down to the dealers give them your name and you can drive it away, all paid for. Now you have to get off your backside and get there that's the faith bit. But you can't claim your going there (faith) earned it or that you deserved it as it is a free gift paid in full by someone else. Now once you get the car you can't just stick it on the driveway as it'd be pointless. So you have to use the car. This is works, but again your driving has not earned you the car! The same with our faith it must result in actions (works) or it is dead i.e useless and pointless. (James 2:14 and 1 John 3:16-20).

Faith is Christian - denomination New Frontiers (Evangelical)

Answer 3

Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave his followers a preaching assignment to “make disciples of people of all the nations . . . teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.” One cannot ignore this work and still consider himself to be a true Christian. This is not "salvation by works." This is carryng out a direct command from Jesus. Faith is important. But as James 2:26 says: "Faith without works is dead."

Answer 4

Works can't save you.

Works are evidence that you have faith and have accepted Christ. In other words, a person that has never performed good works will never get to heaven, but it won't be because of the lack of works. It will be because he/she doesn't have sufficient faith in Christ, and works will merely be a reflection of that.

"Faith without works is dead, being alone", i.e. faith isn't complete and real unless it produces such a change in you that your works begin to become like those of Christ.

-Epistle of James

Answer 5

It depends on your definition of salvation.
If salvatin means to be resurrected from death, and saved from the original sins. then by the grace of Christ , all mankind is saved, even without faith, you will be resurrected.

but to LDS, salvation means more than just being resurrected. It means able to be exalted, and be pefected like heavenly Father. Which means, pefection takes "good work" which clearly explain by James:

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

(New Testament | James 2: 21-22 , 24)

Answer 6

The Jehovah's Witnesses are true Christians.
The Jehovah's Witnesses are well known for the fact that they reject firmly everything that has pagan origins and false teachings such as Christmas, Easter, trinity, afterlife, immortality of the soul etc.

They are the only ones who go from door-to-door in an organized way respecting Jesus' and his apostles' example.

"And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus." -- Acts 5:42

"Now he summoned the twelve, and he initiated sending them out two by two, and he began to give them authority over the unclean spirits." -- Mark 6:7



For more information go to:
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1999/3/15/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/rq/article_11.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1998/10/1/article_02.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/article_01.htm
http://www.watchtower.org/library/jt/article_05.htm

Answer 7

Faith only, is what is needed for salvation. HOWEVER, works demonstrate that your faith is real and alive. Without any works, the faith probably isn't really there.

- Christian

Answer 8

true worshipers do what Jesus spoke. Jehovah´s witnesses obey Jesus.

John 4:23-24 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him.

Luke 1:32 This one will be great and will be called Son of the Most High; and Jehovah God will give him the throne of David his father.

PSalms 83:18 That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah,
You alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Answer 9

Faith without works is dead.

You have to have faith, and you have to show that faith through your actions on what the Bible teaches.

Answer 10

Works that stem from faith. There are many examples of this.