if we are not judged by our actions, but by our beliefs...?

Question

why define any action as a sin? it's completely pointless. if all that matters is whether we accept christ as our savior then there is no need for the bible.

Answer 1

Do you think the Bible is just a book full of lists of SINS?

You couldnt be more wrong. It is a history of Gods dealings with mankind, and tells the story of just how God will re establish His rightful rule and reign in both heaven AND on the earth. He uses two specific groups of people to accomplish these goals. One is the Nation of Israel, and ONE is the church the Body of Christ.

We DO need the bible, and we need to follow Gods instructions as to how to properly handle the instructions found IN IT. We need to acknowledge that there is a difference between Judaism and Christianity and that they arent the SAME.
When you learn how to rightly divide the Bible: ie , recognizing what parts are written TO and ABOUT the Nation Israel (Gen thru Acts) and (Hebrews thru Revelation), and which portions are specifically written TO and ABOUT we who are His Body (Romans thru Philemon) then it all makes sense and you know EXACTLY what God expects of you today.

God has already judged ALL sin at the Cross. There is no more sin for Him to judge. The only thing we will be judged on is whether or not we believed that what Jesus did at Calvary was ENOUGH for God to reconcile us to Himself. That gets us SAVED BUT that is just the beginning.

God says "He desires that ALL men be saved AND that they come to a full (epignosis/greek) knowledge of the truth."

Once you begin to study all the Bible according to 2 Tim 2:15 and rightly divide it according to Israel or The Body?, you will understand exactly why God will judge each man by what he believes.

Answer 2

The idea that by grace alone, and not works whatsoever, we are saved is absolutely ludicrous. It is a huge reason why people constantly bash my religion, mormon, because we believe that faith and works go hand in hand. How anyone cant believe in works is beyond me. If you truly believed something, wouldnt you be doing the works??? Jesus atoned for our sins and that gave us a path by which we can be saved if we not only just believe, but actively repent, which is not just faith. It actually requires action. Repentance is not just saying you are sorry. It is saying you are sorry, trying to make up for your actions if they did harm, and then actively trying to never do them again. Faith alone does nothing if you arent repenting. Christ opened the door but we have to walk thru it.
You cant just believe in Christ and you will be saved because nobody that truly believed in Christ would ignore his word to do his work. If you arent doing his works then you dont truly believe in Christ. Faith without works means nothing because it really isnt true faith. I can say I believe in anything, but if my actions tell a different story it doesn't make my claim to believe true.
I would rather a person engage in christlike behavior, such as charity, and not be into religion, then have a person claim to believe in Christ and do nothing but go to church and never lift a finger to help anyone. In my opinion the person dedicating their life to charity is being more christlike then the person that goes to church all the time.

Faith without works means nothing. You will never convince me otherwise. Noone can be saved by claiming a belief they never actually practice.

Answer 3

Just quit thinking like a man and put on the mind of Christ! Good luck! Jimmy.

Answer 4

Our actions SHOW if our faith is real, like James said in chapter two:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Actions or good deeds won't save us. Salvation is Jesus' job. BUT, our CHANGED LIVES will show if our salvation is real. Do you still lie like you used to, or steal little things from your work place, or lose your temper etc. like you always did? Then no change has taken place, which proves that your salvation was just head knowledge. A CHANGED LIFE is the evidence of true faith.
Jesus said, "If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love.
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you." John 15:10+12

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen." 1.John 4:20

Answer 5

But when you believe in Jesus and love him you'll want to follow his example. You'll be hungry for the Bible in the same way we all hunger for food. There are certain things a follower of Jesus just won't do because those things are wrong.

Answer 6

Beliefs are measured by one's actions.

"I will show you my faith by my works." James 2:18

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Answer 7

You are judged by your actions. If you don't believe me, tell it to the judge.

Answer 8

At the very least, if there was no Bible, you wouldn't know when to be grateful.

Answer 9

I disagree with your premise. Jesus said that at the time of the judgement, He would separate the sheep and the goats. If we are not judged by our actions, then what does this passage mean?

34
Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,
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naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
37
Then the righteous 16 will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
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When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
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When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'
40
And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'
41
17 Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
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For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
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a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'
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18 Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'
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He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'
46
And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

Answer 10

Which is why the Bible is a book of contradictions.