JW do you claim that it must be Faith With Works?

Question

is Salvation Jehovah's Gift or not ?

EPHESIANS 2:8-9 clearly says not
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9Not of works, lest any man should boast.

As does Romans 11:6

6And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Thus a gift with a requirement is not a gift but a payment

if James truly means you must do works then please explain the contradiction in ephesians 2:8

James means that if a man says he has faith and yet does not act in a way that is NOT faithful the man is lying .. not that works are required. In fact it never says they are required

Answer 1

You must have faith but you must work also to make your faith have more impact.....don't hide your light under a bushel....If you love him you tell others so they may know also...share your love.

Answer 2

Our considering the context also helps us to understand what some have claimed is a disagreement between the apostle Paul and James. At Ephesians 2:8, 9, Paul says that Christians are saved by faith, not by works. He says: “You have been saved through faith . . . not owing to works.” James, however, insists on the importance of works. He writes: “As the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26) How can these two statements be reconciled?

Considering the context of Paul’s words, we find that one statement complements the other. The apostle Paul is referring to the efforts of the Jews to keep the Mosaic Law. They believed that if they kept the Law in all its details, they would be righteous. Paul pointed out that this was impossible. We can never become righteous—and thus deserve salvation—by our own works, for we are inherently sinful. We can only be saved by faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice.—Romans 5:18.

James, however, adds the vital point that faith in itself is valueless if not supported by actions. A person who claims to have faith in Jesus should prove it by what he does. An inactive faith is a dead faith and will not lead to salvation.

The apostle Paul was in full agreement with this, and he often mentions the kinds of works that Christians should engage in to demonstrate their faith. For example, to the Romans he wrote: “With the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” Making a “public declaration”—sharing our faith with others—is vital for salvation. (Romans 10:10; see also 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 5:15, 21-33; 6:15; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 10:23-25.) No work, however, that a Christian can do, and certainly no effort to fulfill the Law of Moses, will earn him the right to everlasting life. This is “the gift God gives” to those who exercise faith.—Romans 6:23; John 3:16.

How we appreciate the undeserved kindness from Jehovah through the ransom sacrifice of Christ Jesus! By means of the ransom, we have an approved standing before God. We could never attain this through our own efforts, no matter how diligently we might study the Bible, preach the good news, or perform other good works. Forgiveness of sins and everlasting life are extended to us, not as payment for our efforts, but as gifts reflecting Jehovah’s undeserved kindness through Jesus Christ.—Rom. 11:6.

Answer 3

In Eph2:8-9,Paul is saying that the entire provision for salvation is an expression of God's undeserved kindness or as you put it 'grace'.There is no way a descendent of Adam can gain salvation on his own,no matter how noble his works are.Salvation is a gift from God given to those who put faith in the sin-atoning value of the sacrifice of his Son.
At James 2:14,26, James is stating that a person does not earn salvation by his works.But anyone who has genuine faith will have works to go with it- works of obedience to the commands of God and Christ,works that demonstrate his faith and love.Without such works,his faith is dead.
Illustration:
A young man may court a young lady,telling her that he loves her.But if he never asks her to marry him,is he really demonstrating that his love is thorough?.Likewise,works are a means of demonstrating the genuineness of our faith and love.
The two scriptures actually compliment each other. The apostle Paul is referring to the efforts of the Jews to keep the Mosiac Law.They believed that if they kept the Law in all its details,they would be righteous.Paul pointed out that this was impossible.We can never become righteous - and thus deserve salvation - by our own works,for we are inherently sinful.We can only be saved in Jesus' ransom sacrifice.(Rom.5:18)
James,however,adds the vital point that faith itself is valueless if not supported by actions.A person who claims to have faith in Jesus should prove it by what he does.An inactive faith is a dead faith and will not lead to salvation.

Answer 4

According to James 2:19, simply believing is not enough, for even the demons believe in Yahweh and Jesus, yet that doesn't give them a good relationship with them. Therefore we are told in scripture that faith MUST have works in order to have real meaning (James 2:14).

So, in order to show that we actually have faith, we must show it by our actions (James 2:14-17,24-26). It is reasonable to require we show our faith with action. For example, if your spouse tells you daily that they love you, yet does nothing to show it, would you believe you are loved anyway? Of course not!

The same goes with faith: If we don't show our faith in God or Christ, it's the same as not having it at all.

Also, if we have faith in Jesus Christ we'll be willing to do whatever he commands of us (John 15:14). Some of those commands include: making disciples, baptizing believers, teaching them Jesus's words (Matthew 28:19-20), loving Yahweh, and loving others (Matthew 22:37-40, John 13:34, John 15:12,17).

However, we must remember that works/actions alone doesn't save us. We must have works with faith, because without the faith all is lost. Faith alone doesn't save us either, for as the scriptures point out, even the demons have faith (James 2:19). We must have the faith and the works together in order for it to mean something (Hebrews 11:6, James 2:14-26).

Answer 5

Of course it is a gift and priveledge.

Many consider being given a car at 16 a gift, however, most parents would expect the child to show an apprietiation for it, before hand.

It is true that there is NOTHING we as humans can do to "earn" salvation. However simply believing Jehovah will help us isn't enough.

Consider, the apostles were with Jesus, they loved Jesus and his father. Yes repeatedly they made mistakes. When they did Jesus lovingly corrected them. Why would he bother if their actions had no value??

EDIT

Lesbifriends is correct in part. While it is true that Jesus mandated all Christians to go share our beliefs, we also do try to live our lives in general as a Witness.

Answer 6

not JW but... James 2:24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.

EDIT This is not a contradiction in Ephesians 2:8. Paul is talking about a living active faith. If it is no works at all why in Ephesians 2:10 does it say For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Answer 7

Faith and Works. Works of the Mosaic Law, which included such things as sacrificial offerings, purifications, and circumcision, did not make a person righteous. (Ro 3:20; 4:1-10; Ga 3:2) Yet, the disciple James—who is not discussing works of Mosaic Law—says “a man is to be declared righteous by works, and not by faith alone” (Jas 2:24), for there must be practical works that demonstrate one’s faith, giving proof of it. (Compare Mt 7:21-27; Eph 2:8-10; Jas 1:27; 2:14-17; 4:4.) For example, Abraham had works that proved his faith, such as his willingness to offer up Isaac. Rahab also proved her faith by her works of hiding the Israelite spies.—Heb 11:17-19; Jas 2:21-25.11 Our considering the context also helps us to understand what some have claimed is a disagreement between the apostle Paul and James. At Ephesians 2:8, 9, Paul says that Christians are saved by faith, not by works. He says: “You have been saved through faith . . . not owing to works.” James, however, insists on the importance of works. He writes: “As the body without spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.” (James 2:26) How can these two statements be reconciled?

12 Considering the context of Paul’s words, we find that one statement complements the other. The apostle Paul is referring to the efforts of the Jews to keep the Mosaic Law. They believed that if they kept the Law in all its details, they would be righteous. Paul pointed out that this was impossible. We can never become righteous—and thus deserve salvation—by our own works, for we are inherently sinful. We can only be saved by faith in Jesus’ ransom sacrifice.—Romans 5:18.

13 James, however, adds the vital point that faith in itself is valueless if not supported by actions. A person who claims to have faith in Jesus should prove it by what he does. An inactive faith is a dead faith and will not lead to salvation.

14 The apostle Paul was in full agreement with this, and he often mentions the kinds of works that Christians should engage in to demonstrate their faith. For example, to the Romans he wrote: “With the heart one exercises faith for righteousness, but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.” Making a “public declaration”—sharing our faith with others—is vital for salvation. (Romans 10:10; see also 1 Corinthians 15:58; Ephesians 5:15, 21-33; 6:15; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 4:5; Hebrews 10:23-25.) No work, however, that a Christian can do, and certainly no effort to fulfill the Law of Moses, will earn him the right to everlasting life. This is “the gift God gives” to those who exercise faith.—Romans 6:23; John 3:16.

Answer 8

.Paul also said that if you had the faith to move mountains, but did not have love, your faith was valueless.

If Faith is required then how can it be totally free?

Salvation is a free gift, but to receive this gift there are obligations, requirements, James said without works your faith is even worth less than a demon’s faith.

.

Answer 9

While "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord[,]" Romans 6:23 (NIV), believers must repent and accept Jesus as spelled out in several places in the Bible, notably Acts 2:38.

Nevertheless, if someone claims to have faith, but fails to show any sign of it, then how can they claim to have actually changed?

"Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself." James 2:17 (NASB). "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead." James 2:26 (NASB).

Thus "it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV).

So, one is saved by faith, but if they have it, it will be evident in their lives. Jesus is interested in what is in our hearts, 1 Samuel 16:7, not in just hearing us say the magic words. Matthew 15:7-9. A saved person should love God and wish to do his will, which will cause that person to do good works.

BTW, I am a Christian, not a Jehovah's Witness.

Answer 10

Salvation is by belief in Jesus Christ as your Savior, honestly repenting your sins. That's it. That's all.
Works wont do it, because, while we may feel we are doing wonderful things, our view is that of a child's. If you have children, you will understand that often they don't have quite the big picture you do, of what their actions should be. What is glaringly obvious to parents, is totally beyond children. The same is true of our lives, it's kinda silly to think we have the big picture of what is going on, that the Creator of the picture does. Thus the ongoing work of love, that is inspired by building a personal relationship with Jesus. He then shows you what He needs you to do. But doing it or not will not change the fact that if you believe on Him and repent your sins (honestly, not pretending) you are saved.