2007-11-12 08:51:46 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Faith and works go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other.
"A man is justified by works, and not by faith alone" James 2:24
More Scripture:
Matt. 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13 - Jesus taught that we must endure to the very end to be saved. If this is true, then how can Protestants believe in the erroneous teaching of "Once saved, always saved?" If salvation occurred at a specific point in time when we accepted Jesus as personal Lord and Savior, there would be no need to endure to the end. We would already be saved.
Matt. 16:27 – Jesus says He will repay every man for what he has done (works).
Matt. 25:31-46 - Jesus' teaching on the separation of the sheep from the goats is based on the works that were done during their lives, not just on their acceptance of Christ as Savior. In fact, this teaching even demonstrates that those who are ultimately saved do not necessarily have to know Christ. Also, we don’t accept Christ; He accepts us. God first makes the decision to accept us before we could ever accept Him.
Pax Vobiscum+
2007-11-12 08:57:44 · answer #1 · answered by Veritas 7 · 6⤊ 1⤋
The idea that we must do nothing to obtain heaven after we've been saved is the classic Calvinistic heresy, completely contrary to actual Christianity. Calvin's terms:
* Irresistible grace: When God has chosen to save someone, He will.
* Perseverence of the saints. Those people God chooses cannot lose their salvation.
Calvin wanted to glorify God, but he ended up painting a picture of a divine puppeteer who chooses people at random for salvation in a metaphysical kabuki theater.
In Jesus' teachings, the requirements of responding to God are so demanding that he described them as taking up the cross of self-sacrifice. Jesus would have had very harsh words for Calvinist heretics who minimize his requirements of good Christian works.
Conditions for eternal life with God include baptism (Mark 16:16; John 3:5), believing Christ and putting faith in him (e.g., Luke 7:50, 8:12), self-renunciation (e.g., Matt 5:3, 10), repentance (Matt 3:2; 4:17; 18:8-9; Mark 9:42-48), obedience to God, doing what is right and just (e.g., Luke 10:25-28; John 12:50), adopting the humility of a child (Matt 18:3-4; 19:14), eating the bread of life (John 6:51, 53-54), and endurance to the end (Matt 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13, Luke 21:16-18).
Cheers,
Bruce
2007-11-12 18:31:25 · answer #2 · answered by Bruce 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
wow...the 'LOADED' question. It's a couple of different denomonations that believe the "once saved always saved" I personally don't by your WORKS YOU WILL BE JUDGED. The way you lived your life. Do you Love God? Do you Serve him? If your not serving him......Who are you serving? There are only two sides. Check this out and make up your own mind. Hebrews 10 22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23: Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24: And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26: For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,
27: But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28: He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30: For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31: It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
2007-11-12 17:10:26 · answer #3 · answered by Jeanie N 1 · 3⤊ 1⤋
What the fundies fail to realize is that even "faith" is a work.
Salvation is an on going process, not just a one time thing saying I believe. There are many things that we must do on our part to keep our salvation.
2007-11-12 17:23:02 · answer #4 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Veritas has got it down right. I am not saved by anything I will ever do, because nothing I could ever do could ever take the place of what Christ has done for me. I have faith that Christ died for our sins--and so, I live out this beautiful gift of faith, through my works.
Would it make sense if I told somebody I loved them, yet my actions proved otherwise? Tebone03 said it right too....our works are faith in action.
Faith and works go hand in hand. I live out my faith through my works, and my works strengthen my faith.
When and if I am ever at the gates of Heaven, and God asks me why He should let me in, it will be not be because of anything I ever did, believe me. Catholics do not believe it will ever be because of anything we ever did. The only acceptable answer to that would be, because Jesus Christ shed His blood for our sins...thus, through our faith based works and our works which strengthen our faith...we can live out what it means to truly believe that the only reason we deserve to be with God for eternity, is because of the perfect sacrifice that Christ Jesus has made.
God be with you
2007-11-12 18:35:48 · answer #5 · answered by WhiteTiger29 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Eph 2:8-9
8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. 9 Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
2007-11-12 16:58:04 · answer #6 · answered by Salvation is a gift, Eph 2:8-9 6 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Chris thinks he is saved and works very hard to malign and slander Catholics. Beware of wolves in sheep's clothing.
2007-11-13 19:04:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
You understand correctly. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph 2:8-9
Edit: Let me modify that a bit: it's not that we "must" do nothing. It is that we "need" do nothing.
2007-11-12 16:57:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 3⤋
Isn't that the definition of saved? How are you not saved once you're saved?
Your "works" are evidence of your heart's decision. If you say you're saved, and then lead a hitler life... somehow I doubt you were really saved.
2007-11-12 16:59:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
That's what they tell me. They think good works are unnecessary. Just believe and that's it. Their Bible says otherwise but they disagree.
2007-11-12 17:05:07 · answer #10 · answered by t_rex_is_mad 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋