Think it takes works to be saved?

Question

Prayerfully read

Romans 4
The Faith of Abraham
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What did he discover about being made right with God? 2 If his good deeds had made him acceptable to God, he would have had something to boast about. But that was not God’s way. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[a]

4 When people work, their wages are not a gift, but something they have earned. 5 But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. 6 David also spoke of this when he described the happiness of those who are declared righteous without working for it:

7 “Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
whose record the Lord has cleared of sin.”[b]

9 Now, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it also for uncircumcised Gentiles?[c] Well, we have been saying that Abraham was counted as righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did this happen? Was he counted as righteous only after he was circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? Clearly, God accepted Abraham before he was circumcised!

11 Circumcision was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous—even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are counted as righteous because of their faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.

13 Clearly, God’s promise to give the whole earth to Abraham and his descendants was based not on his obedience to God’s law, but on a right relationship with God that comes by faith. 14 If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless. 15 For the law always brings punishment on those who try to obey it. (The only way to avoid breaking the law is to have no law to break!)

16 So the promise is received by faith. It is given as a free gift. And we are all certain to receive it, whether or not we live according to the law of Moses, if we have faith like Abraham’s. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. 17 That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, “I have made you the father of many nations.”[d] This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who creates new things out of nothing.

18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!”[e] 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Oh, what joy for those
whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sin is put out of sight!

Answer 1

no works needed

Answer 2

Who said Abraham is Jewish ? I thought he was Hebrew ?

kjv dude come on Abraham is Jewish the Jews aren't even talked about until the book of Ezra !

Answer 3

They draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

God referring to those who think faith does not take works. Faith is an action word. No we cannot "earn" our way in, but if you do not have a change of heart and change your ways and serve your fellow man always, you haven't accepted Christ anyway.

Answer 4

Works want save you. As you said he Hebrews 11 is what we call the Faith chapter. It was their faith that saved them. If we said works saved then what Jesus done on the cross wasn't good enough so we have to add our works to help save us. God said our righteousness is as filthy rags. So if it is how is our works any better.

Answer 5

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said it all with his cheap mercey. You're saved by grace trough fait but do you know what's the true faith? Do you or anyone of us has the right to say to God what to do. Let's as Luther said let God be God. We find in James 2:

14What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

18But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds."
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,"and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

25In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.


We are not saved by works that's clear but if we lack in works we haven't got the true faith. God, not you, is the ONLY judge and I will let him be the one who will free me or not. How can I judge myself? God is the on who changes us. Paul said this about grace in Romans:


5:20The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
6:1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

Answer 6

Rose, deary, if you really want to make a difference in the world, don't preach. There are way too many people doing that and it is oh, so boring (which is why no one actually read your "question"). Instead, take a volunteer vacation to china or some other country. See what its really like to change peoples lives. http://www.globalvolunteers.org/

Or help people here in the states. http://www.habitat.org/

Or make a pilgramage. http://www.seekingthesacred.com/

Or teach 3rd world countries. http://www.saxoncourt.com/

But please, dont waste your energy on a lengthy biblical passage that no one really wants to read. DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

Thanks

Answer 7

It says in James that faith without works is dead, also in the BIBLE that you need to be saved.

Answer 8

when you save someone, it's because that person is helpless. that's why he needs to be saved.

if i can do something about my state, then i believe i don't need saving at all. i just need to keep working at it.

salvation from sin and hell is pretty much like drowning.
the lifeguard would have great difficulty saving a drowning person if he keeps resisting, moving and waving as he wills.

if you want to be saved from drowning fast, just let go and let the lifeguard do his thing.

:) let go and let GOD :)

Answer 9

Works are the medium through which we demonstrate our faith. We are saved by grace after all we can do. Why would anyone want to do less?

Answer 10

Am sorry but faith requires a person to get up and do something. doesnt it??!

if you believe that killing an innocent man is wrong, and you sit around and watch it happen...seriously...what good is your faith?

Salvation is attained through Faith which leads to doing whats right and avoiding whats wrong.

Did you really need a Muslim to come and tell you that??

Answer 11

Nope. I see a lot of "saved" people who do nothing productive at all. They're waiting for the Second Coming. And have been for the past 2,000 years...

Clearly salvation requires no actual labor. Or else it wouldn't be so popular.