Works and faith?

Question

What do you consider works? When we talk about faith with or without works being part of salvation. What do you consider works, and what do you consider just "part of the deal"?

I wasn't asking if you believe in works, I'm asking what you consider to be works. Just for a clarification.

Answer 1

Works is living righteously and performing "Christlike" service to others. Living the golden rule as it were. Christ taught us by example all that we should do. Among other things, he said : "Love thy neighbor as thyself, do good unto them that despise you, etc."

It is rather ridiculous in my opinion to say works are not necessary. How would you distinguish yourself from non believers if you do not works? Just saying you are something, ie a Christian, does not make it so. I could believe that I am a martian from another planet, and believe it with all my sincerity and passion, but without works, it does not make it true. I have to show "fruits" that I am a martian. I need to provide evidence.(Sorry for the weird analogy). Evidence you are something comes from your behavior. Your works.

All throughout the Bible it talks about having good works. Christ himself said we would be judged and rewarded according to our works.

Matthew 16: 27: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Answer 2

Works covers a large amount of ground -- from charity & service, to callings in the church, to faithfulness, praying, reading the scriptures, etc. Anything which you do which brings about an increase in faith or righteousness is 'works'. Anything which brings one closer to God is 'works'.
In my sunday school class, as we have discussed having a Christ-centered life we've created a little analogy [it helps that vegas is less than 2 hours away]. Basically, it's all about odds.
There are 168 hours in a week. If we spend only the hours in church in pursuit of righteousness, we have a ratio like this 3:168. So, that means we have 165 hours in the world. Would you take those odd to vegas? NO! So, what can you do to change the ratio? Scripture study, prayers, seminary, service, family time, etc.
Thanks for the question! It's a good one.

Answer 3

Y'know, I asked a question that is related to this- I asked what people thought salvation was... what does it look/feel like....

I got a bunch of people explaining how (and how not) to gain it.....

To me, works is everything I do, bad or good.... Prayer, my attitude about whatever, how I treat those around me, if I keep the commandments (OT or NT)....

One's works- the things a person does- are evidence supporting (or not) their claim that they believe in and follow Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

Here is the joint declaration of justification by Catholics (1999), Lutherans (1999), and Methodists (2006):

By grace alone, in faith in Christ's saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.

As you can see, Catholics believe in salvation by faith alone.

But as a result of that Salvation and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we are called to do good works.

Jesus even commands us to perform works of mercy toward our neighbor in Matthew 25:34:

Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ’Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ’Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink?’

And the king will answer them, ’Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brethren, you did it to me.’

The Corporal Works of Mercy are:
- Feed the hungry
- Give drink to the thirsty
- Clothe the naked
- Shelter the homeless
- Visit the sick
- Visit those in prison
- Bury the dead

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Works...when was the last time you gave time instead of money to a charity? Go down to the local soup kitchen once in a while and help serve the needy, volunteer for something like cleaning up a park or highway. Get down and dirty...That's what's meant by works. FYI I am not into the whole salvation idea, but I do respect it. PEACE!

Answer 6

The "works" would depend on what your faith is in. I have faith that my car will get me to the mall to finish my Christmas shopping. However, I must perform the "works" to make it get me to the mall. I have to walk out to the car, get in it, start it and drive it to the mall. It won't get me to the mall just because I have the faith that it will. I have to do what it takes to make the car get me there.

Works is what we do through our faith to make things happen in our lives, regardless of if it is in a spiritual aspect or temporal aspect of life.

Hope that makes sense, but that's how it was explained to me when I was a kid.

Answer 7

Works are deeds we do. Dead Works are those we do for our own benefit with the goal of receiving a payoff. Good Works are those we do for the benefit of others with no goal of personal payoff.

Answer 8

In the words of Our Lord:

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,
36 naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'
37 Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?
38 When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?
39 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.'

Answer 9

Grace through faith without works in the truth that Jesus, who is God, died for our sins on the cross and rose again, is salvation.

You cannot mix grace and works (Romans 10). If you mix grace and works, then you have a false gospel that leads to eternal hell (Galatians 1).

Answer 10

with work faith can be a selfishness without work it may be real meaning