We contend for the faith (Jude 1:3).
Gnostics believe that they have special knowledge
which no one else can know (Lk
16:29,31,
Pr 6:23;
2 Pe 1:19,
2 Ti 3:15).
Anyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus can be saved (Eph
3:12).
Do good works play a part in your salvation?
It's good to believe (Rom. 1:16; 3:22; 1 Thess. 1:7) and be baptized (Mt 3:6, Ac 2:38, 8:37; 18:8).
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "[Y]ou will be known by your works. [I]t is what defines you."
Works do not save (Eph
2:8-9). We are saved unto good works (Eph
2:10). Works are insufficient for salvation (Psa.
49:7, 8; Psa.
127:1, 2; Eccl.
1:14; Isa.
43:26; Isa.
57:12; Isa.
64:6; Ezek.
7:19; Ezek.
33:1219; Dan.
9:18; Matt.
5:20; Luke
17:710; Luke
18:914; Acts
13:39; Rom.
3:2031; Rom.
4:18 vs. 922.; Rom.
8:3; Rom.
9:16, 31, 32; Rom.
11:6; 1
Cor. 13:13; Gal.
2:16, 19, 21; Gal.
3:1012, 21 vs. 129.; Gal.
4:911; Gal.
5:2, 4, 6, 18; Gal.
6:15; Eph.
2:8, 9; Phil.
3:39; Col.
2:2023; 2
Tim. 1:9; Tit.
3:4, 5; Heb.
4:310; Heb.
6:1, 2; Heb.
9:114; Jas.
2:10, 11).
We contend for the faith (Jude
1:3).
Gnostics believe that they have special knowledge
which no one else can know (Lk
16:29,31,
Pr 6:23;
2 Pe 1:19,
2 Ti 3:15).
Anyone who trusts in the Lord Jesus can be saved (Eph
3:12).
See:
Jude's Guide to Religious Phonies by Woodrow Kroll
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: [Jas 2:14]
2:1426 James continues his series of tests by which his readers can evaluate whether their faith is living or dead (see Introduction: Background and Setting). This passage contains the composite testthe one test that pulls the others together: the test of works, or righteous behavior that obeys Gods Word and manifests a godly nature (cf. 1:2225). James point is not that a person is saved by works (he has already strongly and clearly asserted that salvation is a gracious gift from God; 1:17,18; cf. Eph. 2:8,9), but that there is a kind of apparent faith that is dead and does not save (vv. 14,17,20,24,26; cf. Matt. 3:7,8; 5:16; 7:21; 13:1823; John 8:30,31; 15:6). It is possible James was writing to Jews (cf. 1:1) who had jettisoned the works righteousness of Judaism but, instead, had embraced the mistaken notion that since righteous works and obedience to Gods will were not efficacious for salvation, they were not necessary at all. Thus, they reduced faith to a mere mental assent to the facts about Christ.
"God's first
concern is not what the church does, it is what the church is. Being must
always preceded doing, for what we do will be according to what we are. To
understand the moral character of God's people is a primary essential in
understanding the nature of the church. As Christians we are to be a moral
example to the world, reflecting the character of Jesus Christ." Ray C. Stedman,
Body Life: The Church Comes Alive (Glendale, CA.: Regal, 1972), p. 13.
"Paul spoke about the root of faith (Eph
2:8). James spoke about the fruit of faith (Jas
2:17-18)." ~ Adrian Rogers
See:
A Scriptural Response to: Biblical Evidence or Catholics St. Joseph
Communication
Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "[S]ome overlook the need to work."
First, get
saved. Then, you "good" works will matter (Ro
3:20;
Ga 2:16).
"Works! works! A man gets to heaven by works! I would as soon think of climbing
to the moon on a rope of sand." ~ George Whitefield
See:
George Whitefield: Sensational Evangelist of Britain and America
