Faith Without Works is Dead

Works don't save you.

"Those who receive salvation become God’s children (
John 1:12–13)
Salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life (
John 3:1–16)
Belief and trust in Jesus Christ are the only way to be saved (
John 14:6)
Salvation includes gaining a relationship with God (
John 17:1–5)
Receiving salvation means we must turn from our sins (
Acts 2:37–38)
Salvation cannot be earned; it is a gift of God (
Romans 6:23)
Receiving salvation is simple and personal (
Romans 10:8–10)
Salvation is by God’s grace alone (
Ephesians 2:1–9)
Salvation rescues us from Satan’s dominion (
Colossians 1:13–14)
Our salvation was obtained by Jesus’ blood (
1 Peter 1:18–19)" Tyndale House Publishers. (2007). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (3rd ed.). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.

 

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: [Works] "[I] do them because Jesus said to..."

 

All you can do is believe. Believe in the original language means "to be convinced".

See:


Works vs. Faith

What to "Do"

A Scriptural Response to: Biblical Evidence or Catholics St. Joseph Communication

 

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Tell me how Joseph Smith died."

 

Of stupidity. Dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb...

See:


Mormonism

 

DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB DUMB

 

 

Response to comment [from a Catholic]: "[J]udged according to his deeds that sentence is found in the Bible a lot."

 

Your "good works" will not stand.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad [2 Cor. 5:10].

"This is the judgment seat, literally, the bēma. There is still a bēma in Corinth, and when we were there on tour, we took pictures of the ruins of it. This was the place where the judges of the city would meet the citizens and would judge them for certain things—there was no question of life or death. At the judgment seat of Christ only believers will appear. It is not a judgment of the believer’s sins, which Christ fully atoned for on the cross. The judgment is to see whether you are going to receive a reward or not.

When Paul says, “We must all appear,” remember that he is writing to believers. All we believers will be judged, that we may receive the things done in the body. We will be judged on the way we lived the Christian life, how we have lived in these bodies down here. When we go into His presence, we will be finished with these old bodies. The question He will ask is how we used these bodies. How did we live down here?

Paul faces this question when he writes to the Philippians. He says in
Philippians 1:21, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Then he talks of his desire to go to be with Christ but also of his desire to live longer so that he can minister to the Philippians. He wants to stay so that he can preach the gospel of Christ a little longer. I had the same reaction the first time I had surgery for cancer and there was not too much hope for me.

You see, I felt like the little boy years ago in my southland. The preacher asked one night, “How many want to go to heaven?” Everybody put up his hand except that one boy. The preacher looked down at him and said, “Don’t you want to go to heaven?” The boy answered, “Sure, I want to go to heaven, but I thought you was gettin’ up a load for tonight.” Like that boy, I didn’t want to go right away when I had the cancer. Paul didn’t want to go. He said he wanted to stay in his body and preach a little longer. He wanted Christ to be magnified in his body that he might be accepted of Him and that he might receive a reward.

This is the way I feel. I want to stay in this body and do as much for the Lord as I possibly can. Here is the first motivation for believers: We are all going to appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and we will answer to the Lord for our lives. We are going to give a report to Him. Let me make it very clear that this is not the Great White Throne Judgment of
Revelation 20:11–15 where only the unsaved will stand. If you are a believer, your name is written in the Book of Life, and you have eternal life. However, you will stand before the bēma, the judgment seat of Christ, to be judged for rewards. You and I will stand before Him. This should motivate us to serve Him acceptably. Then when we come into His presence, He will be able to say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”

...The fear of the Lord urges us to persuade men." McGee, J. V. (1997). Thru the Bible commentary (electronic ed.) (
2 Co 5:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

 

Response to comment [from a Christian]: "Who told you all you can do is believe? James says faith without action is dead..."

 

After you believe (Acts 2:21, Mark 1:15, John 3:14–18, John 3:3–8, 2 Tim. 3:15), you can do a good work (Jn 15:4,5).

Salvation is not by works (
Rom 11:6 , Eph 2:9, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 3:5). It is of grace (Eph 2:5, Eph 2:8, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 2:11).

"Paul spoke about the root of faith (
Eph 2:8). James spoke about the fruit of faith (Jm 2:17-18)." ~ Adrian Rogers

See:


Works vs. Faith

What to "Do"

A Scriptural Response to: Biblical Evidence or Catholics St. Joseph Communication

 

"We still have to obey Jesus!"

 

That's correct. We are free to obey (Ex 24:7, Ac 6:7, Ro 6:17, 2 Co 2:9).
 

"We still have to do that which we are commanded to do."

 

That's correct (Rom. 3:27).

 

"Where do you get that we do nothing?"

 

Where do you get that I get that we are to do nothing? Mk 16:15 Works do not save (Rom 11:6 , Eph 2:9, 2 Tim 1:9, Titus 3:5).

 

Faith Without Works is Dead