"Faith Only" is not Biblical
The Scriptures do not teach that we are saved by "faith alone". Yes, some "men" teach this today, and certainly, this is evidence that one can cherry-pick the Bible to make a case for just about anything. But the 16th century invention that a person's deeds (works) play absolutely no part salvation is not biblical.
To be sure, we are saved through faith, an unmerited grace from God, purchased for us by Christ's death on the cross. Romans 5:1-5, John 3:16, Galatians 3:11, all speak of the necessity of God's gift of faith. But neither these verses nor any other verses in Scripture teach that faith ALONE - utterly independent of good works - will save us once-and-for-all. Advocates for "once-saved-always-saved" commonly cite Romans 3:28, where St. Paul talks about our salvation "apart from works of Law", but they misunderstand: Paul is talking about "works of Law" - the old Hebrew Laws with their elaborate dietary, sacrificial and ritual purity rituals which the Pharisees got so hung up with at the time. In no way was he referring to good deeds in general. In fact, the words "faith alone" appear only one place in the entire Bible - it is James 2:24: "So you see that a man is justified by works and NOT by faith alone" (emphasis added).
Just for the exercise, one could actually make a better case that the Bible that we are saved through works only! For example, Jesus was asked directly about salvation in Matthew 19, verse 16: "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" Did Jesus correct him by saying "No, no, you've got it wrong; works don't count"? He did not! On the contrary, He emphasized works exclusively in this case: ". . . If you would enter life, keep the commandments", and even suggested a few more good works that the man could do; the matter of faith was not even addressed. In John 15, Jesus again emphasizes works, stating that part of his own flock (the vine are "believers") will be "cut off" should they not bear fruit. Works are linked directly to salvation again in 1Timothy 5:1-8, where Paul states that a believer who fails to provide for their relatives and family is "worse than an unbeliever", and has "disowned the faith". Romans 2:2, Matthew 7:21, Hebrews 12:14 and a host of others all clearly link salvation to works in some way.
Perhaps the most balanced verse found in the Scriptures is Galatians 5:6 in the phrase "faith working through love". Yes, faith is unmerited and a gift from God, but we must respond to that call by picking up our cross, turning away from sin and doing the will of the Father.
Now I know that it feels good to think that one's salvation is a done deal with God. I continue to hear pastors actually argue that to teach otherwise would cause unnecessary feelings of guilt and worry. But Christian pastors are charged with transmitting the Truth and not feel-good pop psych. Certainly the next step along this line of reasoning is to deny the existence of sin altogether.
Once-saved-always-saved? Faith-ONLY? Sorry, but this 500 year-old doctrine is a "teaching of man", and is not Biblical.
Birdstrike belzor@psyber.com
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Thank you, Birdstrike! I would add that when one's heart is changed, then those acts or works become a joy and one's faith grows. Actually, God's Word is never a burden, but brings peace, happiness and joy to someone who follows and serves God, wherever it may lead him. Jesus was correct when He said that His yoke was light...
Of course, we all have moments when we stumble a bit and then it grieves us, especially because God is so Merciful.
Ahhh... a Christian disrespecting other Christians... how very Christian.
Hey Saladin,
Where did "disrespect" happen here? The problem you must have is that what was written didn't fit your bill. Jesus (or the apostles) NEVER sugar-coated anything and told it the way it is! Whether you like it or NOT, GOD will be honored and NOT any of us. It is HIS way and NOT our way (Isaiah 55:8 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways, your ways." Declares the Lord.) So just because the truth is told and YOU don't like it, remember this, that's YOUR problem and YOU must deal with it not anyone else. Maybe you should learn to humble yourself and try to learn what pleases God and not offend Him. Have you EVER wondered if you are REALLY pleasing Him or does that not bother your conscience? I KNOW that I am NOT perfect but at least I am ashamed of the wrongs that I do and have done in the past. I don't run around breaking the law, if that's what you are thinking but I still fall short of where I'd rather be. I DO ask God to forgive me and help me to better myself, NOT to hurt others but help. One weakness I have is when I see someone else taking advantage of another or sticking up for someone who wrongs another and I can't help but speak my mind rather than do nothing and stand idle and watch it continue to progress as time goes by. I, for one, would like to see a BETTER world for my child to grow up in, not worse!
P.S. Observer, I would like to thank you also for making a true statement also. Please keep me in your prayers as well? Thanks.
You guys crack me up.
Joszef: It is funny... isn't it?
Mr. Armstrong: I have never disrespected Jesus... nor would I. I'm sure I love Christ just as much as you do so you can refrain from the negative assumptions, please. I am not perfect either, and I am certainly humbled. Read my response to you comment on the kid who got caught stealing. I've been brought down very low in my life. I had a serious alcohol problem that got me in trouble many, many times.
God is Great and I am in debt to Him for saving my life.
Pax tecum
I was referring to this in house Christian bickering in my first comment. This sort of post does absolutely nothing to help bring about Christian brotherhood. It's antagonistic and disrespectful to the Body of Christ.
Also, Birdstrike... it's "Sola Fide", not "Sole Fide."
It is funny watching people argue about the minutia of something that probably does not exist.
There, now you have something to unify against.
Psalms 14:1 "The fool says in his heart ""there is no God.""
Hmmmm....
Saladin: I think birdstrike was maybe saying "Sole Fide" as in "Soul Fried?"
To anyone who believes "Once saved, always saved" I think they should take a look at 2 Peter 2:20 and that will certainly answer that question.
Sarcasm...it is my understanding that the origination of this word came from the Greek meaning to tear the flesh. This may be a very loose translation, but it works for me. My daughter thought it was the big thing that kept me from a spiritual path. I still work on this often. I don't have all the answers, how can I begin to comment on someone else's "faith"?
You believe in talking reptiles, that virgins give birth, that the belly of a whale is provides the conditions required to sustain human life, and I am the fool for doubting?
By the way, I never said there is no God.
I'm with you Joszef. I crack up reading a conversation like this.
I don't do superstition well.
Joszef, I never said I believe in any of this...I just said who am I to comment with sarcasm on someone's faith?
No, religion is not for me (read; for me - I really find it ok that others find happiness and joy in what ever they find happiness and joy in)...neither is sarcasm for me, that's all I'm saying.
Roland,
I was referring to one of Mr. Armstrong's comments.
Jos.. you said probably does not... so its ok... God will let you off the hook. :)
Paul wrote Galatians to counter this man's argument and he said, "As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:9 Getting the gospel right is imperative, people's souls are at stake. Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are HIs workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." In Titus Paul says, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:4-7 Salvation is a God's gift that we receive through the gift of faith. Why is this so? Ephesians says of our hopeless condition, "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, Ephesians 2:1-2 Dead men don't save themselves, only God can save us through faith in Jesus Christ taught in the Bible and then by His Spirit we do His good works for Him.
liz,
Thank you for responding. Yes, I agree with all of the verses you are quoting. But again, NONE of them say faith "only"; i.e., salvation is somehow locked-up for all eternity after an altar call. Although our salvation is through the grace of faith, the Scriptures clearly indicate that we are REQUIRED to do good works to the best of our ability - and yes, we can lose our salvation if we fail to do this.
Try an experiment: Ask your local pastor about the verses I quoted above, and just watch how much extraBiblical material they have to add to get them to - kinda but not really - conform to their "infallible" interpretation. Somehow the verses they like are "clear", but the conflicting verses need lots of extra info; this is what Paul was warning the Galatians about, as you said.
So the people who wrote the stories about Jesus actually witnessed the events right? Oh wait no they didn't. It took them a 100 years to write it down. Let's say that I was the guy who dunked on Lebron James at his Nike camp. Let's say no one wrote it down for a hundred years. I wonder what the story would sound like by then... I would probably be described as a dragon with diamond teeth who placed a magic spell on LB23.
Ah, another "skeptic"!
So what do you do to determine right from wrong?
Common sense? Raised in a household with good values? I don't need a book to tell me to be a good neighbor, don't steal, be honest, be fair, etc. It's a little pathetic if you need a book to tell you that. It's like needing a book to learn how to eat with a fork.
good works are evidence of saving faith which results in true conversion, but they do not save.