WE are judged by what we do vs. we are saved by faith alone.

[Blik]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”. Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.


How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

 

[GodMyFortress]

It doesn’t have to be one or the other or one vs the other.

 

[Gideon300]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”. Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.


How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

There are two "salvations". The first is instant, the moment we are born again. We receive eternal life there and then. We cannot die. However, the second salvation is a lifetime experience. It is what the Lord Jesus was talking about in Luke 4:18. It involves taking up your cross, denying self in all its aspects and learning to be led by the Spirit.

The other aspect is spiritual knowledge. The truth sets us free. We can get instant freedom through prayer and deliverance ministry. But if the truth is not implanted within, it's all too easy to slip back into bondage again. Satan's key weapon is doubt and unbelief. Our only defence is truth.

Sinless perfection is not available in this life. We can, and should, be changing from glory to glory as Lord Jesus works in us by His Holy Spirit.

 

[wattie]

Yeah, first some one is saved eternally, by grace thru faith in Christ.

Then the response to the gift given is the works we do for Jesus.

If we build on this faith with works reliant on Jesus, we are rewarded in heaven with extra blessings, if we do not build on the faith as our works are tried in the fire.. we keep entrance to heaven but miss rewards.

Entrance to the Family of God unconditional.. only by being saved by Jesus.

A greater inheritance in the Family of God...conditional on faithfulness.

 

[Runningman]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”. Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.


How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

There's two judgements: one for those in Christ and one for those who are not in Christ.

John 5:24 says:
24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Meaning, at the judgment seat of Christ mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10 you will not be condemned for your sins. That does not exclude the possibility that you will lose rewards based on bad behavior.

This occurs after the first resurrection:

jOh 5:28-29
28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

So there are two distinct general resurrections; one for those who have done good and one for those who have done evil.

The good go to the judgment seat of Christ and receive mercy as they give an account of their life to Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

The evil are resurrected from death and hell and go to what is known as the Great White Throne Judgment. All that are not found written in the Book of Life are thrown into the lake of fire.

Revelation 20:11-15
11Then I saw a great white throne and the One seated on it. Earth and heaven fled from His presence, and no place was found for them. 12And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne.
And there were open books, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books. 13The sea gave up its dead, and Death and Hades gave up their dead, and each one was judged according to his deeds.
14Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. 15And if anyone was found whose name was not written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

 

[Kolistus]

Do a word search for faith alone and there is only one verse that comes up.

There is no faith alone, saving faith is never alone. Its just a catchy catchphrase that came about during the reformation. Martin Luther went so far as to insert the word to the book of Romans. It kind of just became a doctrine.

 

[mailmandan]

Do a word search for faith alone and there is only one verse that comes up.

There is no faith alone, saving faith is never alone. Its just a catchy catchphrase that came about during the reformation. Martin Luther went so far as to insert the word to the book of Romans. It kind of just became a doctrine.

Salvation through faith (rightly understood in Christ alone) implies that we are saved when we place our faith (belief, trust, reliance) in Jesus Christ alone for salvation and not in works. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9) This often gets confused with an empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains alone - "barren of works." (James 2:14-24)

There are many passages of scripture which make it clear that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications." (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; 26:18; Romans 1:16; 3:22-28; 4:5; 5:1; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:13 etc..).

You don't need to add the word "alone" next to "belief/faith" in each of these passages of scripture above in order to figure out that the words, "belief/faith" stand alone in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Do these many passages of scripture say belief/faith "plus something else?" Plus works? NO. So then it's faith (rightly understood) in Christ alone.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Do a word search for faith alone and there is only one verse that comes up.

There is no faith alone, saving faith is never alone. Its just a catchy catchphrase that came about during the reformation. Martin Luther went so far as to insert the word to the book of Romans. It kind of just became a doctrine.

Paul said we are saved by grace through faith not works

Faith minus works = faith alone

Jesus said we are saved by believing (faith) those who believe are not condemned those who do not believe are condemned already.

Again. Faith minus anything else equals faith alone

The bible does not have to say the word alone to teach alone..

 

[eternally-gratefull]

the op is trying to relate the bema seat judgment where a believers words are judged. and they recieve reward or see it burned. but even the one who has nothing left. is still saved even as through fire

and the great white throne judgment. Where only unbelievers are delivered to Christ for judgment. And every one of them are cast to eternal fire. Because no matter how many works they did. they still were lacking.

 

[oyster67]

There are several distinct and different types of judgement events spoken of in the Bible. Some have to do with our eternal destination and are based on our faith alone, whilst others have to do with rewards for different qualities of work.

 

[FreeGrace2]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Absolutely. As well, we must not accept that verses may contradict other verses. The Bible is entirely harmonious.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”.

But, no verse says salvation is by perfection. So we know the command is for believers, who are already saved.

Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Our faith in Christ justifies us. The Bible is clear that no believer will achieve sinless perfection this side of eternity. 1 John 1:8,10 and 2:1.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”.

This verse is about judgment regarding our eternal rewards, not salvation or entrance into heaven.

Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

This is the key to understanding all the verses about works, deeds, effort, etc.

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.

1 John 1:8,10 and 2:1 shows that we will continue to sin.

How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

Eph 2:8,9, John 3:16, Acts 16:31 (and many more) teach that we are saved on the basis of faith, not works. So, all the verses that deal with instructions, commands for holy living, behavior etc are for something else. They are the basis for whether the believer will be rewarded in eternity. 2 Cor 5:10, and Col 3:23,24

 

[FreeGrace2]

Do a word search for faith alone and there is only one verse that comes up.

And that verse, whch is about justification, isn't about saving faith at all. It's about being justified in the eyes of others because they can see the believers's faith by the believer's deeds. That's the point of James 2:18.

Both Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2;8,9 show that salvation does not involves works.

 

[mailmandan]

And that verse, whch is about justification, isn't about saving faith at all. It's about being justified in the eyes of others because they can see the believers's faith by the believer's deeds. That's the point of James 2:18.

Both Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2;8,9 show that salvation does not involves works.

Amen! James is not using the word "justified" in James 2:24 to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)

In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word for justified "dikaioo" #1344 is:

1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidences for, or against being in a state of righteousness.

God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads, "acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads, "they declared God just.." That is the "sense" in which God was "justified." He was shown to be righteous.

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds.

 

[Blik]

Amen! James is not using the word "justified" in James 2:24 to mean "accounted as righteous" but is shown to be righteous. James is discussing the evidence of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God. (Romans 4:2-3)

In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word for justified "dikaioo" #1344 is:

1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be

In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidences for, or against being in a state of righteousness.

God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads, "acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads, "they declared God just.." That is the "sense" in which God was "justified." He was shown to be righteous.

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds.

My concordance tells me there are 69 times the KJV speaks of obeying, and 12 times it speaks of obedience, are you saying these verses have nothing to do with obedience to the Lord?

 

[mailmandan]

My concordance tells me there are 69 times the KJV speaks of obeying, and 12 times it speaks of obedience, are you saying these verses have nothing to do with obedience to the Lord?

Works have to do with obedience to the Lord.

 

[throughfaith]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”. Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.


How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

//Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48// There's that universal ' Us ' again .

 

[throughfaith]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”. Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.


How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

Did Jesus die for your sins? He died for mine.

 

[throughfaith]

“Sinless perfection” is found no where even remotely connected with the word “perfect.” The “perfect,” therefore, in Matthew 5, is “perfection” in meeting the requirements of verses 45–47

 

[throughfaith]

We must accept all scripture as equal truths.

Scripture tells us to be perfect Matt. 5:48 “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”. Yet if we say we have achieved perfection, instead of giving our will to be perfect to God, we lie. We are perfect only through the perfection of Christ, but we must give our will to Him and will to be sinless, as Christ makes us as if we were sinless.

Scripture says we are judged by our deeds 2 Corinthians 5:10 “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil”. Scripture also says we are judged by faith alone. Eph. 2:8 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast”

When Christ gives us forgiveness, we know it is not based on our deeds but on our faith. We know to have faith in Christ is to have faith in His instructions to us as well as His ability to forgive our sins. We cannot live with the sin that Christ frees us from and remain free from sin.


How do you think these scripture truths all work together to be the truth of the Lord and not opposing instructions?

//We must accept all scripture as equal truths.//
we must accept scripture in context.

 

[throughfaith]

What do you mean by ' saved by faith alone " ?