Is faith a work?
- Thread starter Runningman
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I still can’t wrap my head around how Jesus used a play on words in that passage. I think that’s an interpretation. If I asked Jesus what to do and He said, verbatim, what John 6:29 says I would think He’s telling me I need to do something.
Without debunking the people who asked Him what to do, they likely would have interpreted it the same way. Thus His “play on words” may have been lost in translation, to no benefit of the people He answered. That’s why I’m inclined to think He was being literal.
I do agree Jesus can use plays on words, sarcasm, and humor, but I see Jesus as an exceptionally genuine and sincere person and that’s how God is in general in my experience.
Without debunking the people who asked Him what to do, they likely would have interpreted it the same way. Thus His “play on words” may have been lost in translation, to no benefit of the people He answered. That’s why I’m inclined to think He was being literal.
I do agree Jesus can use plays on words, sarcasm, and humor, but I see Jesus as an exceptionally genuine and sincere person and that’s how God is in general in my experience.
So you believe that faith is just "another work" along with other works and you make no distinction between faith and works? 
I think that having faith is a mental work, not a work of the law or a work of the flesh.
yeah it takes time to learn . If we take time and think back ten years 20, 30, 40 we can prove this to ourselves be realizing how much we didn’t know then and how much we have learned now as that time passed.
Christ is in this for life with us when we first start or have trouble learning there’s grace to sustain us until we learn and grow
today is the day for faith it’s like this
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
Exodus 10:21-22 KJV
Moses only proof beforehand was that shod said it would happen . God told Moses to do something , and told him the result if he does it . Moses believes God so he does it . Moses is t thinking “ it’s a work not faith “ moses is thinking by faith he’s thinking “ when I reach forth my hand what God said will
Happen will happen “
faith looks at the result and the path before us in our case it’s this path set before us
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
Faith works like this at first the seed is planted
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:17 KJV
that is good seed planted in the heart of a person that hears and believes then it gets watered
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
John 6:29 KJV
And then after awhile that becomes this
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
and In time it blooms to this
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:46-49 KJV
It’s a progressive thing that begins and continues through life and as we grow in understanding and our mind changes through learning and believing the gospel this happens
“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV
when we hear Jesus teachings and didn’t agree before it’s meant for us to repent and let it change our thinking this is the process of growing in faith
sometimes we aren’t ready to hear certain things and God doesn’t give us more Can we can handle because it would make us guilty if we can’t live up to what we know like children he’s teaching us as we grow and as we need to learn
Christ is in this for life with us when we first start or have trouble learning there’s grace to sustain us until we learn and grow
today is the day for faith it’s like this
“And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt.
And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:”
Exodus 10:21-22 KJV
Moses only proof beforehand was that shod said it would happen . God told Moses to do something , and told him the result if he does it . Moses believes God so he does it . Moses is t thinking “ it’s a work not faith “ moses is thinking by faith he’s thinking “ when I reach forth my hand what God said will
Happen will happen “
faith looks at the result and the path before us in our case it’s this path set before us
“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved;
but he that believeth not shall be damned.”
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
Faith works like this at first the seed is planted
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
John 3:17 KJV
that is good seed planted in the heart of a person that hears and believes then it gets watered
“Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”
John 6:29 KJV
And then after awhile that becomes this
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
and In time it blooms to this
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.”
Luke 6:46-49 KJV
It’s a progressive thing that begins and continues through life and as we grow in understanding and our mind changes through learning and believing the gospel this happens
“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
Ephesians 4:22-24 KJV
when we hear Jesus teachings and didn’t agree before it’s meant for us to repent and let it change our thinking this is the process of growing in faith
sometimes we aren’t ready to hear certain things and God doesn’t give us more Can we can handle because it would make us guilty if we can’t live up to what we know like children he’s teaching us as we grow and as we need to learn
They understand emotions and so can relate to and express those such as anger, hunger, pain, happiness, etc. but those are things of the heart, or body rather, than the mind, or what I think of as spirit whether good or evil, and so the reason animals cannot be judged neither good nor evil even, as in an invasion of the evil cows, though they operate in the flesh. Do they have faith they'll be provided with tomorrow's meal going by the evidence of being provided meals each day the previous week? The word for dog in Hebrew translates to "all heart" and it's true but then, they'll follow their heart into oncoming traffic if their desire is in front leading them.
In conclusion, it is the image of God in which we are created that we have sinned against. We deface His image when we inject our own justification for evil behavior. Indeed, in more cases than not, the reason given is, "it's only natural." when we are created much more than "naturally," as 'in the image of God' would suggest we should operate "above" nature.
Jesus used their own words to answer their question. Their question was this:
v.28 - Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
We know the answer is that God DOESN'T require works. He requires belief, faith.
So, Jesus answered:
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Either a "play on words" or tongue-in-cheek.
We know belief cannot be a "work" because of Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2:8,9, where Paul contrasted belief from works.
But you ain't a Jew with a long traditional history of thinking that keeping the Law would lead to eternal life.
In fact, your question actually occurred in the Bible, to a non Jew.
Acts 16-
30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
This is what Jesus would have said to a non Jew who didn't have the bias of working for salvation.
You are ignoring their bias. Whereas the gentile jailer had no bias. Notice he didn't ask what WORK the Father required. He only asked what he MUST DO to be saved. Very straight forward.
And Paul's answer was also very straight forward. BELIEVE and you WILL BE saved.
v.28 - Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
We know the answer is that God DOESN'T require works. He requires belief, faith.
So, Jesus answered:
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Either a "play on words" or tongue-in-cheek.
We know belief cannot be a "work" because of Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2:8,9, where Paul contrasted belief from works.
But you ain't a Jew with a long traditional history of thinking that keeping the Law would lead to eternal life.
In fact, your question actually occurred in the Bible, to a non Jew.
Acts 16-
30 He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
This is what Jesus would have said to a non Jew who didn't have the bias of working for salvation.
You are ignoring their bias. Whereas the gentile jailer had no bias. Notice he didn't ask what WORK the Father required. He only asked what he MUST DO to be saved. Very straight forward.
And Paul's answer was also very straight forward. BELIEVE and you WILL BE saved.
-
1
- Show all
The whole issue regarding work according to Paul is that "work" creates an obligation, like a paycheck, as noted in Rom 4:4,5 whereas trust NEVER creates an obligation.
I can see someone on TV stating a fact and I can believe fully in that fact without creating any obligation toward the person.
Nor does my trust in Christ create an obligation for God. He doesn't HAVE TO save me. He CHOOSES to save those who believe.
Which is exactly what 1 Cor 1:21 says.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
God IS pleased to save those who believe.
Maybe you could say that God has obligated Himself to save those who believe. But so what? That doesn't change the FACT that there is NO work on man's part for salvation. All the work is on God's part.
I can see someone on TV stating a fact and I can believe fully in that fact without creating any obligation toward the person.
Nor does my trust in Christ create an obligation for God. He doesn't HAVE TO save me. He CHOOSES to save those who believe.
Which is exactly what 1 Cor 1:21 says.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
God IS pleased to save those who believe.
Maybe you could say that God has obligated Himself to save those who believe. But so what? That doesn't change the FACT that there is NO work on man's part for salvation. All the work is on God's part.
I wouldn't interpret those that way in light of what Jesus said. If you wish to believe He was being sarcastic or using a tongue in cheek approach, you're free to do so, but I won't. Jesus said believing in Him is a work so that's the foundation for how to interpret Romans 4:4,5. Abraham wasn't justified by works of the law or works of the flesh but rather he believed God. Paul didn't say believing is not a different kind of work.
Ephesians 2:8,9 is about good works not being able to save someone. The gift is salvation, not faith.
Acts 16 is about doing something. Believing is doing something.
2 Corinthians 4:13
13And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
Ephesians 2:8,9 is about good works not being able to save someone. The gift is salvation, not faith.
Acts 16 is about doing something. Believing is doing something.
2 Corinthians 4:13
13And in keeping with what is written: “I believed, therefore I have spoken,” we who have the same spirit of faith also believe and therefore speak,
The natural man does not know God, and "receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God."
The work of God moves us to faith. Making a choice to believe is not a work.
Deuteronomy 30:6~ The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
The work of God moves us to faith. Making a choice to believe is not a work.
Deuteronomy 30:6~ The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live.
treat any soul as if it really is a soul, and you will surely see that it is.
treat any soul as worthless and nothing, and it is unlikely you will ever understand it as anything other than nothing.
the truth is not defined by our perception, but our perception of the truth defines our perception of the truth.
until things are revealed to us we do not see them.
treat any soul as worthless and nothing, and it is unlikely you will ever understand it as anything other than nothing.
the truth is not defined by our perception, but our perception of the truth defines our perception of the truth.
until things are revealed to us we do not see them.
-
2
- Show all
YEP!!!! I agree with all you have given.
However, don't know what that has to do with my post. What does this have to do with "gut feelings"???????
There are three things I see by this one statement - you posted:
Faith comes by hearing the Word -----not by your reasoning -----your intellectual reasoning comes from this world and Satan is the god of this world -----and doesn't want you to understand the Word of faith -
1). You may be a Gospel Regenerationist. Do you believe the preaching of the Gospel, "opens" ones heart?
2.) You said not by reasoning. What good would the Word of God be without reason. This goes against Scripture teaching.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
3.) You are most likely part of the "faith movement", that is a charismatic.
However, don't know what that has to do with my post. What does this have to do with "gut feelings"???????
There are three things I see by this one statement - you posted:
Faith comes by hearing the Word -----not by your reasoning -----your intellectual reasoning comes from this world and Satan is the god of this world -----and doesn't want you to understand the Word of faith -
1). You may be a Gospel Regenerationist. Do you believe the preaching of the Gospel, "opens" ones heart?
2.) You said not by reasoning. What good would the Word of God be without reason. This goes against Scripture teaching.
Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, says Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
3.) You are most likely part of the "faith movement", that is a charismatic.
In the shortest of answers... Yes He does grant repentance and without that, there is no repentance. How it is done, takes a lot more time to contemplate.
But before I go further, let's make sure both of us are on the same page with what repentance is. Repentance, Biblically speaking, means to "turn from something to something". Usually, to turn from what is right in our own eyes, to what pleases God. Therefore, it is more than just a change of mind, it is a change of nature. To show it is more than a change of mind - note what John the baptizer said:
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
John was not commanding them, here, to repent - rather he was saying to them: Show me your fruit... show me something that proves you have genuine repentance. Bringing forth worthy fruit takes more than a simple change of mind.
In 2 Timothy 2:25 & 26 - we have the call, to help a brother who has strayed - come to his senses. This requires reasoning with him on our part and praying that God will grant him repentance. The idea in the Greek text is, this brother or sister, is in opposition with themselves or in other words, they are getting in their own way - on a principle, a proper understanding or the revealed truth of something and/or all of the above. However, for them to turn from it, God must grant repentance unto them.
While repentance is a command and is required for salvation, it is also something God gives. We see this in Acts 11:18 -
And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.
This represents an initial repentance but because of it, there will be many, many other things to repent of in a believer's life - as I am sure you know. I have strayed many times and thanks be to God for turning me back.
The best verses, on God granting repentance, is found in Jeremiah 31:18 & 19 -
Jer 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
Jer 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. (Note, the word order here - first God turns - then the one turned, repents - then and only then, can that one be instructed.)
But how does God grant repentance? I think we must be careful here and not take to much liberty. The Scriptures do say that it has to do with the heart and the conscience. The heart - represents our very nature and the conscience - our mind.
Apart from God's work in Regeneration, the Scriptures say we have a heart "of stone" in our natural state.. A stony heart cannot be "pricked". It takes a heart of flesh - soft and pliable, just like a new born babe. So the first thing God has to do, is a heart transplant. Give us a new nature.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
While this is a prophetic passage, every single believer has had this done to them. From Adam to the present. Jew and Gentile. Jesus Christ called it the New Birth or being Born Again. The Holy Spirit comes and gives the appointed person, at the appointed time, a new heart/new nature, in the process called Regeneration by theologians. This change in ones nature and being made spiritually alive, gives that one a tender conscience versus an inoperable conscience or seared conscience.
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
After Regeneration, the renewed conscience/mind, thirsts for answers as to what has happened to it. The answers are of course in the Bible.
This new nature, has the ability to perform the initial repentance, with the help of the Holy Spirit. But repent from what? Through the reading of God's Word and/or hearing God's Word preached and now possessing the ability to hear and understand what is heard, that soft heart is "pricked" and the conscience deeply moved by the power of the convicting Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[On a side bar - if I can, I would like to make a comment about the two things highlighted in blue. 1.) The gift of the Holy Spirit. This is not the New Birth/Regeneration. The gift of the Holy Spirit refers to the gifts given to each believer. The type of gifts that this group had just been eye witness to and the same that Paul wrote about in his first epistle to the Corinthians. 2.) Note again God's Sovereignty in salvation. Who's hearts were pricked and believed and will believe? Answer: As many as the Lord our God shall call. But a better rendering of the Greek would be: "..even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto Himself." (Because the Greek word rendered: "shall call", is in the middle voice).]
Through the Gospel, we come to understand our own hand in putting the Lord Jesus Christ to death. Our sins killed the one who knew no sin. The Spirit uses this to convict us in our inner most being and under this knowledge, drops us to our knees in repentance. We are ashamed and beg God to forgive us. We will learn that we have been forgiven and that the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, working in concert, made it possible.
I don't know if this answers your question sufficiently but as I indicated earlier, I do not want to be guilty of of hemming God in or associating to God what does not belong. Please let me know if the answers need further examples or Scripture proof.
But before I go further, let's make sure both of us are on the same page with what repentance is. Repentance, Biblically speaking, means to "turn from something to something". Usually, to turn from what is right in our own eyes, to what pleases God. Therefore, it is more than just a change of mind, it is a change of nature. To show it is more than a change of mind - note what John the baptizer said:
Mat 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
Mat 3:8 Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance:
John was not commanding them, here, to repent - rather he was saying to them: Show me your fruit... show me something that proves you have genuine repentance. Bringing forth worthy fruit takes more than a simple change of mind.
In 2 Timothy 2:25 & 26 - we have the call, to help a brother who has strayed - come to his senses. This requires reasoning with him on our part and praying that God will grant him repentance. The idea in the Greek text is, this brother or sister, is in opposition with themselves or in other words, they are getting in their own way - on a principle, a proper understanding or the revealed truth of something and/or all of the above. However, for them to turn from it, God must grant repentance unto them.
While repentance is a command and is required for salvation, it is also something God gives. We see this in Acts 11:18 -
And when they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then to the Gentiles also hath God granted repentance unto life.
This represents an initial repentance but because of it, there will be many, many other things to repent of in a believer's life - as I am sure you know. I have strayed many times and thanks be to God for turning me back.
The best verses, on God granting repentance, is found in Jeremiah 31:18 & 19 -
Jer 31:18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
Jer 31:19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. (Note, the word order here - first God turns - then the one turned, repents - then and only then, can that one be instructed.)
But how does God grant repentance? I think we must be careful here and not take to much liberty. The Scriptures do say that it has to do with the heart and the conscience. The heart - represents our very nature and the conscience - our mind.
Apart from God's work in Regeneration, the Scriptures say we have a heart "of stone" in our natural state.. A stony heart cannot be "pricked". It takes a heart of flesh - soft and pliable, just like a new born babe. So the first thing God has to do, is a heart transplant. Give us a new nature.
Eze 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
Eze 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.
While this is a prophetic passage, every single believer has had this done to them. From Adam to the present. Jew and Gentile. Jesus Christ called it the New Birth or being Born Again. The Holy Spirit comes and gives the appointed person, at the appointed time, a new heart/new nature, in the process called Regeneration by theologians. This change in ones nature and being made spiritually alive, gives that one a tender conscience versus an inoperable conscience or seared conscience.
1Ti 4:2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
After Regeneration, the renewed conscience/mind, thirsts for answers as to what has happened to it. The answers are of course in the Bible.
This new nature, has the ability to perform the initial repentance, with the help of the Holy Spirit. But repent from what? Through the reading of God's Word and/or hearing God's Word preached and now possessing the ability to hear and understand what is heard, that soft heart is "pricked" and the conscience deeply moved by the power of the convicting Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
[On a side bar - if I can, I would like to make a comment about the two things highlighted in blue. 1.) The gift of the Holy Spirit. This is not the New Birth/Regeneration. The gift of the Holy Spirit refers to the gifts given to each believer. The type of gifts that this group had just been eye witness to and the same that Paul wrote about in his first epistle to the Corinthians. 2.) Note again God's Sovereignty in salvation. Who's hearts were pricked and believed and will believe? Answer: As many as the Lord our God shall call. But a better rendering of the Greek would be: "..even as many as the Lord our God shall call unto Himself." (Because the Greek word rendered: "shall call", is in the middle voice).]
Through the Gospel, we come to understand our own hand in putting the Lord Jesus Christ to death. Our sins killed the one who knew no sin. The Spirit uses this to convict us in our inner most being and under this knowledge, drops us to our knees in repentance. We are ashamed and beg God to forgive us. We will learn that we have been forgiven and that the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, working in concert, made it possible.
I don't know if this answers your question sufficiently but as I indicated earlier, I do not want to be guilty of of hemming God in or associating to God what does not belong. Please let me know if the answers need further examples or Scripture proof.
FreeGrace2 said:
Jesus used their own words to answer their question. Their question was this:
v.28 - Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
We know the answer is that God DOESN'T require works. He requires belief, faith.
So, Jesus answered:
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Either a "play on words" or tongue-in-cheek.
We know belief cannot be a "work" because of Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2:8,9, where Paul contrasted belief from works.
You SHOULD in light of Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2;8,9 though.
And Paul contrasted "work" with "believing". So are you going to ignore Paul's words, or realize what Jesus was doing to get their attention?
He didn't have to. He CONTRASTED work with believing. They ARE different, even if you can't tell the difference.
Jesus used their own words to answer their question. Their question was this:
v.28 - Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
We know the answer is that God DOESN'T require works. He requires belief, faith.
So, Jesus answered:
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
Either a "play on words" or tongue-in-cheek.
We know belief cannot be a "work" because of Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2:8,9, where Paul contrasted belief from works.
You SHOULD in light of Rom 4:4,5 and Eph 2;8,9 though.
And Paul contrasted "work" with "believing". So are you going to ignore Paul's words, or realize what Jesus was doing to get their attention?
He didn't have to. He CONTRASTED work with believing. They ARE different, even if you can't tell the difference.
-
1
- Show all