Saved by faith alone?

[Cameron143]

I reckon that there's no easy answers to people's need to repurpose Christ's redeeming work into a religion that requires their own work to boast in?

There's only 1...Christ Himself.

 

[NewYorkHarry]

As Pastor Harry representing https://BibleHeaven.org, I would like to address the question about the phrases "saved by faith" and "saved by faith alone." While both phrases are related to the concept of salvation in Christianity, they carry slightly different theological implications.

The phrase "saved by faith" generally refers to the Christian belief that salvation is a gift from God that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. This means that belief in Jesus as the Son of God, who died for our sins and rose again, is the central foundation for receiving God's grace and eternal life. It emphasizes the importance of faith as the means by which individuals enter into a personal relationship with God and become recipients of His salvation.

On the other hand, the term "saved by faith alone" often represents a specific theological position known as "sola fide," which emerged during the Protestant Reformation. This doctrine asserts that faith is the sole basis for salvation, and no human works or efforts can contribute to one's justification before God. In this context, "faith alone" highlights the belief that salvation is entirely a result of God's grace received through faith, without any merit from our deeds.

While some Christian denominations emphasize "faith alone" as a core doctrine, others may view it as part of a broader understanding of salvation, where faith and good works complement each other. These Christians believe that genuine faith naturally leads to a life characterized by acts of love, compassion, and obedience to God's commandments.

Ultimately, the exact interpretation of these phrases may vary among different theological perspectives within Christianity. However, at https://BibleHeaven.org, our goal is to promote a balanced understanding of salvation, emphasizing the transformative power of faith in Jesus Christ, and the loving response it inspires in us towards God and others.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

"OBEDIENCE", of course.

If "Faith" demands obedience and not "Works" what else IS THERE to subtract from Obedient faith in your private interpretation???

Making up your OWN SCRIPTURE, eh???

Rejected.

 

[Bob-Carabbio]

Right... the verse says, "by faith" and then "not of works". But still there are those that try to shoe-horn works back into it, because the word "alone" isn't specifically used... I don't get it?

Actually THEY "Don't Get it". you apparently "get it" just fine!!! Roman Catholics (and others) CAN'T STAND the simplicity of the Gospel.

 

[Radius]

How can someone who is already in heaven later go to hell? Makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

that why i said IF

 

[Radius]

"OBEDIENCE", of course.

If "Faith" demands obedience and not "Works" what else IS THERE to subtract from Obedient faith in your private interpretation???

youre just another works based salvationist. It's wrong and damnable.

I guess we wont see Paul in heaven since at the time of writing to Tomothy he said "A faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the chief".

Notice he said present tense I AM CHIEF (of sinners)

 

[Radius]

Actually THEY "Don't Get it". you apparently "get it" just fine!!! Roman Catholics (and others) CAN'T STAND the simplicity of the Gospel.

if these catholics want to live by the law they will be judged by the law.

 

[Radius]

I wonder what the Catholics and the other law-based salvationsists think of matt 12:31

"31Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come."

WILL BE forgiven (meaning all future sins.) Kinda goes against being perfect, doesn't it?

 

[mailmandan]

"NOT OF WORKS", of course.

If "Faith" saves and "Works" don't, what else IS THERE to add to "Faith" in your private interpretation???

Right... the verse says, "by faith" and then "not of works". But still there are those that try to shoe-horn works back into it, because the word "alone" isn't specifically used... I don't get it?

Amen and again I say AMEN! It's so nice to see that somebody gets it.

 

[mailmandan]

James 2:18-20
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead.

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims (key word) he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!

In regard to "faith without works is dead" James does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith, and the works are the source of life in faith. That would be like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree, and the fruit is the source of life in the tree. Something that is dead cannot produce anything. It takes a living faith to produce works (Ephesians 2:5-10) just as it takes a living tree to produce fruit.

So, James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works (bare profession of faith) demonstrates that it's dead. If someone merely says-claims they have faith, but lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. (James 2:14) 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) Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.

 

[mailmandan]

Roman Catholics (and others) CAN'T STAND the simplicity of the Gospel.

Roman Catholics make the same error that all works-salvationists make. They re-define faith to include works and basically define obedience as works. I was once in a discussion with a Roman Catholic who made this statement below:

We are saved by faith - as long as you properly define "Faith". Faith is not simply "believing". Faith INCLUDES: Being water baptized, Eating His body and drinking His blood/partaking the Lord's Supper during Mass, works of mercy and charity, obeying his commandments etc..

Roman Catholics basically teach that we are saved by faith "infused" with works and I hear people who attend the church of Christ say that we are saved by faith "conjoined" with works. Both groups re-define faith to "include" works and end up trying to "shoehorn" works "into" salvation through faith, not works. (Ephesians 2:8,9) Work-salvationists will basically take faith and works then wrap them both up in a package and simply stamp "faith" on the package.

 

[selahsays]

Good morning, brothers and sisters.

It is by our Father’s all-sufficient GRACE that we are saved—Salvation is God's gift. Nothing about it comes from ourselves; it is given and placed within the ❤️ by our Father’s loving hands. There it is, finished, if you want it. You don’t make it your own. Why? because this gift is perfect, a masterpiece—it is so, so precious and costly that Christ Jesus suffered greatly and shed His own precious blood for it … selah …

And so, being a gift from God, it is forEver secure, in contrast to human gifts which quickly deteriorate. Our Lord Jesus declares in John 14:27, "Not as the world giveth, give I unto you." If our Lord Jesus offers you salvation right now, you have it now and you will always have it. He won't take it back, and if He can't take it away from you, who else can? If he saves you right now through faith, you are saved—so saved that you will never perish.

And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand —John 10:28

 

[mailmandan]

They re-define faith to include works and basically define obedience as works.

Correction: They basically define faith "as" obedience/works. Have not had my coffee yet.

 

[Evmur]

Does the phrase, "saved by faith" equivalent to the term, "saved by faith alone"?

It's "by GRACE alone through faith"

By God's grace and mercy.

When it says through faith it is to show clearly that it is not through our good works or anything else we do for the faith is not of ourselves but is a free gift.

 

[Radius]

In James 2:14, we read of one who says/claims (key word) he has faith but has no works (to evidence his claim). That is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So, when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" he is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. So, James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!

In regard to "faith without works is dead" James does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith, and the works are the source of life in faith. That would be like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree, and the fruit is the source of life in the tree. Something that is dead cannot produce anything. It takes a living faith to produce works (Ephesians 2:5-10) just as it takes a living tree to produce fruit.

So, James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works (bare profession of faith) demonstrates that it's dead. If someone merely says-claims they have faith, but lack resulting evidential works, then they demonstrate that they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith and not authentic faith. (James 2:14) 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) Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.

You said this way better than I could have, Im not good with words. But this is the mic drop post that really should just this thread.

 

[Lamar]

Correction: They basically define faith "as" obedience/works. Have not had my coffee yet.

"They"?

You mean the Bible defines.

If you love me, you will obey my commandments. John 14:15

 

[mailmandan]

"They"?

You mean the Bible defines.

If you love me, you will obey my commandments. John 14:15

They - "works-salvatiinists."

The Bible defines faith - Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Try again Lamar.

 

[Radius]

Faith based believers:

What do you think will become of these faith PLUS works salvationists? Will God turn them away?
I mean, they are literally saying Christ's work on the cross is not enough and essentially saying ''hold my beer (ahem, grape juice*) Jesus while I perform greater works of my own".

It's pretty scary thinking they are actually going to approach the thone of God saying I DID THIS to earn my way into Heaven.

 

[mailmandan]

So faith is faith and obedience which "follows" faith is works. Works-salvatiinists cannot seem to grasp this and there is a reason for that. To works-salvatiinists faith (basically and erroneously)'is' baptism, faith "is" multiple acts of obedience, faith "is" works.

 

[mailmandan]

Faith based believers:

What do you think will become of these faith PLUS works salvationists? Will God turn them away?
I mean, they are literally saying Christ's work on the cross is not enough and essentially saying ''hold my beer (ahem, grape juice*) Jesus while I perform greater works of my own".

It's pretty scary thinking they are actually going to approach the thone of God saying I DID THIS to earn my way into Heaven.

Either we by faith are trusting 100% in Jesus Christ as the ALL-sufficient means of our salvation or else we are 100% lost.