Scripture says, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Saved initially by Jesus' Work on the Cross... yes.
After that, we are called unto good works... doing evil works (sin) causes one to not be in right standing with the Lord anymore until the confess and forsake their sin (Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9)
Jesus apparently expects His people to
DO some stuff after getting born again.
Reckon Jesus didn't get the memo from the so called reformers that salvation is by faith only??? (see
James 2:14-26)
The Lord says the following thru the Apostle James:
James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 1:21,22
Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness (walking after the flesh – see Gal 6:7,8), and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Apparently one is justified by
faith AND by works.... and the man that believes justification is by faith only is a "vain" man.
Sounds like either Jesus is wrong or the so called reformers are wrong since they teach an partial truth and leave the part out about works leaving the door open to sinful living (license to sin).
Martin Luther was a known drunk so I can see how he would want to leave the part about works out so he could continue drinking his beloved booze which is living in sin! (see
1 Corinthians 6:9-13)
Quite the quandary here... who shall we say is in error the Lord or the reformers??? That tis the question!
Scripture says, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16) and " If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
Uh, the old security in sin gospel leading people to believe they can still be saved even if they continue in their sin. Shameful and satanic!
1 John 3:6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not
1 John 2:4
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1 John 1:6
if we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
1 John 2:1
I write these things unto you, that ye sin not
Scripture says, "There is no one righteous, not even one." (Romans 3:10)
Speak for yourself... when I got born again, the Lord made me righteous!... your verse is peaking of how we were before getting saved.... unless you fellas continue in your sin, then it applies to you now.
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
Scripture says, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (Matthew 7:1)
John 7:24
Judge not according to the appearance, but
judge righteous judgment.
You should read ALL of what Jesus said about judging homie!
Scripture says, "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away." (Isaiah 64:6)
What "they" say is consistent with Scripture. Perhaps you need to spend more time becoming familiar with the contents of Scripture and less time complaining about what other people say.
That's what folks say when they don't understand what it means to be born again! Epic Fail!
Ephesians 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Galatians 3:27
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
That is because they are false converts.
And the Bible speaks of believers falling away from the faith in the end times... so it's very possible for one to get born again and fall away from the Lord and no longer be saved.
1 Timothy 4:1,2
Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith,
giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron
("depart from the faith" is not referring to sinners in the world who never came to faith in the first place)
1 Timothy 6:3-5 (see Luke 11:23 and 2 Peter 3:2)
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words,
even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to
the doctrine which is according to godliness (holiness);
(Doctrine of Christ, aka Doctrine of the Apostles)
He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof comes envy, strife, railings, evil thoughts… Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
2 Timothy 4:3,4
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine (teaching); but after their own lusts shall
they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
And
they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Peter 2:1-3
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as
there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies,
even denying (contradicting, Not agreeing with) the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom
the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
And through covetousness (idolatry) shall they
with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
Jude 1:4
For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men,
turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness (no self control, living after the flesh), and denying (contradicting, opposing Jesus’ teachings) the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (
referring to false teachers and false brethren - see Matthew 13:24-30)
(Deny = Strong's G0720… to contradict, disavow, reject, deny, refuse - and Strong's G4483… the idea of pouring forth, to utter, speak of or say, command)
Jude 1:17-21
Remember the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ;
How that they told you
there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
These are those who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.
But you, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
("those who separate themselves" is not referring to sinners in the world who were never joined unto the Lord in the first place)
Acts 20:27-30
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
For I know this, that
after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
Also
of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
This is speaking of the false teachers such as Augustine, John Calvin, Martin Luther, and those that be hawking their wares.... they teach a different jesus and another gospel