Discourse on Not Saved By Dead Faith:
INTRODUCTION:
Many believe that they can be saved by faith alone, but forget and/or do not realize that live faith will lead to action and is not just a passive entity. Also, they forget that true faith is a fruitage of Gods (YHWHs) spirit as clearly shown by Galatians 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB). They argue that faith alone can save which is true, but conveniently forget that a live faith leads to action as shown by James 2:17, So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. (DRCB).
ARGUMENTS AND SCRIPTURES OF THOSE CLAIMING FAITH ALONE IS SUFFICIENT:
Here are some of the actual arguments with accompanying scriptures put forth by those claiming that faith alone is sufficient:
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.
Eph 1:12 - 14 ...so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, may be to the praise of his glory. And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) - when you believed in Christ - you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory.
Eph. 2:8, 9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not of works, so that no one can boast.
Eph 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, by being rooted and grounded in love,
Phil 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
1 Tim 1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.
2 Tim 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Pet 2:6, 7 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious;"
2 Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 5:4, 5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
[note, as best I can tell, they took these quotes either from the Holman Christian Standard Bible and/or the Web Bible as they did NOT have the intellectual honesty to state the translation]
THE FACTS, THE BIBLICAL TRUTHS:
Of course faith is absolutely necessary, and the Apostles gave emphasis to this fact in their writings as many of the Jews believed they could gain salvation by works alone which is of course NOT possible. First of all you must have faith or works are clearly of no value. Second, if you have true deep faith, it will also cause you to have works as clearly if you have faith, you will make known to others the truth as your faith will drive you to do so. Let's not forget Romans 10:12-21, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: 13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you. 20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me. 21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." (American Standard Version; ASV); and Matthew 24:14 says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (ASV). And as the Bible clearly says at James 2:21-26, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. 25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." (ASV); clearly showing Abraham had works" (ASV); and this same truth is testified to at James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself." (ASV), and we both know for faith to be of any value it must be 'alive' and NOT 'dead.' Enough said, I hope you see this Bible truth that faith must be alive to be of any value. This point is clearly made at 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: " (ASV). Be like the eunuch at Acts 8:26-31, "But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him." (ASV), and start realizing the need to not only know what the Bible says, but to comprehend it as well. I stand ready to assist you.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89
INTRODUCTION:
Many believe that they can be saved by faith alone, but forget and/or do not realize that live faith will lead to action and is not just a passive entity. Also, they forget that true faith is a fruitage of Gods (YHWHs) spirit as clearly shown by Galatians 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is, charity, joy, peace, patience, benignity, goodness, longanimity, (Douay-Rheims Catholic Bible; DRCB). They argue that faith alone can save which is true, but conveniently forget that a live faith leads to action as shown by James 2:17, So faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself. (DRCB).
ARGUMENTS AND SCRIPTURES OF THOSE CLAIMING FAITH ALONE IS SUFFICIENT:
Here are some of the actual arguments with accompanying scriptures put forth by those claiming that faith alone is sufficient:
For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.
Eph 1:12 - 14 ...so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, may be to the praise of his glory. And when you heard the word of truth (the gospel of your salvation) - when you believed in Christ - you were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit,
who is the down payment of our inheritance, until the redemption of God's own possession to the praise of his glory.
Eph. 2:8, 9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not of works, so that no one can boast.
Eph 3:17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, so that, by being rooted and grounded in love,
Phil 3:9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;
1 Tim 1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life.
2 Tim 3:15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
1 Pet 2:6, 7 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, "Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame." Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious;"
2 Pet 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
1 John 3:23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 5:4, 5 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world; our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1 John 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.
[note, as best I can tell, they took these quotes either from the Holman Christian Standard Bible and/or the Web Bible as they did NOT have the intellectual honesty to state the translation]
THE FACTS, THE BIBLICAL TRUTHS:
Of course faith is absolutely necessary, and the Apostles gave emphasis to this fact in their writings as many of the Jews believed they could gain salvation by works alone which is of course NOT possible. First of all you must have faith or works are clearly of no value. Second, if you have true deep faith, it will also cause you to have works as clearly if you have faith, you will make known to others the truth as your faith will drive you to do so. Let's not forget Romans 10:12-21, "For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same [Lord] is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: 13 for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they did not all hearken to the glad tidings. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So belief [cometh] of hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. 18 But I say, Did they not hear? Yea, verily, Their sound went out into all the earth, And their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did Israel not know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy with that which is no nation, With a nation void of understanding will I anger you. 20 And Isaiah is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I became manifest unto them that asked not of me. 21 But as to Israel he saith, All the day long did I spread out my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people." (American Standard Version; ASV); and Matthew 24:14 says, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come." (ASV). And as the Bible clearly says at James 2:21-26, "Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which saith, And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned unto him for righteousness; and he was called the friend of God. 24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. 25 And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead." (ASV); clearly showing Abraham had works" (ASV); and this same truth is testified to at James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself." (ASV), and we both know for faith to be of any value it must be 'alive' and NOT 'dead.' Enough said, I hope you see this Bible truth that faith must be alive to be of any value. This point is clearly made at 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: " (ASV). Be like the eunuch at Acts 8:26-31, "But an angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza: the same is desert. 27 And he arose and went: and behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship; 28 and he was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 And the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. 30 And Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? 31 And he said, How can I, except some one shall guide me? And he besought Philip to come up and sit with him." (ASV), and start realizing the need to not only know what the Bible says, but to comprehend it as well. I stand ready to assist you.
Your Friend in Christ Iris89