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Some people believe in God while also thinking they can be saved by their own righteousness and works. That is one extreme. The opposite extreme teaches that salvation is by grace alone, requiring nothing of a person either to be saved or to remain saved. Scripture does not support either error. The devil benefits from this false confidence by discouraging discipleship and making believers unfruitful.
Read the passages below carefully to determine their true meaning:
Not one or the other, but both
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
The works of the Law cannot justify
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
For one to be justified under the Law, he must do so flawlessly
Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Faith without works is unable to save
James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Faith without works is dead, and cannot save
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Where there are no works, there is no faith
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
It is vain to think that faith without works saves
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Faith alone is shown to be false teaching
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Faith and works must go together to be profitable
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Works are the fruit one must bear; without such fruit, after time for repentance, one is rejected.
2 Tm. 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works: Luke 13:6-9 - He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. 7 Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? 8 And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it: 9 And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
Works are required to be a true disciple and glorified
John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
To have salvation and receive the prize of eternal requires effort
Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
One must continue following the "perfect law of liberty" and be "a doer of the work" to be blessed
James 1:25 (ESV) But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
Works go hand in hand with "labor of love"
Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
Christians with works but without love have fallen
Rev 2:1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; 2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: 3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
Conclusion:
Both Jesus and Paul warned against false teaching. To avoid being misled, we must carefully study the relevant Scriptures to understand what they teach. If you are a Bible student, you may be troubled by the idea that some believe they can save themselves by their own righteousness. Yet you may also have been led to believe that salvation is by grace alone, or perhaps by faith alone. Do not rely merely on what men say; listen to what God says through Scripture so you can be sure you are walking the path that leads to eternal life in heaven.
Links for further study:
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-learn-truth.htm
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-27-things.htm
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-earn-salvation.htm
https://www.totalhealth.bz/spiritual-health-general.htm
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