This is such an important topic that 90 percent of christians do not understand . Because they do not discern the difference between faith and works their whole religious life is tainted by legalism and religious behaviour ' what is the difference between faith and works in the bible?
A legalist is not converted . A legalist is still lost as an atheist . A legalist is still not accepting the gift of Jesus on the cross . Even if they say I understand we are saved by grace .But by the way they talk we can know they do not understand the topic at all .
What is the difference between faith and works in the bible? Understanding
Why is it so important to understand faith and works ? Because one cannot go to heaven or be converted if they still believe they can merit heaven and can be good enough to to go heaven '
I was listening to a YouTube channel it is very good. But after a few videos I realized the brother does not understand the topic and is still legalist . Because he said things like we can attain to sanctification and stop sinning .
This is presented in a way that make the human being able to become holy and to stop sinning . Even if he said that God helps this , he believes that at one point the human being has attained a certain point where on his own holiness he will not sin anymore .
It is like the misconception of believing sex out of mariage is a sin based on one verse that says
Mt 5 28 'But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.'
Not understanding that the context is about married people because the word adultery is never used for single people . The same way mainly one verde wrongly understood makes one a legalist . Which verse is it ?
James 2 24 'You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.'. Does the bible say here that we are saved by works ? No most people like we saw in earlier articles on how to read the bible correctly . They can lose eternal life by not understanding how to read the bible . What is the difference between faith and works in the bible . How do we read this verse.
We read this verse in context of the rest of the bible . Jesus says
Jn 15 5 'I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.'
If we cannot do nothing without Jesús what does it mean ? It means even the works cannot be done by us .God does the works through us .
But people are twisting the meaning of works by thinking that men can merit heaven by working . They believe men can become holy and good and attain to sinlessness at a certain point of obedience .This is a very dangerous belief ' Ad it makes men as a god , able to attain to holiness and sinlessness . Apart from God we do not even have inclinations to do good .
James is not saying we are saved by works ' He is saying that if someone has true faith , then the works which are done by God will follow automatically by faith . Righteousness comes by faith , works also come by faith .God does the works through us once we have faith and receive righteousness .What is the difference between faith and works in the bible ?
If men could work himself to heaven , then there would be no need of Jesus dying on the cross as men could attain to holiness by his own efforts . Then it Would make men a god who would be able to become a god one day .
What is the difference between faith and works in the bible ? The meaning of James
When we read James chapter 2 we realize that jales is talking of someone who does not really have faith . Someone that says he has faith and does not love or help others or does not spend time in the bible and prayer his faith is vain . It is. A false faith .
It is like a husband says to his wife I love you . You are amazing . I care so much about you . But never kissed her ,never helps, is never kind, never loving always angry and abusing her . Is the love of that men real or false? It is a false love as love would be seen by actions .
A men would not force himself to love someone . It is automatic. If we love Jesus and ask his righteousness , then as God is working in is he does the works through us . The prophet Ellen g White says
"He who is trying to reach heaven by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. COR 96.10
"Man cannot be saved without obedience, but his works should not be of himself; Christ should work in him to will and to do of His good pleasure." - The Review and Herald, July 1, 1890. COR 97.1
What is the difference between faith and works in the bible ? No contradiction
We know God does not lie .
Titus 1 2 'in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,'
As God cannot lie we know God cannot say
The car is blue. Then somewhere else say
The car is red
Even. Human being who would say the different things would be considered a liar . Today few people understand the bible correctly . As when they see what we call apparent contradiction w they say o well I will chose one of the two verses .
But they do not realize that
1 it is not to the human being to decide what the bible says . We are on earth to seek and find the truth .only honest people will accept the truth.
God puts apparent contradictions in the bible so that we study further to understand the meaning . Truth never contradicts itself . When someone believes the bible teaches 2 different things and they can chose one of the two Verses , it shows their minds is very dishonest .
They have never understood truth . As truth is absolute like a rock . If God says the car is blue , God will never say the car is red . Apparent contradictions the purpose of which is for us to study further and for God to reveal those who are honest and dishonest .
What is the difference between faith and Works in the bible ? Not by works
Ro 11 6 6 'And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. [a]But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.'
The bible clearly says that we are 'not saved by works .If we are saved by works then we cannot be saved by faith . If someone is inside a car , he cannot be riding a bicycle at the same time .
If the light is red , it cannot be green at the same time . If someone is on the water he cannot be on the sand at the same time . If we are saved by faith alone , then we cannot be saved by works alone at the same time . It is one of the two .
When James spake he meant that the works are done by God also , so we can say faith and works are both the result of righteousness by faith ..Works also come by faith .
When we take other verses that talk about works it is in the meaning of men doing the works . No men can be saved by working to go to heaven Ellen g white also says
"To subscribe the name to a church creed is not of the least value to anyone if the heart is not truly changed.... Men may be church members, and may apparently work earnestly, performing a round of duties from year to year, and yet be unconverted." - The Review and Herald, February 14, 1899. COR 83.1
"While we are incased in self - righteousness, and trust in ceremonies, and depend on rigid rules, we cannot do the work for this time." - The Review and Herald, May 6, 1890. COR 84.2
It is so serious a topic that all worked religious people on earth are wicked because they believe they are saved by works . They make rules for others .They believe to be good persons. They see a great holiness in themselves and think highly of their religious life . They do not de their wredchedness and corruption inside .They are blind to their own defects.
The darkest chapters of history are burdened with the record of crimes committed by bigoted religionists. The Pharisees claimed to be children of Abraham, and boasted of their possession of the oracles of God; yet these advantages did not preserve them from selfishness, malignity, greed for gain, and the basest hypocrisy. They thought themselves the greatest religionists of the world, but their so - called orthodoxy led them to crucify the Lord of glory. COR 79.5
The worse people on earth who make life a burden for others are religious people . Paul says those who are of works are separated from Jesus , they can be pastors and workers in the church but they are lost
Ga 5 4 'For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.'
Eph 2 8,9 'God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it..
Ro 11 6. 'And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.'
Ro 4 2 'For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.'
Ro 9 32 'Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;'
Ga 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.'
Ti 3 5 'Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;'
Repeat father God forgive out sins give us your righteousness , help is to understand it is not by works . Give us the desires of oir hearts . Prosper us helps us to get along with people Give us happiness and peace please in the name of Jesus amen
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