Untangling the confusion between Faith and Works (deeds)

Date:   5/13/2005 1:22:43 PM ( 19 y ago)

First, a definition: when I say "salvation" in this topic, I mean permanent residence in heaven, not rescue from sin or physical danger.

As explained in the first post in this blog, salvation is a gift. You accept it by putting your trust in the Jesus of the Bible, in what He did for us on the Cross, which is to pay for all our sins. This is all that determines whether you go to heaven or hell. It has nothing at all to do with living a holy life or doing good deeds, because you can't earn a gift.

Of course, people will scream, "So you have a license to sin! You can be as evil as you want and still get to heaven." But can anyone prove that this has ever happened, or is it just hypothetical? And the Bible teaches in no uncertain terms that we who are saved are expected to do good deeds, not to obtain or make partial payment on salvation, but because we want to please our Savior. All those NT passages about endurance, perseverance, striving, etc. are about earning rewards, not getting saved. Some people show little gratitude for the Gift, but they are saved all the same.

So why do so many people, even Christians, insist that works are a necessary part of salvation, or that works prove salvation? That's the same as saying salvation is not a gift, or that works are the guaranteed result of salvation. Lack of works or wallowing in sin can and must get a person expelled from the fellowship of believers, but only God and that person know whether they had ever truly trusted Jesus for salvation. We must judge works to keep the church pure, but not to pronounce damnation upon those who don't live "up" to our particular biased standards.

John 3:16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 3:18 The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

John 5:24 I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2:9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 2:10 For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than what is being laid, which is Jesus Christ. 3:12 If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, 3:13 each builder’s work will be plainly seen, for the Day will make it clear, because it will be revealed by fire. And the fire will test what kind of work each has done. 3:14 If what someone has built survives, he will receive a reward. 3:15 If someone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss. He himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

Romans 4:3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 4:4 Now to the one who works, his pay is not credited due to grace but due to obligation. 4:5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in the one who declares the ungodly righteous, his faith is credited as righteousness.

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