J
Jimmy_B
Guest
Faith and works or faith alone for Salvation, Provide perses please?
Faith and works or faith alone for Salvation, Provide perses please?
- Status
J
JMBNH
Guest
James 2:24 ‘You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone’
Hebrews 10:26-26 ‘For if we wilfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.’
Faith and works, but both through grace alone.
Hebrews 10:26-26 ‘For if we wilfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.’
Faith and works, but both through grace alone.
N
Newbie2
Guest
Throwing a little gasoline on the fire, no?
You’ll get scripture on both sides that either “prove” Sola Scriptura or disprove it. I’ve always maintained that one accepts Tradtion (Big T) and Magisterial authority on matters of the faith or not, and this of course colors one’s perspective on the answer to the question posed.
I
Ilroy
Guest
Faith alone…if you cherry pick verses.
Faith and Works by Grace Alone if you take the whole Bible in context.
But then to complicate things, some of the faith alone crowd believe that works are a part of the faith alone belief which puts them close to the Catholic teaching…
L
Lampo
Guest
For some troubling reason today, I am confused on the Catholic understanding of James 2:24. I’ve just read the “Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification” between the Catholic Church and Lutherans. In it it says, "The Joint Declaration thus stresses that good works are a consequence of entering a state of justification, not the cause of entering it: "We confess together that good works-a Christian life lived in faith, hope, and love-follow justification and are its fruits. When the justified live in Christ and act in the grace they receive, they bring forth, in biblical terms, good fruit. . . . "
Justification is another way of saying we are in a state of sanctifying grace, no? Is James 2:24 saying the way we can tell that we are in the state of sanctifying grace is by the good works we are doing? And that we can’t tell that we are in a state of sanctifying grace just by our faith alone?
Justification is another way of saying we are in a state of sanctifying grace, no? Is James 2:24 saying the way we can tell that we are in the state of sanctifying grace is by the good works we are doing? And that we can’t tell that we are in a state of sanctifying grace just by our faith alone?
D
davidv
Guest
Based on a quick review of the article on “justification” in the Catholic Encyclopedia, Jusification is not meant in this way. My understanding of the teaching is that justification is the intial act of God to gives us sanctifying grace in response to our baptism. It is not the term for accepting the graces needed to fulfill our commitment to love and serve Him.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
I Timothy 1: 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Not by faith alone.
Not by grace alone.
Not by love alone.
Grace include faith and love, as does righteousness.
Not by faith alone.
Not by grace alone.
Not by love alone.
Grace include faith and love, as does righteousness.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
This is an interesting passage. I took it from the NKJV translation.
Col. 1: 24
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,…
This is from the Hebrew Name Version.
Col 1: 24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,…
Col. 1: 24
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,…
This is from the Hebrew Name Version.
Col 1: 24 I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church,…
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
St. Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
I Corinthians 13: 13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13: 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. 11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. 13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. 14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, 15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
I Thessalonians 5: 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation.
I Corinthians 13: 13 So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13: 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. 11 Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. 13 Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. 14 So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, 15 and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. 16 In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit.
I Thessalonians 5: 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is hope for salvation.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
Love Is Heard by Faith
From what I can hear, the Most Holy Scriptures yell or thunder that Charity is the first and the greatest of God’s gifts to us.
Also, God’s Word is a word of Charity or Love. God is Love and His Word is Love.
There is also a relationship between Love and faith.
As Jesus and St. Paul teach, Love is the greatest and the first in this relationship.
As is clearly taught, faith comes by hearing.
Faith hears God’s Word, which is Love Incarnate. Love is God’s language.
Faith receives God’s Word of Love.
Faith accepts (consents, believes, assents) God’s Word of Love.
The faith that saves is the faith that has accepted God’s Word of Love.
The Most Holy Scriptures are crystal clear: God so LOVED the world that He sent His only begotten Son. It is God’s Love that saves us through His Word.
As we all know, God’s love is poured into our hearts. The love by which we love God, self and neighbor is His Love and not the love of that old self. We have a new heart with new Love—His Love!
We are now adopted children of God. He is Our Father. He is going to make us grow in Love. Yes, He will make us grow in His love, if we assent (consent, believe, agree, or accept).
We need not be afraid of become loving people. He will do all things in us.
To paraphrase: Love believes. Love is patient. Love endures all things. Love is polite. Love forgets how to do evil. Love forgives evil done to us. Love hopes. Love is successful. God’s love makes us complete (perfect). Love is kind. Love is humble. Love loves the truth. Love is courageous. Love is chaste. Love is sober. Love is generous. Love is meek. Love does loving actions. Love is faithful to our spouse. Love is peace and peaceful. Love is the greatest. Love is first. Love is God’s salvation given to us. Love yells or thunders to us and announces God’s Word. Love is beautiful and brings delight or happiness.
Faith accepts (assents or consents) God’s Word of Love.
Love is first, second and third (God, self and neighbor).
Love is the greatest.
Faith is fourth (or second). Faith is not the greatest. Love is first and greatest. God’s Love saved us. Love uses faith, hope and everything else. God saves us!
From what I can hear, the Most Holy Scriptures yell or thunder that Charity is the first and the greatest of God’s gifts to us.
Also, God’s Word is a word of Charity or Love. God is Love and His Word is Love.
There is also a relationship between Love and faith.
As Jesus and St. Paul teach, Love is the greatest and the first in this relationship.
As is clearly taught, faith comes by hearing.
Faith hears God’s Word, which is Love Incarnate. Love is God’s language.
Faith receives God’s Word of Love.
Faith accepts (consents, believes, assents) God’s Word of Love.
The faith that saves is the faith that has accepted God’s Word of Love.
The Most Holy Scriptures are crystal clear: God so LOVED the world that He sent His only begotten Son. It is God’s Love that saves us through His Word.
As we all know, God’s love is poured into our hearts. The love by which we love God, self and neighbor is His Love and not the love of that old self. We have a new heart with new Love—His Love!
We are now adopted children of God. He is Our Father. He is going to make us grow in Love. Yes, He will make us grow in His love, if we assent (consent, believe, agree, or accept).
We need not be afraid of become loving people. He will do all things in us.
To paraphrase: Love believes. Love is patient. Love endures all things. Love is polite. Love forgets how to do evil. Love forgives evil done to us. Love hopes. Love is successful. God’s love makes us complete (perfect). Love is kind. Love is humble. Love loves the truth. Love is courageous. Love is chaste. Love is sober. Love is generous. Love is meek. Love does loving actions. Love is faithful to our spouse. Love is peace and peaceful. Love is the greatest. Love is first. Love is God’s salvation given to us. Love yells or thunders to us and announces God’s Word. Love is beautiful and brings delight or happiness.
Faith accepts (assents or consents) God’s Word of Love.
Love is first, second and third (God, self and neighbor).
Love is the greatest.
Faith is fourth (or second). Faith is not the greatest. Love is first and greatest. God’s Love saved us. Love uses faith, hope and everything else. God saves us!
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
I have tried to put some logical order to the following passages. This has been really tough. One could do this in many different ways.
The principle points are:
• God’s Love saves us.
• Jesus is God’s Word made flesh.
• God spoke His eternal Word of Love, Jesus Christ.
• God still speaks His eternal Love through the Holy Spirit.
• He makes us new creations.
• We have new hearts.
• We have His Love poured into our new hearts.
• God is our Father
• We are God’s adopted children.
• His Love entices, encourages, lures, leads, empowers, enlightens and calls us to Love.
• His Love is first and greatest of all of His gifts.
• His Love in our hearts is needed to save us.
• His Love is in charge of everything else.
• We are saved by His Love.
• Love gives life and “energeo” to faith.
• Righteousness is made up of Love and faith (and all of the weapons of righteousness).
• Faith comes by hearing God’s Word of Love.
• Love is first.
• We are renewed in our minds.
• The inner self is now new.
• Love believes.
• Love hopes.
• Love is kind, et cetera.
• We can do all things with these new gifts, that is, new hearts and Love.
• We will have the courage to Love. Do not be afraid, you will be able to be kind and so forth.
• Every gift is subordinate to His Love poured into our hearts.
• His Love uses every gift to save us.
• He saves us.
• We must Love God in order to be saved. It is with His gifts that we must Love Him.
The principle points are:
• God’s Love saves us.
• Jesus is God’s Word made flesh.
• God spoke His eternal Word of Love, Jesus Christ.
• God still speaks His eternal Love through the Holy Spirit.
• He makes us new creations.
• We have new hearts.
• We have His Love poured into our new hearts.
• God is our Father
• We are God’s adopted children.
• His Love entices, encourages, lures, leads, empowers, enlightens and calls us to Love.
• His Love is first and greatest of all of His gifts.
• His Love in our hearts is needed to save us.
• His Love is in charge of everything else.
• We are saved by His Love.
• Love gives life and “energeo” to faith.
• Righteousness is made up of Love and faith (and all of the weapons of righteousness).
• Faith comes by hearing God’s Word of Love.
• Love is first.
• We are renewed in our minds.
• The inner self is now new.
• Love believes.
• Love hopes.
• Love is kind, et cetera.
• We can do all things with these new gifts, that is, new hearts and Love.
• We will have the courage to Love. Do not be afraid, you will be able to be kind and so forth.
• Every gift is subordinate to His Love poured into our hearts.
• His Love uses every gift to save us.
• He saves us.
• We must Love God in order to be saved. It is with His gifts that we must Love Him.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
Grace is infused into our new heaerts.
Faith, hope and love are infused into our souls at the same time.
However, Love is the greatest.
Love is in charges of all other gifts from God.
The analogy: The soul and body are created at the same time, but the soul is in charge of the body. The soul is the greater.
Faith, hope and love are infused into our souls at the same time.
However, Love is the greatest.
Love is in charges of all other gifts from God.
The analogy: The soul and body are created at the same time, but the soul is in charge of the body. The soul is the greater.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
JUSTIFICATION: GIFT MERITED BY JESUS: ADOPTED CHILD OF GOD, NEW SELF, NEW CREATION, LOVE AND FAITH
St. Matthew 6: 9 This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; 13 and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
St. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
St. John 1: 12 But to those who did accept him he gave power (“exousia”) to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
I John 4: 4 You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Romans 5: 3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
St. Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
St. Mark 12: 28 One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that (he) answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
St. Matthew 6: 9 This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. 11Give us today our daily bread; 12 and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; 13 and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.
St. John 3: 16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
St. John 1: 12 But to those who did accept him he gave power (“exousia”) to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
I John 4: 4 You belong to God, children, and you have conquered them, for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They belong to the world; accordingly, their teaching belongs to the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We belong to God, and anyone who knows God listens to us, while anyone who does not belong to God refuses to hear us. This is how we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit. 7 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Romans 5: 3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope,
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
St. Matthew 22: 36 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” 37 He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and the first commandment. 39 The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
St. Mark 12: 28 One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that (he) answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
St. John 17: 19 And I consecrate myself for them, so that they also may be consecrated in truth. 20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 so that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me. 22 And I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, 23 I in them and you in me, that they may be brought to perfection as one, that the world may know that you sent me, and that you loved them even as you loved me. 24 Father, they are your gift to me. I wish that where I am they also may be with me, that they may see my glory that you gave me, because you loved me before the foundation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world also does not know you, but I know you, and they know that you sent me. 26 I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
St. John 17: 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (KJV).
I John 2: 3 The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments.
St. John 17: 3 Now this is eternal life, that they should know (“ginosko” know or experience cf. St. Luke 1: 34) you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5: 13 For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled (“pleroo” {play-ro’-o}: 1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full; to complete) in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 3: 31 Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting (“histemi” {his’-tay-mee}: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set) the law.
Galatians 6: 15 For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation.
Romans 8: 14 For those who are led (“ago” ag’-o: 1. to lead, take with one a. to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: of an animal) by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit itself bears (faith comes by hearing the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit is Love) witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
St. John 17: 26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare [it]: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them (KJV).
I John 2: 3 The way we may be sure that we know him is to keep his commandments.
St. John 17: 3 Now this is eternal life, that they should know (“ginosko” know or experience cf. St. Luke 1: 34) you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
Galatians 5: 13 For you were called for freedom, brothers. But do not use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh; rather, serve one another through love. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled (“pleroo” {play-ro’-o}: 1) to make full, to fill up, i.e. to fill to the full; to complete) in one statement, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Romans 3: 31 Are we then annulling the law by this faith? Of course not! On the contrary, we are supporting (“histemi” {his’-tay-mee}: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set) the law.
Galatians 6: 15 For neither does circumcision mean anything, nor does uncircumcision, but only a new creation.
Romans 8: 14 For those who are led (“ago” ag’-o: 1. to lead, take with one a. to lead by laying hold of, and this way to bring to the point of destination: of an animal) by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba, Father!” 16 The Spirit itself bears (faith comes by hearing the Holy Spirit, and Holy Spirit is Love) witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
Romans 10: 17 Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.
St. John 10: 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
St. John 5: 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.
I John 3: 1 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.
St. John 3: 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”
St. John 17: 3 Now this is eternal life, that they should know (“ginosko”) you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1: 3 His divine power (“dunamis”) has bestowed on us everything that makes for life (“zoe”) and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. 4 Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
II Timothy 1: 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control (sophronismos {so-fron-is-mos’}: sound mind or come to one’s senses).
Deuteronomy 30: 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving Him, and walking in His ways, and keeping His commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace (adoption) you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so no one may boast.
St. John 10: 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
St. John 5: 24 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation, but has passed from death to life.
I John 3: 1 See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself pure, as he is pure.
St. John 3: 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.”
St. John 17: 3 Now this is eternal life, that they should know (“ginosko”) you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.
II Peter 1: 3 His divine power (“dunamis”) has bestowed on us everything that makes for life (“zoe”) and devotion, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and power. 4 Through these, he has bestowed on us the precious and very great promises, so that through them you may come to share in the divine nature, after escaping from the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.
II Timothy 1: 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control (sophronismos {so-fron-is-mos’}: sound mind or come to one’s senses).
Deuteronomy 30: 16 If you obey the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving Him, and walking in His ways, and keeping His commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the LORD, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.
Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace (adoption) you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so no one may boast.
P
Pax
Guest
The biggest problem that I have with the argument that we are saved by faith “alone” is as follows:
First of all scripture never says that we are saved by faith alone, but it does say that we are “not saved by faith alone”.[James 2:24]
Beyond this we can see from scripture that arguments can be made that we are saved by means other than faith. I will present a number of arguments using scripture that follow the pattern of the argument for salvation by faith “alone.” All of the arguments have similar logic in that they focus on only one item and they all depend on selective use of scripture.
So how are we saved?
faith? grace ? baptism? hope? works? obedience? Love? sanctification?]
BY FAITH
1 Cor 1:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
Rom 3:28
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Rom 10:10
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
BY GRACE
Eph 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
Rom 3:24
they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
Eph 2:4-6
the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ
WORKS–
Matt 16:24-27
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
1 Tim 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
James 2:24
You see that a person is justified by works…
James 1:21-22
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
James 5:20
you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
BY BAPTISM
Acts: 2:40-41
And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Rom 6:4
Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
1 Peter 3:21
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
BY HOPE
Rom 8:24
For we are saved by hope:
Eph 1:11-12
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.
Col 1:5-6
You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.
Titus 3:6-7
This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Heb 3:6
Christ, however, was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.
Heb 6:11 And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,
cont. on next post
First of all scripture never says that we are saved by faith alone, but it does say that we are “not saved by faith alone”.[James 2:24]
Beyond this we can see from scripture that arguments can be made that we are saved by means other than faith. I will present a number of arguments using scripture that follow the pattern of the argument for salvation by faith “alone.” All of the arguments have similar logic in that they focus on only one item and they all depend on selective use of scripture.
So how are we saved?
faith? grace ? baptism? hope? works? obedience? Love? sanctification?]
BY FAITH
1 Cor 1:21
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe.
Rom 3:28
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.
Rom 10:10
For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
BY GRACE
Eph 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God–not the result of works, so that no one may boast.
Rom 3:24
they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
Eph 2:4-6
the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ-by grace you have been saved-and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ
WORKS–
Matt 16:24-27
Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? "For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
1 Tim 4:16
Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.
James 2:24
You see that a person is justified by works…
James 1:21-22
Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
James 5:20
you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
BY BAPTISM
Acts: 2:40-41
And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.
Rom 6:4
Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
1 Peter 3:21
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you-not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
John 3:5
Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.
BY HOPE
Rom 8:24
For we are saved by hope:
Eph 1:11-12
In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will, so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.
Col 1:5-6
You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God.
Titus 3:6-7
This Spirit he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Heb 3:6
Christ, however, was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.
Heb 6:11 And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end,
cont. on next post
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
I Timothy 1: 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
St. Matthew 19: 16 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied," ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" 20 The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell (trade or barter) what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Colossians 3: 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.
Romans 5: 3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Ezekiel 36: 26 I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. 27 I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.
Ephesians 4: 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 3: 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his
glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
II Corinthians 5: 14 For the love of Christ impels (“sunecho,” constrain) us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. 15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. 17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
St. Matthew 19: 16 Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” 17 He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good?
There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He asked him, “Which ones?” And Jesus replied," ‘You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother’; and ‘you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" 20 The young man said to him, “All of these I have observed. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell (trade or barter) what you have and give to (the) poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
Colossians 3: 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths. 9 Stop lying to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator.
Romans 5: 3 Not only that, but we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Ezekiel 36: 26 I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. 27 I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.
Ephesians 4: 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. 25 Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 3: 14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his
glory to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self, 17 and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
II Corinthians 5: 14 For the love of Christ impels (“sunecho,” constrain) us, once we have come to the conviction that one died for all; therefore, all have died. 15 He indeed died for all, so that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. 16 Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh; even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no longer. 17 So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
II Corinthians 3: 18 All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.
I Corinthians 2: 9 But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” 10 this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
I Timothy 2: 15 But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
I Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Galatians 5: 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working (“energeo”) through love.
James 2: 26 For just as a body (‘soma”) without a spirit (“pneuma”) is dead, so also
faith without works (“ergon”) is dead.
Romans 5: 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
I John 4: 16God is LOVE (“agape”), and whoever remains in LOVE remains in God and God in him.
St. Matthew 10: 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
II Timothy 1: 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
Philippians 2: 13 For it is God which worketh (“energeo”: to be operative, be at work) in you both to will and to do (“energeo”) of [his] good pleasure (KJV).
I Corinthians 2: 9 But as it is written: “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him,” 10 this God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit scrutinizes everything, even the depths of God.
I Timothy 2: 15 But she will be saved through motherhood, provided women persevere in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.
I Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in human and angelic tongues but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Galatians 5: 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working (“energeo”) through love.
James 2: 26 For just as a body (‘soma”) without a spirit (“pneuma”) is dead, so also
faith without works (“ergon”) is dead.
Romans 5: 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
I John 4: 16God is LOVE (“agape”), and whoever remains in LOVE remains in God and God in him.
St. Matthew 10: 8 Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give.
II Timothy 1: 6 For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands. 7 For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.
Philippians 2: 13 For it is God which worketh (“energeo”: to be operative, be at work) in you both to will and to do (“energeo”) of [his] good pleasure (KJV).
P
Pax
Guest
cont. from prior post
BY OBEDIENCE
Deu 7:9-10
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and who repays in their own person those who reject him.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
Acts 5:32
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
Heb 5:9
and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,
Matt 7:21
"Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
1 Peter 1: 2
to the exiles…who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:
Rev 12:17
Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
BY LOVE
1 Cor 8:3
…but anyone who loves God is known by him.
2 Thess 2:10
and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
1 Cor 16:22
Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come!
Jam 1:12-15
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 2:5
Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
Luke 10:25-37
“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
1Cor 2:9
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”
1Cor 13:1-2
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Cor 13:13
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
BY ENDURANCE
Luke 21:19
By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Heb 10:36
For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Matt 24 :12-13
And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
BY SANCTIFICATION
Heb 13:12
Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.
Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.
1Cor 1:2
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Rom 6:22
But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.
Heb 2:11
For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
HEB 10:9
And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1Peter 1:2
who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:
It is quite clear that all of these passages are speaking about salvation and they cannot be ignored. While all of the arguments contain truth about salvation none of them is complete. Attempting to say that we are saved by faith “alone” using scripture is no more valid than saying that we are saved by love “alone” or that we are saved by obedience “alone.” Each argument has some truth in it about salvation, but none of the arguments can be used to establish a doctrine that includes the word “alone.”
BY OBEDIENCE
Deu 7:9-10
Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations, and who repays in their own person those who reject him.
John 3:36
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
Acts 5:32
And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him."
Heb 5:9
and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him,
Matt 7:21
"Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
1 Peter 1: 2
to the exiles…who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:
Rev 12:17
Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her children, those who keep the commandments of God and hold the testimony of Jesus.
BY LOVE
1 Cor 8:3
…but anyone who loves God is known by him.
2 Thess 2:10
and with all wicked deception for those who are to perish, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
1 Cor 16:22
Let anyone be accursed who has no love for the Lord. Our Lord, come!
Jam 1:12-15
Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
James 2:5
Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be rich in faith and to be heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him?
Luke 10:25-37
“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
1Cor 2:9
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him”
1Cor 13:1-2
If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
1 Cor 13:13
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
BY ENDURANCE
Luke 21:19
By your endurance you will gain your souls.
Heb 10:36
For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Matt 24 :12-13
And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
BY SANCTIFICATION
Heb 13:12
Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the city gate in order to sanctify the people by his own blood.
Acts 20:32
And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified.
1Cor 1:2
To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
Rom 6:22
But now that you have been freed from sin and enslaved to God, the advantage you get is sanctification. The end is eternal life.
Heb 2:11
For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters,
HEB 10:9
And it is by God’s will that we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1Peter 1:2
who have been chosen and destined by God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood:
It is quite clear that all of these passages are speaking about salvation and they cannot be ignored. While all of the arguments contain truth about salvation none of them is complete. Attempting to say that we are saved by faith “alone” using scripture is no more valid than saying that we are saved by love “alone” or that we are saved by obedience “alone.” Each argument has some truth in it about salvation, but none of the arguments can be used to establish a doctrine that includes the word “alone.”
S
Seamus_Sully
Guest
Philippians 2: 13 For God is the one who, for His good purpose, works (“energeo”) in you both to desire (“thelo”: to will, have in mind, intend) and to work (“energeo”).
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together (“sunergeo” “sun” [with] and “ergon” [work]) for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 1: 5 Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, 6 among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; 7 to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
I Corinthians 1: 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
I Thessalonians 4: 7 For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
II Timothy 1: 9 He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.
I Peter 1: 14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, 16 for it is written, “Be holy because I (am) holy.”
I Corinthians 3: 9 For we are God’s co-workers (“sunergeo”); you are God’s field, God’s building.
Galatians 5: 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith (“energeo”) working through love.
Philippians 4: 13 I have the strength for everything through him who empowers (“endunamoo”) me.
St. John 3: 30 “He must increase; I must decrease."
II Corinthians 12: 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (N. B. B. When the old inner person is weak, then the new inner person is strong.)
Romans 8: 28 And we know that all things work together (“sunergeo” “sun” [with] and “ergon” [work]) for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
Romans 1: 5 Through him we have received the grace of apostleship, to bring about the obedience of faith, for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles, 6 among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; 7 to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
I Corinthians 1: 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, 2 to the church of God that is in Corinth, to you who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be holy, with all those everywhere who call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours.
I Thessalonians 4: 7 For God did not call us to impurity but to holiness.
II Timothy 1: 9 He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.
I Peter 1: 14 Like obedient children, do not act in compliance with the desires of your former ignorance 15 but, as he who called you is holy, be holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, 16 for it is written, “Be holy because I (am) holy.”
I Corinthians 3: 9 For we are God’s co-workers (“sunergeo”); you are God’s field, God’s building.
Galatians 5: 6 For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith (“energeo”) working through love.
Philippians 4: 13 I have the strength for everything through him who empowers (“endunamoo”) me.
St. John 3: 30 “He must increase; I must decrease."
II Corinthians 12: 8 Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me,
9 but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. 10 Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (N. B. B. When the old inner person is weak, then the new inner person is strong.)
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