Look3467…Can you show me where in the Bible does it teach that we are saved by “faith alone?" The only place in all of Scripture where the phrase “Faith Alone” appears, is in James…James 2:24, where it says that we are not…not…justified (or saved) by faith alone. So, one of the two main pillars of Protestantism…the doctrine of salvation by faith alone…not only doesn’t appear in the Bible, but the Bible actually says the exact opposite - that we are not saved by faith alone.>>>Lampo
First of all, we’d have to determine why Jesus died for our sins based on Old Testament prophecy.
When we determine that, then we can use the New Testament as like a workbook by where we work out that salvation prophesied in the Old Testament concerning the coming Messiahs work of salvation.
Because only God is righteous and none of us could ever be, that only He is the one that can deliver us from the lost estate condition.
St Paul was a man who had revelation way beyond the ability for anyone to comprehend, therefore had to struggle to simplify the message to where the people of that day could understand the message.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
Very simple steps for the babes in Christ, but to each there is a responsibility to further educate self in dept if one wishes, in the word of God.
How come every passage in the N.T. that I know of that talks about judgment says we will be judged by our works, not by whether or not we have faith alone? We see this in Rom 2, Matthew 15 and 16, 1 Ptr 1, Rev 20 and 22, 2 Cor 5, and many, many more verses.>>>Lampo
If I gave you a million dollars, you’d be rich, right? Now what you do with that can be useful to help others and to live the best way you can in honor of the one who gave you that gift.
That is good works.
The opposite is also true in that you can use it selfishly, help no one and live like the devil, that is evil works.
Well, God will see to it that you will be rewarded for the good works as well as for your evil works while you still have life in you.
What Jesus came to do is grant us Gods righteousness by Him paying the price for our eternal separation, of which none of us could ever hope to do no matter how many good works we’d do.
Only God can be credited with good works as Jesus said: “Luk 18:19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.”
Why? Because God would have no other besides Him that is good, therefore, He is the only good there is.
But, don’t despair, for in Jesus and Jesus in you will produce Godly good to His glory and honor and not to our own.
If we are saved by faith alone, why does 1 Cor 13:13 say that love is greater than faith? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?>>>Lampo
The key word is “Now”, meaning after Jesus’ sacrifice. The greater of all of them is love, for God is love.
As Catholics we believe that we are saved by God’s grace alone. We can do nothing, apart from God’s grace, to receive the free gift of salvation. We also believe, however, that we have to respond to God’s grace.>>>Lampo
You are absolutely correct!
The gift is there ready to be received to as many as would have it. Once upon getting it, then it is up to the individual to work it out, meaning, to use it wisely and helpfully towards our neighbors who have not yet discovered it.
But it is there for them to, to receive, but if they don’t in this life time, at death they will bow at His feet and will instantly recognize Him and be saved.
The works that you do here are accountable only to you while you live, because after this, there is no more work.
Sounds like you believe that the only response necessary is an act of faith; whereas, Catholics believe a response of faith and works is necessary…or, as the Bible puts it in Galatians 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumsion is of any avail, but faith working through love…faith working through love…just as the Church>>>Lampo
I can relate to that since I was a Catholic in my younger years and a good one I thought.
As a matter of fact, the religion part of the curriculum was my favorite.
To produce good works for your self is to live righteously as you can,
To produce Godly works, only God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit in you can produce Good works of which are worthy of honor by God.
For the bible says our works are as filthy rags.
Peace>>>AJ