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Jason_Diebolt
Guest
I am wondering what is important.
Is it more important to do works of God or have faith in God?
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The_Fool
Guest
To do works of God are all well and good, but I can still do works of God with the wrong intention, such as pride, or tricky little kids to take candy from me when I’m who knows what. By this term I mean just plain action, nothing else behind it.
Having faith in God is all well and good, however it trumps the works only if it is a “true” faith rather than false faith. By that I mean faith that inspires works, because if I say I have faith and yet I have no works to prove myself, then do I really have a fruitful faith? Does it mean anything?
That’s why we argue faith and good works, because the word faith, as it is thrown around every day, means nothing. Similarly, love and hate, as they are thrown around every day, don’t really mean anything.
If I’m wrong about something, someone correct me. But this is the way it’s made sense to me.
Having faith in God is all well and good, however it trumps the works only if it is a “true” faith rather than false faith. By that I mean faith that inspires works, because if I say I have faith and yet I have no works to prove myself, then do I really have a fruitful faith? Does it mean anything?
That’s why we argue faith and good works, because the word faith, as it is thrown around every day, means nothing. Similarly, love and hate, as they are thrown around every day, don’t really mean anything.
If I’m wrong about something, someone correct me. But this is the way it’s made sense to me.
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ConstantineTG
Guest
Why does it have to be either/or?
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thistle
Guest
Both are required.
James 2:24 - “See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
James 2:26 - “For just as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
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GloriousOrder
Guest
Friend, Faith and Works are so intimately linked that they might as well be connected by the same power of love which binds the eternal Trinity as one God! Works are done for the love of God, and they are done for one’s brothers and sisters for the sake of God. One cannot do truly good works until one has had faith in God’s perfect fatherhood. Those good works which are motivated by the love of the Lord shine with a radiant aura whose beauty cannot be rivaled. When you do truly good works, they are done for the greater glory of God, and not to save yourself, primarily. This can only be thought and accomplished if you already believe in God, yes? 
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The_Old_Medic
Guest
One MUST first have faith in God. Then, ones works demonstrate that faith.
One can perform good works without any faith at all. When one does have faith, the good works are done for the greater glory of God, and not for ones own selfish purposes.
One can perform good works without any faith at all. When one does have faith, the good works are done for the greater glory of God, and not for ones own selfish purposes.
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TEPO
Guest
What kind of works are we supposed to be doing???
As a follower of Christ I sacrifice myself often by:
–accepting blame even if I think it was someone elses falt.
–praying for people secretly.
–giving it 100% everyday at work and at home.
But I give no money to charity and very little to my Church even though I make a decent salary… I prefer to take my family to extravagent restaurants.
Am I doing works?
As a follower of Christ I sacrifice myself often by:
–accepting blame even if I think it was someone elses falt.
–praying for people secretly.
–giving it 100% everyday at work and at home.
But I give no money to charity and very little to my Church even though I make a decent salary… I prefer to take my family to extravagent restaurants.
Am I doing works?
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Contra_Mundum_1
Guest
I don’t think that it is an either/or situation. Protestants accuse us of this because they don’t understand the way faith and works are linked in our belief. Basically, faith is crucial and faith generates good works.
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