We ARE saved by Works.

[NotWorthy]

I have always looked at it this way…If I say I love my husband, but do not show him through my actions…do I really love him? If I cheat on him, but then say I love him…will he believe me? Simply put, if we love our Lord…we first, profess that…but then we must show this love through our actions. By witnessing…being charitable…by loving others…by following the 10 Commandments…these, are all actually ‘works.’

[sign]AMEN!!![/sign]

 

[Robert902]

Robert, I knew you couldn’t come up with one, because there isn’t one. Yes, Paul speaks of our Salvation, but I go to Jesus first, and then reconcile Paul’s teachings with Jesus’ context. You can’t deny what Christ says, no matter what it looks like Paul is saying. Period. If the two seem to contradict, then you look at one through the lense of the other.

Mt.16:27 - For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay everyone according to his conduct

 

[Techno2000]

Luke23:39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.

40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. ( All I can say what work did the malefactor do he just had FAITH he called Jesus God and Lord )

And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we SUFFER with him, that we may be also glorified with him. Romans 8:17

Notice the word SUFFER that means doing some thing to cause Suffering, like having to go out in the world and do GOOD WORKS.Its the little sufferings and scarifices you do, through out your life, that Jesus sees, and the more you do, the more he will glorified you in Heaven.

 

[NotWorthy]

Robert, Jesus is talking about the Judgment of our Salvation, what Catholics call Individual (or Particular) Judgment.

The only other Judgment is called Final (General or Last) Judgment.

 

[Robert902]

Dear Robert, I do understand that all Scripture is God-breathed. I’ve spent a decent amount of time studying the Scriptures (Oh, the horror, a Catholic who studies Scriptures, that must be the 7th sign!!!) and I love Paul’s writings. You would be absolutely amazed at how much of the Catholic Church’s doctrines are built around Paul’s writings. So I appreciate your efforts. I’ll deal with your next part next.

“Christians will not be judged by their sins” is one of the worst heresies the Protestant Reformation has brought about.

Jesus makes it clear, and St. Paul reaffirms it. If you wish your sins to be forgiven, you had better forgive your brothers. Jesus even gives the Apostles the power to forgive sins and the power to retain sins.

Please don’t wrap yourself in the “Assurance of Salvation” blanket and expect that to get you to heaven. It goes against Jesus and St. Paul’s teachings, and it goes against the entire history of the Church Jesus founded.

 

[Robert902]

=NotWorthy;2274260]Robert, Jesus is talking about the Judgment of our Salvation, what Catholics call Individual (or Particular) Judgment.

The only other Judgment is called Final (General or Last) Judgment.

Jesus was judged by God, when He died on the cross. On what basis was Jesus judged? Surely, not on the basis of anything that He had done. He was judged for our sins, past, present and future. That judgement for our sins, has been completed. “The wages of sin is death.” Our sins were paid for “in full” by Jesus. Our sins and Jesus death. What a bargain!

The only judgement believers will experience will be when we are rewarded (judged) for what we have done in the name of Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:12).

 

[NotWorthy]

Jesus was judged by God, when He died on the cross. On what basis was Jesus judged? Surely, not on the basis of anything that He had done. He was judged for our sins, past, present and future. That judgement for our sins, has been completed. “The wages of sin is death.” Our sins were paid for “in full” by Jesus. Our sins and Jesus death. What a bargain!

The only judgement believers will experience will be when we are rewarded (judged) for what we have done in the name of Jesus Christ (Rev. 22:12).

I’m sorry, Robert, but one day you’re going to find out that there is a different judgment.

I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned.

Notice that Jesus says that some will remain in Him, and will bear much fruit.
Others will not remain in Him. What determines whether they will remain in HIm?

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love

It’s really very simple Robert. You must have Faith before you can enter into Him (unless you do it through your parents faith, but that’s another thread, please). Yes, you are saved. Catholics call this entering into the Church. But your Salvation is not etched in stone (for you may not remain in Him). It is your Faith acting through works that will determine whether you remain in Him.

BTW, I realize now that you don’t know my name. It’s John.

One final note, as I’ll be going to bed, shortly. We all agree that God is a God of Justice. What is Justice? Wouldn’t you agree that it is the reward for something that is good, and punishment for something that is bad?

 

[NotWorthy]

Robert, (OK, this time I’m going to bed),

Peter says, “Repent and be baptized, for the forgiveness of your sins”. Now this already says that your sins will be forgiven “if you repent and are baptized”.

What is repentence? Isn’t it the turning away from sin? Is Repentence a one time event (I vow not to sin for 1 minute!!!), or is Repentence a lifetime process, a struggle one would say?

 

[biblebeliver]

And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we SUFFER with him, that we may be also glorified with him. Romans 8:17

Notice the word SUFFER that means doing some thing to cause Suffering, like having to go out in the world and do GOOD WORKS.Its the little sufferings and scarifices you do, through out your life, that Jesus sees, and the more you do, the more he will glorified you in Heaven.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine HEART that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9). Salvation is of the heart, NOT the mouth. I’ve actually heard radio preachers teach that a person needs to audibly profess Christ in order to be saved. Would you show me that in the Bible? On the contrary, we read the opposite in Matthew 7:21, “Not every one that saith unto me, LORD, LORD, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” We are NOT saved by saying certain magic words or by performing certain religious duties. The Scriptures are clear—we are saved by doing God’s will. These people in Matthew chapter seven were sincere I believe, they were religious no doubt. Let’s hear their testimony in Matthew 7:22, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” They had done so many wonderful things “in Jesus name” but listen to what Jesus told them in Matthew 7:23, “And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Wow! These people had spent their lives prophesying “in Jesus name”, casting out devils “in Jesus name” and doing many wonderful works “in Jesus name.” Now their about to be cast into hell for their disobedience. They failed to do GOD’S WILL. People get the wrong impression that they can earn their way to heaven or merit salvation by their own works—this is a lie of the devil! There is NOTHING we can do to earn heaven, we ALL deserve to burn in hell.

 

[biblebeliver]

The passage of Scripture we just read is perhaps the most shocking and eye-opening truth in the Bible. It’s hard to imagine these sincere people going to hell after spending so much time trying to help others in the name of Jesus. We learn several truths from this passage.

First, The road to hell is paved with good intentions. Many sincere and loving people will be shocked someday to find out that their name is NOT in the book of life. They thought they were going to heaven for any number of reasons but THEY WERE WRONG. “There is a way which SEEMETH RIGHT unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death” (Proverbs 14:12).

Second, Many false religions operate in Jesus’ name. I cannot stress this fact enough, beware! I once witnessed to a Hispanic couple in their home concerning Christ. The man barely understood English, but the mother was able to understand. They had several wonderful children. The kids had been coming to our Baptist church on the church bus for awhile bus but then stopped coming. We kept visiting them on Saturdays. Unfortunately, this family had been caught up with the Jehovah Witnesses. I tried to explain to the mother that these people were NOT their friends and were not of God. She said, “but they talk about Jesus.” I explained Matthew chapter seven to her. She said, “but they came to visit me when I was in the hospital and brought me a box of food.” I did my best to open her eyes to the truth but she just wouldn’t listen. In her mind, anyone who came “in Jesus name” was of God and readily accepted into her home. I prayed with the family and then left. I only wish I could get people to realize that most religion is of the devil. Jesus said in Matthew 7:23 that false prophets are “workers of iniquity.”

Third, The only way to be saved is by doing GOD’S WILL. What is God’s will? We find the answer in John 6:40, “And this is the WILL of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” God’s will is for each and every person to see Jesus as He is portrayed in the Word of God and to believe on Him. Many religions will come to us but they have “another Jesus.” We must believe on Jesus Christ as he is presented by God’s Holy Word, as the true and living God. And then we must simply believe on Jesus Christ the best we know how for salvation and forgiveness of sins.

Fourth, We are NOT all God’s Children. I often hear these modernists and liberals speaking of how “we are all God’s Children.” Not so! We are all God’s creation, but we are definitely NOT all God’s Children. A “modernist” is someone who makes light of the Bible, a “liberal” is someone who doesn’t believe the Bible or deliberately disregards the Bible. These are not God’s Children Liberals are anti-authority and do what they feel like doing—”if it feels good, do it” attitude. These are the modern “free-thinkers” that discourage marriage, decency and respect for authority. Many endorse sodomy, abortion, gambling, nudity, tobacco, alcohol, drugs, etc. They have little or no purpose for God in their life. They are friends of the world and with the devil. Only those who are truly born-again can claim to be Children of God. Someone has foolishly taught that all rivers lead to the ocean. That depends! It depends on which was your traveling. Do all airplanes fly to Tokyo? Do all trains lead to Boston? Do you see how silly man’s reasoning can be?

 

[biblebeliver]

For with the HEART man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). It is with our mouth that we can confess to others that we have been saved but it is only with the heart that we can believe on Christ and become saved. The confession of the mouth can only follow the believing of the heart. It is the believing of the heart that makes us righteous in God’s eyes because of Christ’s righteousness applied to our record. If we believe on Christ in our heart but fail to confess Him to others with our mouth, we are still saved. Why? Because it is “with the heart” that a person believeth unto righteousness. Mouth confession is optional. Surely it is a good idea to make a public confession to others that we have been saved, but this is NOT mandatory to salvation.

Neither is baptism necessary for salvation but it is something that God wants us to do if we have the opportunity to do so. When we get baptized, we are making a public profession of our faith. We are displaying outwardly what has happened inwardly. Baptism pictures the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We symbolize our faith in the Gospel in being baptized. It is similar to wearing a wedding ring. The ring doesn’t make you married, it is simply a symbol of ownership. You own each other. If the ring is destroyed, the marriage is still valid. Two people do not need a ring to be married in God’s eyes. Likewise, baptism does not save nor is it required to be saved. However, you must be saved before you can be legitimately baptized. “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that BELIEVETH NOT shall be damned” (Mark 16:16). A wedding ring means nothing if you have no marriage. Likewise, baptism means nothing if you have not Christ in your heart. Salvation is of the heart, not baptism or anything else. It is NOT what you say that is important. What does matter is whether or not you believe in your HEART that Jesus is the Savior and that you have personally asked Him to forgive and save you. You need not open your mouth, Salvation is of the heart.

 

[biblebeliver]

Nothing in Life is Free

For the wages of sin is death; but the GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a gift, complements of the Godhead: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Nothing in this life is free, not even salvation. That’s right, not even salvation! Jesus paid a great price by giving up His own life. It was Christ Who shed His blood. It is Christ Who wears the scars in His hands, feet, head, back and side. Jesus had been beaten beyond recognition, “As many were astonied at thee; HIS VISAGE WAS SO MARRED more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14). Listen to the Prophetical Words of King David concerning Jesus Christ, “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all MY BONES: THEY LOOK AND STARE UPON ME. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:16-18). Jesus skin had been torn right off His bones. Perhaps this was from the Cat-o-nine-tails (a whip with nine strands of leather, each with a piece of glass, rock or jagged metal at the end). Perhaps the bones Jesus spoke of were in His wrists, pulled apart by the nails and the weight of His body hanging on the cross. Most of the pictures of Jesus hanging on the cross show a little blood but this is not accurate. Jesus must have been bathed in blood from head to toe. The Roman soldiers ripped Jesus beard out, hit Him over he head repeatedly with a long staff to drive in the crown of sharp thorns, physically beat Him with their fists, stripped Him naked, spit upon Him, scourged Him with a whip—Jesus had been abused beyond recognition. Oh yes my friend, Jesus paid a great price for your salvation. I bid you please do not say “no” to Jesus. The trifle sufferings of this life cannot be compared to the damnation of those who die in their sins without Christ as Savior. Hell is forever. The sad thing is that no one needs to go to hell, Jesus has paid the price

 

[biblebeliver]

Eternal Life is Offered as a FREE GIFT to All Humanity

Eternal life is a gift. Even though a gift is free, it MUST be accepted. If I buy someone a gift and place it under the Christmas tree, the gift will sit there until someone claims it. Jesus has purchased you a gift, it is sitting in Heaven with your name on it, you MUST reach out by faith and take it. If you don’t take it—then it will go unclaimed. Eternal life is a FREE gift from God, “But not as the offence, so also is the FREE GIFT. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the FREE GIFT is of many offences unto justification” (Romans 5:15,16). How much plainer can the Bible be concerning the gift of eternal life. Let’s say you go out and buy me a nice gift. When you offer it to me I open my wallet and try to pay you some money. You say, “no, no, it’s a gift!” I continue to try to pay you for your gift but you refuse. This is no more ridiculous than the person who seeks to impress God with their own good deeds and religion. Eternal life is a gift my friend and there’s nothing you can do to earn it. If you try to earn it, it is no longer a gift. You can keep the seven sacraments all you want but it will avail you no good at the judgment.

 

[biblebeliver]

A Gift Has No Strings Attached

I have often used the illustration of a gift in Sunday School or while out soul-winning. If I offer you a gift, all you have to do is to REACH OUT AND TAKE IT. That is all you have to do and nothing more if it is truly a gift with no strings attached. Salvation is a gift with NO strings attached. I once witnessed to an Islamic Muslim man who didn’t believe Jesus was ever crucified. I asked him, “Do you KNOW if you died today that you would go to Heaven?” He abruptly responded in amazement by saying, “How arrogant!” He said it was wicked arrogance for anyone to even think of claiming to “know” that they were going to Heaven. He believed that a person must win the favor of Allah by their own merit. He said that all we can do is our best and hope that Allah is merciful. These are all lies of the devil!!! First, the Bible says we can KNOW we’re saved in 1st John 5:13, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life…” Second, if the Muslims believed the Bible (which they don’t), they would KNOW that eternal life is a gift. Every religion in the world is either “DO” or “DONE!” Either you believe you must “DO” something to merit salvation OR else you believe Jesus did it all for you and it is “DONE.” The Muslims are following a “DO” religion; whereas, all true Christians are following the “DONE” religion.

 

[biblebeliver]

Soul Winning is God’s Plan to Bring Lost Sinners to Christ for Salvation

The term “soul-winning” simply refers to the practice of trying to lead lost sinners to the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation. Surely, I nor you can save anybody—Only Jesus Christ can save!!! However, God Almighty has entrusted the job of soul-winning to ALL HIS DISCIPLES. If you are a saved, born-again Believer, then you are COMMANDED to be a soul-winner. Listen to the clear teaching of Jesus Christ Himself in Matthew 28:19 and 20, “Go ye therefore, and TEACH ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: TEACHING THEM to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” It is our duty as Children of God to “teach them.” Teach who? We are to teach the Gospel of Christ to lost sinners. We are to teach those whom we lead to Christ how to win others to Christ. We are we supposed to teach them. What do we teach them? “…to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” It was the responsibility of the disciples in Jesus’ day to teach the Gospel to all nations (all people). If someone became a Believer, accepting Jesus Christ as Almighty God and Savior, then the disciples were to help that new convert grow in the Lord and become a soul-winner also. This is God’s divine plan to win the lost to Christ—We are responsible!!!

I am sickened when I hear some dead-beat, backslidden Believer criticize soul-winning. The Bible praises the soul-winning Christian, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and HE THAT WINNETH SOULS IS WISE” (Proverb 11:30). It is wise to win souls to Jesus! It is wise to go soul-winning! It is wise to witness to friends, family and strangers concerning the crucified and risen Lord Jesus Christ! Don’t let the pessimism of fools rob you of your reward in heaven—soul-winning is wise!!! By the way, the opposite is also true—it is foolish NOT to be a soul-winner—It is foolish to criticize soul-winning—it is foolish NOT to warn your loved ones of the coming day of judgment when they will stand before God. We read the following words in Mark 16:15, “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and PREACH THE GOSPEL TO EVERY CREATURE.”

 

[biblebeliver]

The Blood of Jesus Can Wash Away Anyone’s Sins

Lest there be any doubt as to whom we should witness to, God tells us to witness to ALL. As an example: The gruesome mass murderer, Jeffrey Dahmer, was considered more of a creature than a man by many. Even still, a couple of soul-winning Christians went to visit his prison cell to witness to him. Unbelievably, Dahmer confessed Christ and was baptized a couple weeks later. Shortly thereafter he was murdered by a follow prisoner himself. Did this wicked man really get saved? Only God can answer that. Many people scoffed and accused Dahmer of simply trying to get a lighter sentence, etc. The bottom line folks is that WE DON’T KNOW. If Dahmer was sincere, He is in heaven right now. Jesus clearly stated, “…him that cometh to me I WILL IN NO WISE CAST OUT” (John 6:37). “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1st John 1:9). What a blessed promise!—Anyone, no matter how wicked or sinful, can come to the Lord Jesus for forgiveness and salvation. If Jeffrey Dahmer came to Jesus Christ as a wicked sinner seeking forgiveness, he found it. We cannot rightfully judge what has happened or not happened in another person’s heart—Only time will tell. Never underestimate the power of the Gospel.

 

[biblebeliver]

Someone, Somewhere is Always Ready to Be Saved

Soul-winning works folks!!! Many people who will not come to church or read a tract will listen to someone whom they feel respects them. Jesus said, “Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for THEY ARE WHITE ALREADY TO HARVEST” (John 4:35). The Bible teaches that there is always someone who is ready to get saved. You may witness to many people who seem disinterested but in fact, you have sowed a seed in their heart that the Holy Spirit will use to lead them closer to salvation. Eventually, hopefully, some soul-winner will have the joyous opportunity to win that person to Christ as Savior. This is why Jesus said, “And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth” (John 4:37). My point here is that you may think your wasting your time witnessing to some people, but your not. Only God knows the countless number of sinners who were eventually reached for Christ because of all the failed witnessing attempts by other soul-winners. You simply don’t know my friend what is going on in the heart and life of another person. It is our duty to witness to others concerning Christ crucified, whether they listen or not is an entirely different matter between them and God. Our job is to get the Gospel out to sinners. Ecclesiastes 11:1 declares, “Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.” Soul winning is never in vain. You never know which of those planted seeds may one day sprout into a born again believer. The seed of God’s Word needs to be planted first before anything can happen. Soul winners are seed planters. The Holy Spirit waters the seeds.

 

[biblebeliver]

Most Believers are Immature and Apathetic Concerning Lost Souls

Most Believers are NOT soul-winners. This is because they are NOT soul-conscious!!! There is no burning hunger in their hearts to see sinners come to know Christ as Personal Savior. There is no sadness over the fact that most of the world is headed straight for hell to burn in torments of fire and brimstone. The Bible teaches SOUL-WINNING. soul-winning!!! I believe in approaching people concerning their salvation. If the Gospel offends them, so be it. If hell is real and hell has fire and people without Christ go to hell—We must warn them!!! I once had a preacher (of all people) tell me that he didn’t believe in “shoving the Gospel down people’s throats.” He was upset at my mention of “door-to-door witnessing.” Now I don’t believe in being rude or unkind to people but I certainly disagree with his statement. Going door-to-door soul-winning is taught in the Bible. The Bible tells us that the Apostle Paul was a door-to-door soul-winner, “…but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from HOUSE TO HOUSE” (Acts 20:20). Houses have doors and doors need to be knocked on if the Gospel is to be taught to the folks living inside. Sure, most people won’t listen to you BUT SOME DO LISTEN AND SOME DO GET SAVED.

 

[biblebeliver]

The Apostle Paul Was a Door-to-Door Soul Winner

The Apostle Paul was a door-to-door soul-winner!!! Acts 20:20 has been referred to as the “Christian’s 20/20 vision.” Are we better than the Apostle Paul? I think not. If the Apostle Paul went door-to-door, we have no excuse not to at least confront our loved one’s and friends concerning Christ. The idea that only a pastor or evangelist is supposed to be a soul-winner is NOT taught in God’s Word. ALL Believers are expected by God to make an effort to lead others to Jesus Christ for Salvation. Unfortunately, people are selfish and self-centered by nature and seek not the things of the Lord. These were the words of the frustrated Apostle Paul, “FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Philippians 2:21). Paul was a loner, he had a hard time finding other Believers who cared about lost souls. This is the same situation we face in America today. So many Believers have been choked by the cares and riches of this present world. It’s difficult to find Believers that truly have a heart’s concern to see folks saved anymore. Sadly—music, TV, sports, cars, sex, alcohol, drugs, casinos, the stock market, parties, lotteries and Hollywood have become the false gods of America. Certainly, each of us can do more for Christ in our personal soul-winning efforts. Every Believer should have a tract ministry, a life of prayer, a consistent Bible study and a time for witnessing to others concerning our wonderful Savior

 

[biblebeliver]

Salvation Cannot Be by Works and God’s Grace

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” (Titus 3:5). This Bible makes it plain and simple that good works will not save anyone. Listen to the message of Ephesians 2:8&9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast.” How many Scriptures does God need to put in front of our face before we get the idea—salvation is not by merit. “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 JUSITIFIED” (Galatians 2:16). The road to hell is paved with good intentions!!! The plain teaching of the Inspired Word of God is that salvation is NOT BY WORKS. You just read it for yourself.