Faith Without Works is Dead!

Jam2:17 NLT - “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

There is a growing message and doctrine in the church that seems to discountenance works and suggests that the only thing we need ...

... as Christians is just to ‘believe’ in Christ and that lack of good works does not affect one’s faith in Christ. My brother and sister, this is big lie from the pit of hell. It doesn’t matter who is saying it or how big their ministry is, it goes against the scriptures ...
... and is against the Truth.
Our opening scripture tells us that it is not enough to simply believe in Jesus; there must be accompanying works to prove it. In fact, Jam2:19 says even demons believe that there is one God and His only begotten Son is Jesus.
However, they don’t obey Him or submit to His will. In order words, submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the total will of God is the proof of faith. Jesus said “not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will ...
... of My Father in heaven.”(Matt7:21) and “for whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (Matt12:50).

Rom3:28 NIV - “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Gal2:16-“knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
To be clear, we know that we are saved by grace alone through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Eph2:8-9). We didn’t do anything to obtain this precious salvation we have in Christ. It is purely the gift of God received by faith in the ...
... finished work of Christ. However, let us understand that in the scriptures quoted above in Romans and Galatians, Paul was talking about salvation and justification from lawless deeds and reconciliation to God, which the obeying the Mosaic Law couldn’t achieve.
The Jews prided themselves in observing the Law of Moses but Paul preached that in order to be justified by Christ, the Mosaic Law was irrelevant, which was the reason for his persecution by the Jews. Salvation and justification is by faith in Christ alone.
However, the scripture in James is however talking about the afterwards of salvation and walking with Christ. That we can’t say we know Christ and not live in obedience to His commandments, which automatically results in good works. The Master sent us to “go ... and make ...
... disciples of all the nations, ... teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you” (Matt28:19-20) and that “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Jn14:15). How come we now believe that there are no more commandments and laws to obey? Didn’t the same Paul ...
... say that “I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law” (1 Cor9:21), thereby making a distinction between the Laws of Moses and the Laws of Christ through the Spirit (Rom8:2).

Tit2:11-14 - “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ...
teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from ...
... every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”

The above scripture seems to miniaturise the gospel of Christ and the reason Christ came. God saved us in order to purify us, make us His own peculiar people who are born again ...
... to do good works. Good works, has stated by Jesus in Matt5, is what makes us the salt of the earth and light of the world. It is the fruit we are to bear (John15) in order to bring glory to God. It is not just a matter of following rules & procedures as they did in the ...
... Mosaic Law because it was written only on tablets of stone but it is about obeying the spirit of the Bible and following the Spirit of God who dwells in us (Heb8:8-12). And as we walk in the Spirit, having crucified the flesh and self, we automatically bear fruit of ...
... righteousness and live like Jesus.

The blood of Jesus is what purifies us and makes us worthy to enter into heaven. However, the Bible says that our sanctification is by the “washing of water by the Word” (Eph5:26). Meaning that salvation is only the first step; ...
... we must continue on to perfection (Matt5:48).

Rom2:6-8 - “God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done.’ To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honour and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and ...
... who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.”

Matt16:27 - “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.”

Do we even realise that we will judged and rewarded by ...
... our works? Not by what we believe or confess but our deeds (words, thoughts and actions). Scriptures says we must “bear fruits worthy of repentance“ (Matt3:8) and that “by their fruits you will know them” (Matt7:20). Therefore, the proof of genuine faith is good works ...
... and fruits. And if the Bible says that without holiness, no man (or woman) shall see the Lord (Heb12:14), it means unrighteousness, which is the opposite of good deeds, corrupts and will expose us to the wrath of God. Jesus says if any body parts make us sin, it’s ...
... better to ‘cut it off’ in order to make heaven (Matt5:29-30). That is how serious Jesus sees it.
In the light of these, it can never be the spirit of God saying works aren’t needed; it is the devil behind it. The devil is very wise and will mix truth with lies, in ...
... order to deceive. His greatest aim is to destroy souls in hell and his unchanging tactics, as he did with Eve, is to make us believe a lie that will take Eden (heaven) away from us. And just like he used the serpent which Eve was familiar with, he is using preachers ...
... today, who are either his agents or are after selfish gain, crowd, acceptance, fame, etc. False prophets aren’t necessarily agents of the devil; just those who will not live or preach the Truth. Many are in the world now and we must know the Truth by ourselves in ...
order not to be deceived. Spend quality time with the Holy Spirit in His word and prayer. He will teach you Himself. Whatever you hear, including this one, take to Him in prayer and He will reveal the truth to you. Your soul is precious.

God bless you.
@threadreaderapp unroll

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