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Reply to "James 2:26"

Hi Smokey,

 

Amen to that!  HOWEVER, nowhere in the Bible are we told that "works" leads to faith or salvation.  One can "work" 24/7/365 and not be saved.   For the born-again Christian, we can tell you exactly when, how, and where we were saved.  It is not always a specific time, i.e., 3:00 PM, June 1, 1995 -- but, we know.  

 

For many, like myself, it was a process and not a specific event.   When I found the church where I felt the love of God flowing through the pastor, permeating all the congregation, and seeming to find me -- I knew I had found something special.

 

When I began to attend their Bible studies, I felt that same love from all the participants.   This Godly love kept me coming back to worship services and Bible studies -- all the time learning more and more about Jesus Christ and God's Word.  After six months, I knew I wanted to follow Jesus Christ for the rest of my life -- and into eternity.

 

So, works had nothing to do with my salvation.  It was a steadily growing relationship with Christ -- until I became a Christ Follower.

 

Three things to keep in mind:  First, no one who believes they are saved by works -- can tell you how they can know when they have worked enough to say that they are saved and have eternal life in Christ.

 

Second, Good works is the "fruit" of our salvation -- NOT the cause of our salvation.  That is why James 2:26 tell us, "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."  

 

This is telling us that our once we have, by grace, though faith, been saved -- if we are not working for the glory of God -- our faith has no strength.  It is weak.  Yet, because we are born-again, because we are Christ Followers -- we do not lose our eternal salvation.   As 1 Corinthians 3:15 tells us, "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."    

 

And, no, that does not mean the fictional purgatory.  It means that our works will be tested when we stand before Jesus Christ at the Believers' Judgment (Bema Seat) to receive our rewards in heaven, or our lack of rewards.  But, the greatest reward, that of being in heaven in the presence of God -- has already been won, for that is where this judgment will occur.

 

And, third, we cannot take one single Scripture verse and build a theology upon it -- unless that verse agrees with all the verses in all 66 books of the Bible. 

 

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

 

Bill

Bible Inspired By God

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