Hi to all my Forum Friends,
In the discussion "The ‘Bill Gray Refuses To Answer Questions' Thread" begun by B50, I wrote, "Happy you asked this question. It is true that no one is saved through or by baptism. Ephesians 2:8-9, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.'
Therefore, baptism cannot save anyone. However, Jesus Christ did leave us two ordinances -- baptism and communion -- that we should do AFTER we have become Christian believers. Both, you might say, fall into the category of being 'fruit of our salvation' -- not the cause of our salvation."
And, my Friend, Max, wrote in response, "Bill, that is not what the scriptures say, Peter, after speaking about Christ, saw that the people were 'cut to the heart' and said, 'WHAT SHALL WE DO?' Peter told them to 'REPENT everyone of you and be BAPTIZED in the name of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins.' That is really plain and clear. He did not say believe and you will be saved. No, Peter told them to 1st, REPENT and 2nd, BE BAPTIZED, only after this could they be saved. How much plainer can it be?"
Max, Notice the chain of events: Repent; then, be baptized. When one repents, he turns from following the world and turns to be a Christ Follower. What happens when this occurs? In Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30 we are told that we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit and sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, i.e., the day we die or are raptured.
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved -- through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not as a result of works, so that no one may boast."
Do you see the sequence in this Scripture passage. First, you have God's grace. Next, you are saved through faith because of that grace. Do you see any baptism in there? Then, we read that it is "free gift" from God. And, then, we read that it is NOT a result of any WORKS, including baptism.
Max answered, "Bill, Show me your faith and I'll show you my works. Faith without works is DEAD. Bill, the Bible says it. Why in the world don't you believe it? I just don't know how one can only choose what to believe. Bill, I pray you will repent, and be baptized just as Peter told the masses long ago. Lest your soul will be lost, just as those who don't believe."
I sincerely appreciate your concern for my soul and my salvation. But, I am comfortable in my saving relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I have His personal promise of eternal life with Him (John 6:47).
Let's take a closer look at the passage in James which you referenced:
In James 2:14, he asks, "What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?"
The author is not saying that faith alone cannot save you. He is asking a rhetorical question, much like: "Should you attempt to swim the Tennessee River before you learn to swim?" And, of course, the answer is -- NO. The same is true in this verse in James; he is asking, "Can that faith save him?" And, the obvious answer, when one stands other Scripture passages alongside this -- is, yes, faith can and will save him -- without any works.
Then, in James 2:17, he shares a truth with us, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
This is so true. A person can and is saved without works. Yet, if this person has been given the "free gift" of eternal life in Christ, if he has been given salvation, purchased by the precious blood of Jesus Christ -- and, then, just sits on his butt and makes no effort to share the Gospel and do works reflecting the glory of God -- he is saved, but his faith is dead.
In 1 Corinthians 3:10-11, we read, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ."
Jesus Christ is the foundation upon which our faith, our salvation, is built. There is no other foundation.
Then, in 1 Corinthians 3:12-14, we read about the works of the saved man, "Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward."
Notice that this passage says, "If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward." -- not salvation, but a reward. His salvation was assured before his works began; salvation by grace, through faith -- alone.
The fruit of our salvation, our works, is compared to material things, i.e., good works is compared with the house built of precious metals, gems, etc. -- those things which endure. And, faith with no works is compared to the house built from wood, hay, straw, i.e., those things which are easily destroyed.
The Christian believer who is going into the world, sharing the Gospel, helping those in need -- will have great rewards in heaven. The Christian believer who is a "couch potato" Christian -- in other words, the "Oh, let George do it. He is better at that than me anyway" Christian -- this believer will have few, if any, rewards in heaven.
Yet, we are told in 1 Corinthians 3:15, "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
Yes, both the "working" Christian believer and the "couch potato" Christian -- will be saved, will spend eternity in the presence of God. But, one will have rewards in heaven and the other will have few or no rewards. However, both will be in heaven -- the "couch potato" with singed white robe; but, still there.
Let me say this: Being in heaven, period -- will be a great blessing, a great reward, an eternal blessing. However, I would rather be there with His rewards bestowed upon me -- and without the singed robe.
Now, back to James:
James 2:18-22, "But someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected."
What is this Scripture passage telling us? It is affirming that we show or demonstrate the fact of our salvation by the works which FOLLOW our salvation. Notice the works are the result of our salvation -- not the cause of our salvation.
This is explained in more detail in the "Commentary on James" by A. R. FAUSSET: http://www.blueletterbible.org...ic=James&ar=Jam_2_18
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Show me your faith without the works -- if you can; but you cannot SHOW, that is, manifest or evidence your alleged ( James 2:14) faith without works. "Show" does not mean here to prove to me, but exhibit to me. Faith is unseen, save by God.
To show faith to man, works in some form or other are needed: we are justified judicially by God ( Rom 8:33 ); meritoriously, by Christ ( Isaiah 53:11 ); mediately, by faith ( Romans 5:1 ); evidentially, by works. The question here is not as to the ground on which believers are justified (or saved), but about the demonstration of their faith: so (it was) in the case of Abraham.
In Genesis 22:1, it is written, God did tempt Abraham, that is, put to the test of demonstration the reality of his faith, not for the satisfaction of God, who already knew it well, but to demonstrate it before men. The offering of Isaac at that time, quoted here, James 2:21, formed no part of the ground of his justification, for he was justified (saved) previously on his simply believing in the promise of spiritual heirs, that is, believers, numerous as the stars.
He was then justified: that justification was showed or manifested by his offering Isaac forty years after. That work of faith demonstrated, but did not contribute to his justification.
The tree shows its life by its fruits, but it was alive before either fruits or even leaves appeared.
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So, Max, we, as Christian believers should be actively showing the "fruit of our salvation" -- by working to share the Gospel with the unsaved world, by working to help our weaker and poorer brothers and sisters, by working to make our world a better world. In doing this, we demonstrate Jesus Christ within us; we demonstrate that we are Christ Followers and obedient to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Max, thank you for raising this question. I pray that you, I, and many of our Forum Friends have a better understanding of God's will for us -- and His plan for our salvation.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
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