Are we saved by faith alone, or do we need works, too?

[Kenshiro]

---

But why is it that good works cannot save us? Here are five answers to that question. First, good works can't cancel your sin but sin ruins your good works. Suppose you invite me over for breakfast one morning and offer to fix a three-egg omelet. As you begin to cook, I smell a putrid odor coming from the kitchen. What's that awful smell? Oh, it's just a rotten egg. But don't worry, I added a few good eggs that will cancel out the rottenness. Do you think I would eat your omelet? Not for a million dollars. Why? Because goodness doesn't cancel rottenness but rottenness ruins goodness. The same is true in the spiritual realm. You can’t be good enough to cancel out the putrid effect of your own sins.

Second, good works can't save you because God doesn't grade on a curve. He demands absolute perfection. If you understand the Bible, you know that it only takes one sin to send you to hell. Let's suppose that you somehow only committed three sins a day. That's impossible for most of us because we commit that many sins before getting out of bed in the morning. But let's give you credit for being very, very good. And let's further suppose that you never committed more than three sins a day for your entire life. That would be over 1000 sins a year, which would mean that in 70 years you would end up with over 70,000 sins on your record. Now let's further suppose that those sins were really speeding tickets. If a police officer stopped you for running a red light and discovered that you had 70,000 outstanding speeding tickets on your record, what would he do with you? You'd end up in jail so long they would throw away the key. Do you think God is any different? But you and I commit far more than three sins a day. Our sins are like a mountain-so high we can’t climb over it, so wide we can't walk around it, so deep we can't tunnel under it. Our sins are so great that our works could never save us.

Third, good works can't save you because you can never be good enough long enough. Just when you get a "good streak" going, you sin and have to start all over again.

Fourth, you can never be sure you've done enough. That's why most religious people have no assurance of their salvation. They truly believe that being good will get them to heaven. But as we've already seen, "doing good" is never good enough because we can never do enough to pay for our own sins.

There is one more answer to consider. Good works can't save you because if they could, you wouldn't need Jesus at all. Why would Jesus die on the cross if somehow you could save yourself? When we get to heaven, no one will be able to say, "You and me, Jesus, we did it together. I baked the cookies and you died on the cross." It's either all by Jesus or all by your own efforts – and nothing in between.

[3nZ0y]

So in as long as I have faith I can do any stupid thing I want and any wrong things possible. Wait, I don't even want to consider that...

P.S. Is this what some religious people hold on? Explains a LOT..

[confabulousdudemike]

if it is meant to be, it's up to me!! work work- peon...

[marine77]

god saves no one... it's only you who can save yourself..

may kay wala ka maapil sa baha sa mindanao brad jok ra. bitaw, sayop mana nga idea brad.

[NNNN]

Is a robber saved if he have faith in God but keeps on stealing things?
Is a murderer saved if he have faith in God but keeps on murdering?
Is a person saved from family-related problems if he believe in God but does nothing?
Does street children saved when they believe in God?

Philippines is one of the countries where people are religious of whatever religion. But Philippines is also one of the poorest country. Filipinos become lazy because of religion. Filipinos believe that they will receive great abundance when they believe in God. "Bahala nag pobre ta ani kay tabangan rman ta sa Ginoo"--pero ang ginikanan sigeg inom ug sugal.

1st Corinthians 13, a so common readings during the wedding, states that Faith, Hope, and Love is important. But the most important of all is Love. The Bible also says, "Lihok taw ug tabangan ikaw."

The bottom line is:

When we have faith, we apply our faith to others--that is: We have faith that God is kind, merciful, and powerful. The application is that, we ask help to God so that others can also be saved by doing good works and not just preaching verses in the Bible.

In the context of Filipino society, we use faith to bring improvements in the Philippines. We ask God for his help so that all Filipinos could be saved, coupled with some works that could put developments in the Philippines, not just preaching verses in the Bible.

[JordanKo]

Have faith with god....................

[marine77]

Atong hisgutan diri brods ang Genuine (saving) faith against Faith + works (fulfilling the law)

Let us ponder sa kani nga mga verses---

Ga:2:16: 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 justified.
Eph:2:8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph:2:9: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph:2:10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

As an example, A student:
Para consider ka nga usa ka estudyante, of course kinahanglan magpa-enroll sa usa ka university nga imong gituohang makatabang sa imong success. Now that you are enrolled, angay sad ka nga maningkamot ug desire sa imong pagtuon para dunay achievement sa closing.

Dili pasabot nga para matawag ka nga usa ka estudyante, magpa-enroll ka ug maningkamot ug tuon. Kundi ang imong pagpaningkamot is for a specific purpose, a reward in the end, dili para mahimong estudyante.

Same thing with an employee:
Wala ka motrabaho para tawgon ka nga employee, but tungod sa imong pag apply GIDAWAT KA and in that moment, matawag kana nga trabahante bisan wala paka magsugod ug trabaho. Ang imong pagpakita ug gilas sa trabaho mo lead na sa imong achievement, rewards or promotion, dili para mahimo kang trabahante.

Related verses about sa rewards in heaven:
Col:3:24: Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
M't:16:27: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Kay kung moingon ta nga ang makaluwas sa tawo mao ang Faith + WORKS, pasabot lang nga dili sufficient ang Ginoong Hesukristo isip usa ka “perfect sacrifice” nga nagpakamatay para sa katawhan kay need paman diay nato pun-an ug works para sa atong kaluwasan. Usa pud, unsa man ang amount sa works nga angay buhaton for you to be saved, kay wala may tawo nga nakafulfill sa law?

Ro:3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ro:6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In conclusion, GENUINE FAITH is the kind of faith that triggers the grace of God nga maangkon nato ang kaluwasan nga iyang gisaad. It is the kind of faith that will result in doing good works. The works here is the overflow of that faith.

From the moment we receive Christ into the very core of our being (heart), trusting him sincerely that He alone can save us (that is saving faith), the Holy Spirit will dwell in us and starts to work in our lives—it is a continual process called “Regeneration” ang mahitabo dayon sa kinabuhi. But kani nga decision needs a repentant heart to allow the HS of God to work through to exercise our faith and freewill.

And it is only by His grace, mausab ang tawo ngadto sa pagkamatarung.

Ga:2:20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Ga:2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

In short, dili na grasya kung atong pun-an ug works, gisamotan hinuon kalisud ang kaluwasan kung mauhon na. Hope this would help in some way to clear out confusion about the subject

HApi NeW YeAr to aLL!!!

[marine77]

But why is it that good works cannot save us? Here are five answers to that question. First, good works can't cancel your sin but sin ruins your good works. Suppose you invite me over for breakfast one morning and offer to fix a three-egg omelet. As you begin to cook, I smell a putrid odor coming from the kitchen. What's that awful smell? Oh, it's just a rotten egg. But don't worry, I added a few good eggs that will cancel out the rottenness. Do you think I would eat your omelet? Not for a million dollars. Why? Because goodness doesn't cancel rottenness but rottenness ruins goodness. The same is true in the spiritual realm. You can’t be good enough to cancel out the putrid effect of your own sins.

Second, good works can't save you because God doesn't grade on a curve. He demands absolute perfection. If you understand the Bible, you know that it only takes one sin to send you to hell. Let's suppose that you somehow only committed three sins a day. That's impossible for most of us because we commit that many sins before getting out of bed in the morning. But let's give you credit for being very, very good. And let's further suppose that you never committed more than three sins a day for your entire life. That would be over 1000 sins a year, which would mean that in 70 years you would end up with over 70,000 sins on your record. Now let's further suppose that those sins were really speeding tickets. If a police officer stopped you for running a red light and discovered that you had 70,000 outstanding speeding tickets on your record, what would he do with you? You'd end up in jail so long they would throw away the key. Do you think God is any different? But you and I commit far more than three sins a day. Our sins are like a mountain-so high we can’t climb over it, so wide we can't walk around it, so deep we can't tunnel under it. Our sins are so great that our works could never save us.

Third, good works can't save you because you can never be good enough long enough. Just when you get a "good streak" going, you sin and have to start all over again.

Fourth, you can never be sure you've done enough. That's why most religious people have no assurance of their salvation. They truly believe that being good will get them to heaven. But as we've already seen, "doing good" is never good enough because we can never do enough to pay for our own sins.

There is one more answer to consider. Good works can't save you because if they could, you wouldn't need Jesus at all. Why would Jesus die on the cross if somehow you could save yourself? When we get to heaven, no one will be able to say, "You and me, Jesus, we did it together. I baked the cookies and you died on the cross." It's either all by Jesus or all by your own efforts – and nothing in between.

be a blessing always part and more blessings this year and beyond!!! God strengthens us---

[3nZ0y]

Are we saved by faith alone, or do we need works, too?
The point is that there are only two options. We are saved by faith alone or we are not. Since we have faith and works (both conceptually and in practice), then we are either saved by faith alone or by faith and works. There is no other option.
If we see that the scriptures exclude works in any form as a means of our salvation, then logically, we are saved by faith alone.

Atong hisgutan diri brods ang Genuine (saving) faith against Faith + works (fulfilling the law)

In conclusion, GENUINE FAITH is the kind of faith that triggers the grace of God nga maangkon nato ang kaluwasan nga iyang gisaad. It is the kind of faith that will result in doing good works. The works here is the overflow of that faith.

Unsa man jud?

[marine77]

Basi sa examples nga akong gihatag part, it is only by FAITH alone atong ma attain ang salvation. ang imong works nga mo follow will be for a reward. Dili tinuoray ang usa ka faith nga dili mobunga ug pagkamatarung. Dunay panahon nga mo waive atong faith mao nga motipas ta usahay sa dalan nga dili mao but it is still there---waiting to be rekindled. Also, the HS will often talk to our conscience.

example:
Inig abot sa 15 ug 30 sa buwan, imong gihatagan ug katungod imong asawa nga mo withdraw sa imong sweldo tungod sa imong pagtuo (faith) sa iyaha nga maayo siya modala sa kwarta. Pero kung moingon ta nga nagtuo ka nga maayo imong asawa modala unya magduha-duha ka ug hatag sa iyaha, imong faith diha dili tinud-anay. So tungod ra jud sa imong genuine faith duna na kay confidence sa paghatag sa imong atm.

by the way, ang pagkamatarung brod ug doing good works are 2 different things.