Why do you think faith alone saves us?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
The end of Matt. 28 refers to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. John's Gospel, parlticularly chapters 13 to 17, does too. So does the First Epistle of John.
 

Butch5

Butch5
Oct 24, 2009
1,146
32
48
62
Homer Ga.
Then bring forth the resion for your statement. Otherwise it is just a statement based on ? 



All Praise The Ancient Of Days

Sorry, I hadn't seen this post.


Romans 2:5-10 ( KJV )
But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:


John 5:27-29 ( KJV )
And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.
Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.



Hebrews 5:7-9 ( KJV )
Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;


Matthew 25:31-46 ( KJV )
When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.



James 2:20-24 ( KJV )
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
 

horsecamp

New Member
Feb 1, 2008
765
23
0
Because Faith is the beggars hand that reaches out and receives all of Gods blessed benefits
of Christ his perfect work and innocent death in our sinful stead .

Through faith in Jesus who defeated sin death and the devil for us we receive eternal life and bliss in heaven with him .

Being with Jesus our only savior from our sins is the best part of all of Gods blessed gifts .
yet they are other gifts as well seeing old friends and family again, who also have died in the true faith in Jesus .
And having all our tears and fears wiped away By our savior God for ever.
and many more free and woderful gifts God has prepared for us as well For the sake of his Son
Who was the only God who was God enough! to win FORGIVNESS and heaven for us , All by Himself
and perfectly . :)
for God will not accept anything but perfect works.
Mathew 5:48
 

fivesense

New Member
Mar 7, 2010
636
24
0
WI
Now, what I'm aiming for is not necessarily for verses.
I mean in your heart - in your understanding of God 's Heart...

Why? Why is it so simple - why is it we just have to have faith in His Son?

Thank you, I look forward to your posts,
smile.gif
Miss Hepburn

Hi,
Once, a guy came to my door and convinced me to buy a vacuum cleaner. He said it did everything, state of the art, guaranteed to last forever, a million horsepower, etc.. I believed him. I was sure what he said was true. I didn't know him from Adam, but something appealed to me, so I went for it and signed on the dotted line. It didn't work out that way, and he extracted a large sum of money from me on the promises he made.

Once, I read about a man that died on a cross. He came and knocked at the door of my heart. He said He would do everything I needed to clean my "house". He said He sealed the promise with His blood, and I believed Him. I didn't have to sign on the line anywhere, or promise to pay Him a dime for His offering. I believed Him. It has worked out exactly like He said it would, and that has kept me coming back to Him for His goods, the Holy Spirit. Best deal I've ever made, I'll tell ya.
fivesense
 

forgivenWretch

New Member
Feb 10, 2008
324
10
0
65
Tennessee
Hi,
Once, a guy came to my door and convinced me to buy a vacuum cleaner. He said it did everything, state of the art, guaranteed to last forever, a million horsepower, etc.. I believed him. I was sure what he said was true. I didn't know him from Adam, but something appealed to me, so I went for it and signed on the dotted line. It didn't work out that way, and he extracted a large sum of money from me on the promises he made.

Once, I read about a man that died on a cross. He came and knocked at the door of my heart. He said He would do everything I needed to clean my "house". He said He sealed the promise with His blood, and I believed Him. I didn't have to sign on the line anywhere, or promise to pay Him a dime for His offering. I believed Him. It has worked out exactly like He said it would, and that has kept me coming back to Him for His goods, the Holy Spirit. Best deal I've ever made, I'll tell ya.
fivesense

Awesome post fivesense!!
 

Butch5

Butch5
Oct 24, 2009
1,146
32
48
62
Homer Ga.
Also:

Ephesians 2.8&9 says salvation is 'by grace', 'through faith', 'not of works'.

That's true, however upon reading further we see what Paul means here by works.

Ephesians 2:8-16 ( KJV )
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.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

When we read that passage in context we see that Paul is speaking of the works of the Mosaic law. It is these that do not save.
 

horsecamp

New Member
Feb 1, 2008
765
23
0
Of course Jesus is God.  God manifested in the flesh.  God is one not three persons.  Give me one verse of scripture that declares Jesus is the second person of the trinity?  Or better yet, that God is made up of three persons.  I can give you all kinds of verses that declare God is one, just ask me  NO PROBLEM.  Just ask any Jew. 


Scripture talks about the Holy Spirit being a person . He even turned and fought against the people .
Isaiah 63:10

if the Holy Spirit is not a person one could not grieve him. Ephesians 4:30



Take a look at what Jesus said of him. Matthew 12:32

and take a look at these verses also Mathew 1:18 Matthew 3:16
Matthew 11:2


Titus 3:5
Matthew 28:19
2 Corinthians 13:14


The Holy Spirit is God
He is eternal Hebrews 9:14
Has Divine knoweldge 1 corinthians 2:10

He is Omnipresent

Psalm 139:7-8


Jesus addreses person hood of himself and the Father BY SAYING " I " refering to himself , and "you" refering to his Father. John 17:6


and also check John 15:26 Jesus addresses the personhood OF all three. His Father His self the Holy Spirit.

IF one studys the bible closly all three persons were not only active in the creation process they were clearly there from
eternity.Gen 1:26

The bible clearly teaches, A God Triune in nature that is so big he cannot fit into our minds..


Others teach a god small enough to fit into our minds and there fore not much of a god at all.
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
That's true, however upon reading further we see what Paul means here by works.

Ephesians 2:8-16 ( KJV )
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.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;
And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

When we read that passage in context we see that Paul is speaking of the works of the Mosaic law. It is these that do not save.

If you are arguing that works, or baptismal rites, etc, earn merit with God, then I don't see that in Scripture. (Not sure what you mean, anyway.)
 

Butch5

Butch5
Oct 24, 2009
1,146
32
48
62
Homer Ga.
If you are arguing that works, or baptismal rites, etc, earn merit with God, then I don't see that in Scripture. (Not sure what you mean, anyway.)

I am not talking about earning merit with God. I was referring to the OP. We are not saved by faith alone.
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
I am not talking about earning merit with God. I was referring to the OP. We are not saved by faith alone.

Well, if that's what you mean, I don't agree with the OP, if that's how you interpret it. Ephesians 2 says, 'not of works, lest any man should boast'. James gives the qualification that 'faith without works is dead', but it's not inconsistent with what Paul teaches about saving faith.
 

ronniechoate34

New Member
Mar 9, 2010
74
2
0
Now, what I'm aiming for is not necessarily for verses.
I mean in your heart - in your understanding of God 's Heart...

Why? Why is it so simple - why is it we just have to have faith in His Son?

Thank you, I look forward to your posts,
:) Miss Hepburn


Faith without works is dead.
 

Miss Hepburn

Well-Known Member
Oct 28, 2009
1,674
1,333
113
USA
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Hi,
Once, a guy came to my door and convinced me to buy a vacuum cleaner. He said it did everything, state of the art, guaranteed to last forever, a million horsepower, etc.. I believed him. I was sure what he said was true. I didn't know him from Adam, but something appealed to me, so I went for it and signed on the dotted line. It didn't work out that way, and he extracted a large sum of money from me on the promises he made.

Once, I read about a man that died on a cross. He came and knocked at the door of my heart. He said He would do everything I needed to clean my "house". He said He sealed the promise with His blood, and I believed Him. I didn't have to sign on the line anywhere, or promise to pay Him a dime for His offering. I believed Him. It has worked out exactly like He said it would, and that has kept me coming back to Him for His goods, the Holy Spirit. Best deal I've ever made, I'll tell ya.
fivesense
HI!
Laptop's still down - at a friend's every few days ----this was a great post- you are right - it has worked out exactly
as He said.

However, the basic question is still
"why"? Why is it that faith is all we need?

:)
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
HI!
Laptop's still down - at a friend's every few days ----this was a great post- you are right - it has worked out exactly
as He said.

However, the basic question is still
"why"? Why is it that faith is all we need?

:)

Romans 11.6 has the answer. It must be by grace. Otherwise we are not depending entirely on God's unmerited favor, which are the circumstances under which He is prepared to save sinners. We need to let God be the One who decides how He chooses to save, through Christ.
 

horsecamp

New Member
Feb 1, 2008
765
23
0
I am not talking about earning merit with God. I was referring to the OP. We are not saved by faith alone.

If the baptismal rights come from scripture and a person really believes scripture is God Breathed .Then the baptimal rights are Not the merits of humans.


if a pastor preaches a sermon of law that shows our sins and the Gospel that shows our savior Jesus and a person comes to faith through that sermon .. its not because of the merits of the human pastor who used his voice , its Gods messaage Gods merits that brought the person to faith .Romans 16:17

A pastor uses his voice and hands to perform a baptism but its not his merits that cause a christian baptism to have taken place either .

its Christs


Matthew 28:18-20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
If the baptismal rights come from scripture and a person really believes scripture is God Breathed .Then the baptimal rights are Not the merits of humans.


if a pastor preaches a sermon of law that shows our sins and the Gospel that shows our savior Jesus and a person comes to faith through that sermon .. its not because of the merits of the human pastor who used his voice , its Gods messaage Gods merits that brought the person to faith .Romans 16:17

A pastor uses his voice and hands to perform a baptism but its not his merits that cause a christian baptism to have taken place either .

its Christs


Matthew 28:18-20
18Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

...but you sound like as if baptism, which is symbolic, supposedly confers some merit through the water, rather than being a sign of identification with the buried, and risen Christ.
 

shmity72

New Member
Feb 17, 2009
19
0
0
to truly understand faith is not going to save one. One must have faith IN the resurection of christ...for our sins. I think that's how it goes, more or less.
 

Tambora

New Member
Oct 30, 2009
20
0
0
Acts 17
(11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.



Very good advice for us all.
If you really want to know what biblical faith is, search the scriptures.
The scriptures they searched were the Old Testament books.

The phrase in the New Testament - "The just shall live by faith" (Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38) is quoted from the Old Testament.



  • Habakkuk 2
    (4) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.


The word translated “faith” is emunah in Hebrew.
The Hebrew word is H530.
If you have a concordance, search all the places that H530 is used and you will get a firm handle on what faith truly is.

It will help to better understand when we read in the New Testament
- that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 20, 26).
- that we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH (Ephesians 2:8).
- that faith is the SUBSTANCE (Hebrews 11:1).
 

farouk

Well-Known Member
Jan 21, 2009
30,790
19,232
113
North America
Acts 17
(11) These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.



Very good advice for us all.
If you really want to know what biblical faith is, search the scriptures.
The scriptures they searched were the Old Testament books.

The phrase in the New Testament - "The just shall live by faith" (Rom 1:17, Gal 3:11, Heb 10:38) is quoted from the Old Testament.



  • Habakkuk 2
    (4) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.


The word translated “faith” is emunah in Hebrew.
The Hebrew word is H530.
If you have a concordance, search all the places that H530 is used and you will get a firm handle on what faith truly is.

It will help to better understand when we read in the New Testament
- that faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 20, 26).
- that we are saved by grace THROUGH FAITH (Ephesians 2:8).
- that faith is the SUBSTANCE (Hebrews 11:1).

Yes, Ms T. Faith is the operative principle, right?

Hebrews 11, with its many Old Testament allusions, keeps stressing: 'By faith...', 'By faith..'

Take care.