It's servants of sin unto death (descriptive of unbelievers) vs. servants of obedience unto righteousness (descriptive of believers). Faith onlyism (per James) is an empty profession of faith/dead faith that produces no works (James 2:14-24) which is not to be confused with faith that trusts in Jesus Christ alone for salvation. (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9) God imputes righteousness apart from works.
If we were saved by acts of obedience/works which "follow" saving faith in Christ, then they most certainly would be works of merit in regards to obtaining salvation. Either the death, burial and resurrection of Christ is the all sufficient means of our salvation (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) or else our works help contribute to salvation. You can't have it both ways. I was once is a discussion with a Campbellite on a different Christian forum and he made this erroneous statement below in blue:
"It is works of obedience that help to save us and not works of the law or works of merit."
Again it's servants of obedience unto righteousness vs. servants of sin unto death. It's one or the other. Not of works, least anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:9) If we were saved by works, then there would be room for boasting, which entails merit, but of course, there is no room for boasting. Jesus Christ receives 100% credit. We are saved by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:8) Period.
Romans 4:4 - Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:
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Confession is an expression of faith and not a work for salvation.
I often hear people (particular Campbellites) misinterpret Romans 10:9,10 in such a way that means we can believe unto righteousness today, but are still lost until we confess Christ, which may be next week and then we are finally saved next week, but that is not what Paul is talking about here. Also, someone who is moot (unable to speak) would remain lost according to that erroneous interpretation of Romans 10:9,10 for failing to "verbally" confess with their mouth.
Confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead are not two separate steps to salvation but are chronologically together. Romans 10:8 - But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (TOGETHER) that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, (notice the reverse order from verse 9-10) - that if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Confess/believe; believe/confess.
1 Corinthians 12:3 - Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except BY the Holy Spirit. There is divine influence or direct operation of the Holy Spirit in the heart of a person when confessing Jesus as Lord. This confession is not just a simple acknowledgment that Jesus is the Lord (even the demons believe that), but is a deep personal conviction that Jesus is that person's Lord and Savior. So simply believing in our head (and not in our heart) that God raised Him from the dead does not result in righteousness and simply giving lip service to the words "Jesus is Lord" not by the Holy Spirit is not unto salvation.
Hmm... John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 5:24; 6:29,40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:21; 1 John 5:13 etc..
False. According to the Campbellite 4 step plan of salvation: 1. Believe 2. Repent 3. Confess 4. Get water baptized then finally saved after all 4 steps are completed in that order. So what happened to water baptism in Romans 10:9,10? Believe and confess are chronologically together unto salvation, yet water baptism follows, so salvation precedes water baptism, even according to your 4 step 'so called' gospel plan.
There is a difference between the obedient act of choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 10:16; Romans 1:16) with the word of faith being in our mouth and in our heart TOGETHER (Romans 10:8) and multiple acts of obedience/works which "follow."
CONTINUED..