Christian saved by faith or works? Missunderstood passages in the bible

[ezio6]

One of the most commonly misunderstood passages is Matthew 7:21-23. Many sadly claim that these verses suggest salvation is not solely by GOD's grace through faith alone, and that works are required to avoid 'losing or forfeiting' salvation. This is completely false. In fact, these verses actually emphasize that our works can never contribute to our salvation, and that once someone places their trust soley in Jesus Christ for eternal life and the forgiveness of sins, they are forever a child of GOD. So lets look at the context:

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but HE THAT DOETH THE WILL of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?
And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.

Do you see the context? These people were relying on their "MANY WONDERFUL WORKS" (a false faith-plus-works gospel) to save them, rather than trusting that what Jesus Christ did alone was enough to give them eternal salvation through faith alone in the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4 KJV). In other words, they never believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. They never accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour sadly...They are the "workers of iniquity" since they were trusting in their own good works which could never measure up to the perfect finished work of Jesus Christ. One can never get to Heaven by any of their own works aka partial obedience. You are not "co-savior" with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our Saviour. You could never earn the right to enter Heaven by your own "many wonderful works." A partial obedience is insufficient when the standard is perfection (never once sinning) and only Jesus Christ, GOD himself is perfect and sinless.

You see how they are basically saying "look at what we did" "look at the many wonderful works we did" "look at me." "I did this" "I did that" "Me" "Me" "Me" "I" "I" "I"...It's not about us, it's about what Jesus Christ did for us. Eternal life and the forgiveness of sins is a free gift you accept by faith alone in the Gospel to declare Jesus Christ's righteousness, not ours.

 

[Cuckoja]

Salvation is through Christ, yes. To spread the gospel was a command given to the apostles, so i dont think its our job to do it, especially in this day and age when everyone know enough and has access to everything about christianity. Preaching to others often has the negative effect, it revolts them and turns them against God even more.

But again Jesus emphasized countless times that if we love Him, we should obey His words, His commands, laws, etc.

I Never Knew You​

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

So doing good work wont save us, but doing bad work can condemn us. Jesus judges the heart (and the mind). This is how i see it, no good deed will be unpaid in this life or in heaven, or bad deed goes unpaid, unless we repent for it, still some form of punishment can come our way, to learn a lesson. Hardening of the heart is basically strengthening our mind against God and become unrepentant person.

I think that we can lose the salvation only by our own fault and choice, as Jesus said that no one will snatch us out of His Father's hands, but we can rip out of His hands ourselves, by loving sin too much, thus rejecting God for sins. By accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we must be born again, that means that we no longer live for the flesh, but for the spirit. We cant love sin and evil anymore, this world in generally, as Paul said that our flesh longs for sin, but our spirit should hate it and want not to sin. Its a inner struggle by spirit which wants Godly things and flesh which desires Earthly things.
I think in the end its our conscious decision to be saved or not. Jesus did all the work and offers the salvation, while its free accepting it, we need to accept it, not just empty words.

 

[Guatemalancel]

Salvation is through Christ, yes. To spread the gospel was a command given to the apostles, so i dont think its our job to do it, especially in this day and age when everyone know enough and has access to everything about christianity. Preaching to others often has the negative effect, it revolts them and turns them against God even more.

But again Jesus emphasized countless times that if we love Him, we should obey His words, His commands, laws, etc.

I Never Knew You​

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."

So doing good work wont save us, but doing bad work can condemn us. Jesus judges the heart (and the mind). This is how i see it, no good deed will be unpaid in this life or in heaven, or bad deed goes unpaid, unless we repent for it, still some form of punishment can come our way, to learn a lesson. Hardening of the heart is basically strengthening our mind against God and become unrepentant person.

I think that we can lose the salvation only by our own fault and choice, as Jesus said that no one will snatch us out of His Father's hands, but we can rip out of His hands ourselves, by loving sin too much, thus rejecting God for sins. By accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, we must be born again, that means that we no longer live for the flesh, but for the spirit. We cant love sin and evil anymore, this world in generally, as Paul said that our flesh longs for sin, but our spirit should hate it and want not to sin. Its a inner struggle by spirit which wants Godly things and flesh which desires Earthly things.
I think in the end its our conscious decision to be saved or not. Jesus did all the work and offers the salvation, while its free accepting it, we need to accept it, not just empty words.

Everyone has access to the gospel but most are ignorant of it

 

[Miserere mei]

One of the most commonly misunderstood passages is Matthew 7:21-23. Many sadly claim that these verses suggest salvation is not solely by GOD's grace through faith alone, and that works are required to avoid 'losing or forfeiting' salvation. This is completely false. In fact, these verses actually emphasize that our works can never contribute to our salvation, and that once someone places their trust soley in Jesus Christ for eternal life and the forgiveness of sins, they are forever a child of GOD. So lets look at the context:

Matthew 7:21-23 KJV
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but HE THAT DOETH THE WILL of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name DONE MANY WONDERFUL WORKS?
And then will I profess unto them, I NEVER KNEW YOU: depart from me, YE THAT WORK INIQUITY.

Do you see the context? These people were relying on their "MANY WONDERFUL WORKS" (a false faith-plus-works gospel) to save them, rather than trusting that what Jesus Christ did alone was enough to give them eternal salvation through faith alone in the Gospel (1 Cor 15:1-4 KJV). In other words, they never believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. They never accepted Him as their Lord and Saviour sadly...They are the "workers of iniquity" since they were trusting in their own good works which could never measure up to the perfect finished work of Jesus Christ. One can never get to Heaven by any of their own works aka partial obedience. You are not "co-savior" with Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is our Saviour. You could never earn the right to enter Heaven by your own "many wonderful works." A partial obedience is insufficient when the standard is perfection (never once sinning) and only Jesus Christ, GOD himself is perfect and sinless.

You see how they are basically saying "look at what we did" "look at the many wonderful works we did" "look at me." "I did this" "I did that" "Me" "Me" "Me" "I" "I" "I"...It's not about us, it's about what Jesus Christ did for us. Eternal life and the forgiveness of sins is a free gift you accept by faith alone in the Gospel to declare Jesus Christ's righteousness, not ours.

Weather Living Members of Christ merit eternal life?
Eternal Life Merited by Living Members of Christ Many agree that human works are meritorious of some benefit from God, but not of eternal life. Therefore we must show specifically that the works of the living members of Christ are meritorious of eternal life. Our Savior said in Matthew 5[:12], “Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven.” Thus the heavenly reward of those who suffer for Christ’s sake entails first of all beatitude, or eternal life. When Matthew 20[:9f.] describes the payment given the workmen, saying they received a denarius, it is obvious that the payment given to all the workers in the Lord’s vineyard is eternal life.

Paul wrote in Timothy 4[:7f.], “I have fought the good fight, completed the course, and have kept faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the just judge, will grant me.” Clearly the crown given Paul is first of all beatitude. Also, unless the reward was due by reason of his previous works, it would not be true that God is giving him the crown precisely as the just judge. Paul obviously teaches that eternal life is due to him by right because of the works he referred to. Our Lord made the same thing clear in describing how in judging the world he will give eternal life in return for the works of mercy. “I was hungry and you fed me . . .” [Matt. 25:35]. This scene ends: “These go away for eternal punishment, but the righteous enter eternal life” [25:46]. The judge determines this by reason of the diversity of works, as the works merit; otherwise, he would not have given the reasons on each side.

According to Holy Scripture, therefore, the works of some men are clearly meritorious of eternal life. What is more, according to Matthew 20, the workmen merit this by reason of an agreement. Origen, Jerome, Augustine, Gregory, and Chrysostom all explain the denarius given to each as the beatitude in which the blessed share.

Matthew 16:27
“For the Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father’s glory, and then He will repay each one according to his works.”
Christ does not say works are signs of faith, but rather that people will be repaid according to their deeds, implying intrinsic merit.

Romans 2:6-7
“He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who persist in doing good and seek glory, honor, and immortality.”
St.Paul explicitly states that eternal life is given as a reward to those who persist in doing good.

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

Yes I would agree ,faith only ,only makes sense because the scripture also says if you violate one law you have transgressed all the laws. So clearly you must be perfect at all times or save only by faith ,there is no real middle ground.

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

Weather Living Members of Christ merit eternal life?
Eternal Life Merited by Living Members of Christ Many agree that human works are meritorious of some benefit from God, but not of eternal life. Therefore we must show specifically that the works of the living members of Christ are meritorious of eternal life. Our Savior said in Matthew 5[:12], “Rejoice and be glad for your reward is great in heaven.” Thus the heavenly reward of those who suffer for Christ’s sake entails first of all beatitude, or eternal life. When Matthew 20[:9f.] describes the payment given the workmen, saying they received a denarius, it is obvious that the payment given to all the workers in the Lord’s vineyard is eternal life.

Paul wrote in Timothy 4[:7f.], “I have fought the good fight, completed the course, and have kept faith. For the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the just judge, will grant me.” Clearly the crown given Paul is first of all beatitude. Also, unless the reward was due by reason of his previous works, it would not be true that God is giving him the crown precisely as the just judge. Paul obviously teaches that eternal life is due to him by right because of the works he referred to. Our Lord made the same thing clear in describing how in judging the world he will give eternal life in return for the works of mercy. “I was hungry and you fed me . . .” [Matt. 25:35]. This scene ends: “These go away for eternal punishment, but the righteous enter eternal life” [25:46]. The judge determines this by reason of the diversity of works, as the works merit; otherwise, he would not have given the reasons on each side.

According to Holy Scripture, therefore, the works of some men are clearly meritorious of eternal life. What is more, according to Matthew 20, the workmen merit this by reason of an agreement. Origen, Jerome, Augustine, Gregory, and Chrysostom all explain the denarius given to each as the beatitude in which the blessed share.

Matthew 16:27
“For the Son of Man will come with His angels in His Father’s glory, and then He will repay each one according to his works.”
Christ does not say works are signs of faith, but rather that people will be repaid according to their deeds, implying intrinsic merit.

Romans 2:6-7
“He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who persist in doing good and seek glory, honor, and immortality.”
St.Paul explicitly states that eternal life is given as a reward to those who persist in doing good.

perseverance to the end is in faith and not in works

James 2:10"For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all of it

You can't be perfect ,it would be impossible to persevere to the end in works ,but to keep the faith

Habakkuk 2:4 Niv

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;
his desires are not upright—
but the righteous person will live by his faithfulnes​

 

[RandomGuy]

Everyone has access to the gospel but most are ignorant of it

Aryans live north of Hebrews. Many of their customs the same.

View: https://youtube.com/shorts/N9elJfWwDlA?si=1SoW8MWh6ysLDzuB

 

[V c z s q e]

I'd assume you need both. Unless you think a serial rapist gets into heaven just because he believes.

 

[bruhwtf]

bible is fiction

 

[Emba]

Dead jew on a stick

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

I'd assume you need both. Unless you think a serial rapist gets into heaven just because he believes.

Anyone can be saved ,salvation is an unearned free gift given by God in spite of what we have done.
When one is saved then one should experience a renewal and start to change and get better but salvation is never contingent on works or good deeds.

Ephesians 2 8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast

 

[Guatemalancel]

Anyone can be saved ,salvation is an unearned free gift given by God in spite of what we have done.
When one is saved then one should experience a renewal and start to change and get better but salvation is never contingent on works or good deeds.

Ephesians 2 8-9

8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast

James 2:14

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

James 2:14

People misunderstand this its saying , it means good works are the fruit of true faith

 

[GeckoBus]

 

[decafincel]

People misunderstand this its saying , it means good works are the fruit of true faith

This is the correct interpretation.

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

This is the correct interpretation.

Yes indeed

 

[CRASH THE CUCK]

Know the difference between Heavenly and Earthly rewards and Earthly and Eternal punishments

 

[Miserere mei]

perseverance to the end is in faith and not in works

James 2:10"For whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles in one point, has become guilty of all of it

You can't be perfect ,it would be impossible to persevere to the end in works ,but to keep the faith

Habakkuk 2:4 Niv​

​

4 “See, the enemy is puffed up;​

his desires are not upright—​

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulnes​

They are not mutually exclusive, i believe in Fides caritate formata. Grace is infused through the internal instument of faith in the external instrument of baptism, however this grace is inchoate righteousness which may grow and sanctifty your soul, and of course justifys you. One increases in this grace by condign merit, as shown above, therefore works in the virtue of charity may justify a man before God.

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

They are not mutually exclusive, i believe in Fides caritate formata. Grace is infused through the internal instument of faith in the external instrument of baptism, however this grace is inchoate righteousness which may grow and sanctifty your soul, and of course justifys you. One increases in this grace by condign merit, as shown above, therefore works in the virtue of charity may justify a man before God.

It is true as per James which I'm sure you know that works are the fruit of faith but works never justify anyone only the blood of Jesus

 

[Miserere mei]

It is true as per James which I'm sure you know that works are the fruit of faith but works never justify anyone only the blood of Jesus

Of course any work done without faith would be worthless. However, it does not follow from this that one cannot merit eternal life, as shown above it is quite the opposite. Any condign merit is a reduplication (crowning) of Christs free gift of grace, it is not as if one earns his own state of grace.

 

[solblue]

People misunderstand this its saying , it means good works are the fruit of true faith

This is my understanding as well. There’s a rise of “cultural” Christians who are not understanding this, if they even care about it in the first place.

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

This is my understanding as well. There’s a rise of “cultural” Christians who are not understanding this, if they even care about it in the first place.

Good to hear

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

Of course any work done without faith would be worthless. However, it does not follow from this that one cannot merit eternal life, as shown above it is quite the opposite. Any condign merit is a reduplication (crowning) of Christs free gift of grace, it is not as if one earns his own state of grace.

Works of the flesh are dirty rags

 

[akdicel173]

works of the flesh doesnt save at all, when jesus died he shed his blood to send it to the father at the mercy seat as an atonement ONCE and for ALL.
(our sins which are in the past and up to the future)

before somebody bring a serial killer you are a litteral murderer if you are angry with your brother, thats what our lord said since he took the standards of the law to the extreme, and that is showcasing that then the conclusion is that YOU NEED a savior, who will come to give you a free righteousness cuz NO MAN have righteousness in him thats where it connects to jesus calling himself the son of man, bcuz he is the second perfect adam or as paul call it the lord out of heaven which fixes the sin problem adam and eve caused
(its really eve not him but god was mad that adam listened and obeyed her voice)

if anybody want explaination on once saved always saved watch this PLS this guy will help you understand biblical salvation by faith alone



View: https://youtu.be/BbPchtYsXNo

 

[akdicel173]

if you people understand dispensationalism you'll also get that james isnt even for the church read james 1:1 its written to the jews

 

[Miserere mei]

Works of the flesh are dirty rags

Works proceeding from the holy spirit however...

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

Works proceeding from the holy spirit however...

yes

 

[Guatemalancel]

People misunderstand this its saying , it means good works are the fruit of true faith

Yes but works are nessesary since they show you actually have faith

 

[The_word_made_flesh]

Yes but works are nessesary since they show you actually have faith

Yes

 

[justuseless]

There is no saviour for your face