Discover the profound intersection of belief and action as we unravel one of Christianity's most intricate debates: Can faith exist without deeds? Prepare to be challenged and inspired as we dissect the intricate bond between faith, works, and salvation. This episode is a deep dive into the heart of Christian doctrine, where we address the commonly held misconception that salvation can be obtained through our own merits. With insight from Ephesians 2:1-9, we underscore the concept that salvation is a divine gift, not a paycheck for good behavior, yet a genuine faith is inherently demonstrative, producing works as naturally as a tree bears fruit.
As we navigate the delicate terrain of living a Christlike existence, we confront provocative issues that Christians face today, including the conversation around acceptance and love for transgender individuals. This isn't just a theological discussion; it's a reflective journey urging us to consider how our actions reflect the depth of our faith and convictions. We'll explore how the fruits of a true believer are not just pious acts, but are infused with compassion and kindness, mirroring the life and teachings of Jesus. Join us for this enlightening session, where we not only dissect scriptural truths but also share personal reflections that will encourage you to live a life that visibly narrates the story of your faith.
Discover the profound intersection of belief and action as we unravel one of Christianity's most intricate debates: Can faith exist without deeds? Prepare to be challenged and inspired as we dissect the intricate bond between faith, works, and salvation. This episode is a deep dive into the heart of Christian doctrine, where we address the commonly held misconception that salvation can be obtained through our own merits. With insight from Ephesians 2:1-9, we underscore the concept that salvation is a divine gift, not a paycheck for good behavior, yet a genuine faith is inherently demonstrative, producing works as naturally as a tree bears fruit.
As we navigate the delicate terrain of living a Christlike existence, we confront provocative issues that Christians face today, including the conversation around acceptance and love for transgender individuals. This isn't just a theological discussion; it's a reflective journey urging us to consider how our actions reflect the depth of our faith and convictions. We'll explore how the fruits of a true believer are not just pious acts, but are infused with compassion and kindness, mirroring the life and teachings of Jesus. Join us for this enlightening session, where we not only dissect scriptural truths but also share personal reflections that will encourage you to live a life that visibly narrates the story of your faith.
My website is https://www.godslovingsacrifice.com
Speaker 1:
Today we're going to talk about faith and works. I was speaking to a younger person and was talking to them about that. They said, well, I think I'm pretty good. And I said, well, being pretty good doesn't get it, you have to believe in Jesus Christ. And they continued to say but I do this and I do this.
Speaker 1:
So I told him the scripture that is in ephesians 2, 1 through 9, that says and he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked, according to the curse of this world, according to the prince and the power of the air, the spirit, who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all conduct ourselves in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling desires of the flesh and of the mind. And we're by nature children of wrath just as the others and were by nature children of wrath just as the others. But God, who was rich in mercy because of his great love, which he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved and raised up together and made us set together in heavenly places in Jesus Christ. And made us set together in heavenly places in Jesus Christ that in the ages to come he might show exceeding riches of his grace and his kindness towards us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is a gift of God, not of works. And he said faith without works is dead, isn't it? So that's kind of a contradiction, but you have to realize that God has an order to everything. When we ask Jesus into our lives, he gives us a measure of faith. It is that faith, after you're saved, that the works begin.
Speaker 1:
James 2, 14 through 26 says what does it profit my brother? And if someone says he has faith but does not have works, and faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them we part in peace, be warmed and filled, but you do not give them things which they are in need for the body, what does it profit? Thus, also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. Show me your faith without works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well, even demons believe and tremble. But do you want to know, o foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Speaker 1:
Was not Abraham, our father, justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works? And by works, faith was made perfect and the scripture was fulfilled, which says Abraham believed God and was accounted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. You see that that man justified by works and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out the other way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead. Once we get salvation, god gives us that measure of faith. God gives us that measure of faith. Salvation is not by works. That faith that we are given produces our works.
Speaker 1:
How do we know what our works are? How do we know if we're doing our works? Well, that's easy enough. There are works of the flesh and fruits of the spirit. Are works of the flesh and fruits of the spirit If what you are doing in your life is works of the flesh, that's not spiritual works. If they're fruits of the spirit, then that's spiritual works, and that's what the works are. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. And if those are the things that you are doing to others, then you are doing the works that God called you to do, the works of the flesh. If you are doing these things, then they're not works of the spirit. Adultery, fornication, uncleanliness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, reveries and the like that is works of the flesh and that is works of Satan. Our works produce a good fruit and we know people by their fruits. But right now I want to continue looking at that contradiction. You're saved by faith, not by works. But faith without works is dead.
Speaker 1:
Galatians 2.14-21 says when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel. Galatians 2.14-21 says Jews by nature and not sinners, of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners? Is Christ there or a minister of sin? Certainly not, for if I build again those things which I destroy, I make myself a transgressor, for I thought the law died through the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if its righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. Do you understand what that's saying?
Speaker 1:
If we are saved by our works, if we can be good enough to make it to heaven, then why did Jesus die? Why was that sacrifice made? We will never, no one will ever, be good enough, and these two verses are not contradictory. These two verses really complement each other. Where does the faith come from so that you do the good works of God? Faith comes through the grace of salvation, the measure of faith that we receive from God when we ask him into our hearts and ask him to save us and forgive us of our sins and make us a new person. We're going to make mistakes, we're going to do things wrong and God will forgive those things. But the majority of our life should be spent doing things at that point of God, treating people with goodness and gentleness, treating people with mercy and generosity and kindness.
Speaker 1:
If people can make it to heaven through their deeds, then there's going to be a lot of people that won't make it to heaven, people who are sinners. And if it's by your deeds, then salvation isn't needed. So there'd be no way for salvation and as sinners we would never make it to heaven because nothing can cover our sin. So no one would go to heaven if it was by works. So no one would go to heaven if it was by works. You could try to do a lot of works, but we've all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Do you want to get there on your own volition, or would you rather Christ cover you with his blood?
Speaker 1:
Faith doesn't produce anything. That gives no evidence. If you have faith, then everything you're going to do is evidence of that faith. You can't live a Christian life with a dead faith. If you ask God to come into your heart and he gives you that measure of faith and you never do anything with it, you go along with doing all of the things that you did before and you never show compassion, then I'm sorry for you. Salvation will make it to heaven, but when I go and I've said this before I want God to say well done, good and faithful servant. I want him to know that I lived my life mostly the way he wanted me to live it, that I've been forgiven the times that I messed up and that I'm going to be there with him for eternity. I don't want to get up there and realize that I had nothing.
Speaker 1:
James says that genuine faith is not intellectual belief in God and you can confess that believe in God. But there has to be a practical expression of love, compassion and obedience to God to show that you're saved. That's why you see the stories when they talk about the rapture coming in these churches. People are left behind because they had an intellectual belief in God and not a spiritual belief in God, and it's a big difference. And again, you know them by their works.
Speaker 1:
Do you think that these churches that now believe that you can have trans people come in and teach your children about being trans, or these strippers or whatever. Come into your church and talk about doing all of this kind of stuff? Do you think that when the rapture comes, the people in those churches that are supporting sin make it in the rapture? Faith comes with salvation. Works come with faith. I want my light to shine. I want the world to know that when I got that measure of faith, I grew that measure of faith. You want people to see Christ in you. Then do your works. Be compassionate, show your fruits, tell others about God, let people know that there is a way to get the faith and have the works and it's by belief in Jesus Christ and obedience to his word.
