Of the ten passages I cited, only four even mentioned the "law". I can certainly quote dozens more that clearly teach we are saved by faith apart from the works we do - whether the works of the Law of Moses (which was called the highest law) or good deeds, "corporal works of mercy" (fancy way to say good deeds we do with our flesh out of love for others) or anything we do with the intent to have those things make us righteous before God. Do you not know that all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags in God's sight? Paul said, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing" (Rom. 7:18a).
For some reason your responses continue to assert something NO ONE is arguing against - that of exhortations to good works. We ALL believe that we were created UNTO good works, which God has prepared for us to do. Where you seem to be confused is when you claim God says we must DO good works in order to be saved. NOWHERE in Scripture will you find anything that clearly says our works contribute to our salvation. Of course, there are some who incorrectly interpret a few places that sounds like God is saying that, but they are wrong because God will not contradict Himself. He won't say in one place "for it is by grace are you saved through faith and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast" but then turn around somewhere else and say you HAVE TO do good works in order to be saved. It's kind of sneaky, actually, to profess one believes we are saved by the grace of God and not of our works, but then to say we are saved by faith AND works. You contradict yourself and, according to God, you are fallen from grace.
Why pervert the Gospel that way? It is ONLY because of what Jesus did for us that we can be saved. A gift is not something you earn or work for. It's not a gift if you have to do something to keep it. God's gifts and promises are immutable - He doesn't change His mind. He doesn't play "bait&switch". He doesn't lure souls into Christ by offering a gift that He says we receive through faith to then demand that unless we ALSO do good works we don't get to keep the gift. God isn't a shyster. Stop insinuating He is. That is corrupting the Gospel and it is accursed.
I wonder what some people are afraid of if they tell it to others straight? Do they imagine a person will just take the gift, yell, "Thanks God!", and then run off to a life of debauchery, sin and concupiscence, assured he is going to heaven anyway, might as well live it up??? Just what kind of job do you think the Holy Spirit is doing, anyway? Don't you know that a genuine faith is one that surrenders to Christ, falls upon the mercy seat of grace, rises up in newness of life eager to live glorifying the one who so mercifully saved him from eternal hellfire? Has it occurred to you that James was talking about two kinds of people - the one who says he has faith and the one who demonstrates he has real faith by how he acts? Why is it you only have one misinterpreted passage to fall back on and ignore the countless others that demolish your feeble interpretation?
We are justified by faith and NOT by our deeds. The very righteousness of Christ is imputed to us who flee to Him in faith and our sins and iniquities He remembers no more. Just try to glory and boast of your own righteousness - good luck with that. The glory is going ALL to God!
Luke 7:50
"Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."
By now; SURELY you PROTS know that not EVERYTHING is written in the Bible.
Could GOD not ALSO have said...
"Your baptism has saved you.
"Your confirmation has saved you.
"Your obedience to Rome has saved you.
"Your Adoration to Mary has saved you.
"Your Veneration of Mary has saved you.
"Your Love of Mary has saved you.
"Your faithful praying of the Rosary has saved you.
"Your taking of multitudes of Eucharist wafers has saved you.
"Your adherence of ALL church teaching has saved you.
Hater!
So why didn't you? Please do.
We ALL believe that we were created UNTO good works, which God has prepared for us to do
Then drop the stupid "faith alone" mantra, if you don't believe it.
kind of sneaky, actually, to profess one believes we are saved by the grace of God and not of our works, but then to say we are saved by faith AND works
What is sneaky about it? Eph 2:4-10 says it. James 2:17-26 says it. Quite openly.
He doesn't lure souls into Christ by offering a gift that He says we receive through faith to then demand that unless we ALSO do good works we don't get to keep the gift.
The good works is a part of the gift. If we don't do them, we reject the gift. Again, read what the scripture says:
Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock [...] (Matthew 7:21-24)
I leave it up to you to figure out how Jesus "bait-and-switches" all these people He "lured".