We are not saved by works, but the believers will show their faith by their works of love which will be a light to others.
In Church, out of Church, on the high ways, by ways, any where.
You may be the only Gospel some one will ever read.
Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Matthew 5:16 - Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
James 2:14-17 - What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:26 - For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
2 Timothy 3:17 - That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
James 2:18 - Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Titus 1:16 - They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Romans 2:6-10 - Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Matthew 7:21-23 - 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.
James 4:17 - Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things [done] in [his] body, according to that he hath done, whether [it be] good or bad.
Titus 2:14 - Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
John 14:15 - If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Jhn 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Jhn 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
Jhn 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
Jhn 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Jhn 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
Jhn 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am [he], ye shall die in your sins.
Jhn 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment::9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Jhn 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses
Act 16:31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 3:22 Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
Rom 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Gal 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Faith and belief are the flip sides of the same coin
Jesus never taught salvation by works, in fact he taught just the opposite
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Mat 7:21 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.
What is the will of the Father?
Scripture says this is His will for men
Jhn 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
The will of the Father is that we believe, so what does Jesus say to the man that thought his works would earn him salvation ?
Mat 7:22 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?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
That mans WORKS which he did in the name of Jesus were called SIN (iniquity) by Christ. Why?
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.
(Full disclosure: I am an orthodox Missouri Synod Lutheran.)
I agree with you; the works we perform are demonstrative of the thanks we show for the mercy and grace poured out on us by God and the manifestation of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We can only do them through God’s grace and the Spirit’s presence.
In trying to understand he differences between the RCC and my confession, I am often struck by how much the RCC must explain things to a point of nearly removing the need for faith. Isn’t enough to believe that God somehow allowed Jesus to be born free from original sin, without the gyrations of making Mary sinless and perfect through an Immaculate Conception? Another: Isn’t Jesus’ death enough to allow us directly into heaven and keep us from the pain and suffering of a purgatory?
This article makes some interesting points but it appears to me that Mr. Staples does what his church does: complicates things by making assumptions. Luther DID believe in Free Will, but understood that as sinners, the only free will we have is the will to do evil. Until the Holy Spirit enters in, we are rotten to our core. No “spark of the divine” exists in us. We’re all bad.
Some will argue semantics on both our parts, but before they do , they must realize that our sinful nature creates an equation that is completely unbalanced We can choose, but will only choose evil. ONLY through the Holy Spirit can we be called, enlightened and sanctified. We are unable to ACCEPT His call (the Baptist view). As long as we don’t actively reject grace, it comes to us and works faith through the intervention of the Holy Spirit because the love of God overcomes the evil with which we are filled. We are spiritually blind, dead, and enemies of God, prior to our Baptism, so much so that our Baptismal Rite includes an exorcism. (”Come out and make room for the Holy Spirit.”)
The good works we do are RESULTS of our salvation, NOT a means of gaining it. (in even some small way).
This “Jesus does it all” idea is demonstrated in the icons so dear to Rome. Look at the old icons and notice where Jesus is gripping the sinner as He delivers him from Hell. Jesus is holding the sinner’s wrist! The sinner’s hand faces down, showing that he has nothing to do with being saved; Jesus does it ALL.
I can’t think of a faith more similar to that of a child than this!
God’s blessings!