I don't suspect that anyone here is solo works but there are certain folks on here who are salvation by works (at least in part). These folks even seem to have their own personal definition of non-meritorious works. What a mess!
Many people can't decouple merit from works when Luke clearly can in Luke 6:35. What a mess!
(Luke 6:35) But love your enemies, and
do good, and lend,
expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil
It is by faith (apart from works) that we are justified/accounted as righteous before.God. Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified/accounted as righteous by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it (faith, not works) was accounted to him for righteousness.” 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.
Man is justified/accounted as righteous by faith (Romans 4:2-6) and man is justified/shown to be righteous by works. (James 2:21, 24) *Perfect Harmony*
Dikaioo Definition
NAS Word Usage - Total: 39
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2. to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
My ancestors kicked that "works of the Law" habit 2000 years ago. If people still adhere to them around your circles then by all means talk to them.
Merit in salvation by works is no strawman. If we were saved by both faith AND works, then there would be merit in accomplishing those works because they then become the means by which we would obtain and/or maintain salvation.
Not necessarily. Good works are preordained by God so where is there any room for merit seeking or even boasting?
Roman Catholics, love to make that argument as well in their efforts to get around the truth and promote works-righteousness. Paul is not only against meriting salvation by works of the law,
but by works in general, works of righteousness, our works etc.. (Romans 4:2-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9)
You're resorting to the guilt by association fallacy. That does not fly here.
False. (Romans 4:2-6) We are not accounted as righteous by good works but by faith in Jesus Christ alone. We are shown to be righteous by works. Works bare out the justification that already came through faith. Man is saved through faith apart from the merit of works yet genuine faith does not remain apart from the presence of works.
Rom 4:2-6 is an extension of Rom 3 where Paul is referring to works of the Law. Again, my ancestors kicked that "works of the Law" habit 2000 years ago.
Using that logic, you could call anything a work. I got out of bed this morning. That's a work. I checked the mail today. That's a work. I had a thought roll around in my head. That's a work. The Greek word for work is ergon.
ergon: Work, deed, action, task, labor
Original Word: ἔργον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: ergon
Pronunciation: ER-gon
Phonetic Spelling: (er'-gon)
Definition: Work, deed, action, task, labor
Meaning: work, task, employment; a deed, action; that which is wrought or made, a work.
Actions are an expenditure of energy, whether physical, mental, or spiritual. Expenditure of energy can be classified as work accomplished.
There is no merit in repent, believe, confess. Changing our mind and believing from the heart unto righteousness, then confessing with our mouth that Jesus is Lord by the Holy Spirit are not actions that merit salvation. Folks who are mute would remain lost for failing to confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord if that was a work for salvation.
Who said there was merit? Not me. Nevertheless, repent, believe, confess are actions that must be taken if ever we are ever to be saved. That makes our salvation synergistic.
Through the action involved, we are still trusting in Another's work (Christ's finished work of redemption). Jesus Christ still receives all the merit. There is no room for boasting.
Yes.
You believe what the Bible says based on your own personal eisegesis and not based on Biblical hermeneutics.
Man is saved through faith and not by works (
Romans 4:5-6;
Ephesians 2:8,
9;
Titus 3:5;
2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (
James 2:14-24)
Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works. (
Romans 3:24-28; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9) )
Again, Rom 4:2-6 is an extension of Rom 3 where Paul is referring to works of the Law. Again, my ancestors kicked that "works of the Law" habit 2000 years ago.
Repent, believe, confess are actions that must be taken on our part if ever we are ever to be saved. That makes our salvation synergistic.
Conclusion: You believe what the Bible says based on your own personal eisegesis and not based on Biblical hermeneutics.
It is through faith "in Jesus Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-24) *Perfect Harmony*
I have called out multiple people over the years on various Christian forum sites for teaching salvation by faith AND WORKS and even though they deny it, their statements speak for themselves. Here are some examples below of such folks:
It is works of obedience that help to save us and just not works of the law or works of merit.
That is still salvation by faith AND works. This person attends the church of Christ (Campbellism) and he told me that man is saved by faith "conjoined" with works. This makes those works become meritorious towards receiving eternal life.
We are "initially" saved by grace through faith apart from works, but then afterwards, sanctification (which includes holy living and good works) also plays a part in the salvation process of maintaining our salvation by works.
That is "type 2 works salvation" or salvation by works at the back door and those works become meritorious towards receiving eternal life.
We are saved by faith - as long as you properly define "Faith". Faith is not simply "believing". Faith includes: Being water baptized, eating His body and drinking His blood/partaking the Lord's Supper during Mass, works of mercy and charity, obeying his commandments etc..
This Roman Catholic basically redefined faith to "include" works. Salvation by faith "infused" with works and then those works become meritorious towards receiving eternal life. Others (including yourself) make the same error and basically end up teaching that we are saved by faith + their own personal definition of non-meritorious works.
I was once in a discussion with a Seventh Day Adventist and he tought that we are saved by grace through faith + obeying the 10 commandments (with a heavy emphasis on the 4th commandment) . I pointed out to him that he was teaching "salvation by grace plus law, faith plus works." Of course he denied that, but then afterward contradicted himself by making this statement below:
The counterfeit Gospel is out there. What is the other Gospel? It is a Gospel that tries to separate God's Law (10 commandments) from the Cross. It is a Gospel that tries to separate God's 10 commandments from the plan of salvation. God’s Law has always been part of the true Gospel of Christ. The counterfeit Gospel does not have it. God's forever Law (the 10 commandments) is the foundation of both the Old and the New Covenant and the very foundation and basis of the true Gospel of Christ.
What a mess! (2 Corinthians 4:3,4)
For you to prove that your version is the correct one you will have to test it against every single verse of James 2:14-26, especially the ones that explicitly talk about salvation and/or justification.
