Is "easy-believism" really wrong?

This sounds like perseverance of the saints, and a works based salvation in maintaining it. Fact is, only God knows who is justified regardless of what "works" we see.

 

Agreed.

 

This sounds like perseverance of the saints, and a works based salvation in maintaining it. Fact is, only God knows who is justified regardless of what "works" we see. </font>[/QUOTE]But James says (among other things) But prove yourselves doers of the word and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 1:22 (NASB)

I don't think of this as keeping my salvation by works, but rather that I love Him so incredibly much that I can't help but do things to further His work.

 

Luke 17:12-19
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

This leper showed his faith when he returned to glorify God and to praise Jesus. My only question is how did the other 9 get clean?

 

ASKJO, WE AGREE!!!!!

Doesn't the Bible have a scripture that "even the demons believe?"

 

works are works are works, not matter how you try to pretty it up and change the order. We're not saved by our works, we don't remain saved by our works, and we don't prove that we're saved by our works.

I know some atheists who do some pretty good works, and I know some Christians who are pretty lousy.

 

So then how do you explain what James says about faith and works?

"Faith without works is dead"

Works is proof of faith - where there are no works there is no faith.

If I have misinterpreted what James is talking about, perhaps you could clear it up for me.

 

C4K,

you have not misinterpreted. It is those who want to just make a profession of faith and continue in their wicked ways who do not want the works of God in their lives.

Faith without works is indeed dead. Jesus said in the Gospels 'Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.'

Works must follow faith, else that faith is dead in the water.

 

Who did he tell to let their light shine? You have to have a light before you can let it shine.

You must understand first that being saved is not enough to recieve the inheritance. Jesus promised a resurrection to all who believe, but according to James 2:5 the inheritance of the kingdom is promised not to those who believe, but those who love Him. If you will not divide between eternal salvation and the millennial kingdom of God on this earth, then by all accounts you have a book full of contradictions. If, on the other hand, there is salvation to be obtained for a believer that is above and beyond the common salvation imparted to all who believe, then you have to rightly divide which salvation is being spoken of.

 

Well, James Newman beat me to it, and probably stated it much more succinctly than I could.

Nice additional verses by Sanderson as well.

Our works don't save us, but they will provide us with an inheritance, or with chastisment. We must answer for our deeds in the flesh, whether good or bad, but we will not be saved (nor prove our salvation) with our works.

 

Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luke 18:10-14)

The publican humbled himself and repented and went home justified--he certainly was NOT repenting of his UNBELIEF--his repentance was his acknowledgment of his sinful condition. Unless a person knows he is lost, he will have no need of a Savior. Jesus came to save sinners.

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 1:15)

I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Luke 5:32)

The first step to heaven is knowing you're lost; the highway to glory is the way of the cross.

 

Are you talking about justification and righteousness or spiritual salvation?

 

Why the Question? Why even use terms not found in the Bible? All that will do is give rise to debate!

Just preach what Jesus preached, my Brother! Some he told all they did (woman @ well)-some he said simply "thy sins be forgiven thee-" Different strokes, same message.

It is our responsibility to take God at his word, nothing more, nothing less! Repentance is only necessary to be able to come to God. Salvation is Simple (remember, a child-like faith?), but not always Easy.

Analogy:
Stand on the top of a very tall building and leap headfirst over the edge. Hard to understand? On the Contrary! Hard to do? Quite possibly! And to leap is to turn one's back on what one knows!

In any case, I try not to use words that weren't in God's Vocabulary, either! Ha! Ha!