to work or not to work?

Well, this is very different then what you said before.

Changed your mind?

 

For a "saved" person to cease in works is hardly a "hypothetical" situation. I know several personally. You yourself have said that it is possible.

I am not making doubtless speculations. I am aking you to reconcile James with your "faith alone" belief.

Speak rudely of Catholics if you wish, you should still be able to defend your belief.

Now I am to understand that a person who ceases in works is still saved. You say, "Genuine faith results in genuine works." So for exactly how long should faith result in such works?

A day or a life time?

Ron

 

Bottom line: If a person claims to be saved, but refuses to do good works as an expression of their faith as Christ commands, are they really saved?

It's been argued that works is a result of one's salvation. I agree. But if you've but a quarter in the meter and refuse to park, the quarter has no value.

[ November 18, 2002, 04:10 PM: Message edited by: Johnv ]

 

So the change may be impreceptible? How does such a person give testimony of that instant in their life if it is impreceptible?

By the way what is your proof from Scripture that "if one cannot testify of the time that Jesus Christ saved them (not by baptism) but by the Holy Spirit coming into them and beginning a change in their lives, then no, they are not saved"?

Also, how long does that change have to last?

For a day or a life time?

Ron

[ November 18, 2002, 05:08 PM: Message edited by: trying2understand ]

 

So the change is for the rest of your life then.

So if one ceases in works, the change wasn't "forever" was it?

I can only conclude then that if one ceases in works, one wasn't saved.

Ron

 

What is "backslidden"?

I am merely trying to get to an answer to the question posed by someone else concerning the role of works.

If you don't have a supportable answer, that's ok with me.

It does seem to me that Jesus touched on this when he talked about the sowing of the seeds. Some heard the Gospel and followed for a while but then lost interest. Where they saved?

[ November 18, 2002, 08:13 PM: Message edited by: trying2understand ]