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FAITH, WORKS |
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This subject is greatly misunderstood today,
may the Lord use this little tract to help His children understand this very
important subject. |
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We are justified by faith not works! |
(Galatians 2:16) Knowing that a
man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith
of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall
no flesh be justified
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We are saved by grace through faith not works! |
(Romans 9:32) Wherefore? Because [they
sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they
stumbled at that stumblingstone; (Ephesians 2:9) Not
of works, lest any man should boast. (2 Timothy 1:9) Who
hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ
Jesus before the world began, (Titus 3:5) Not by works
of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by
the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
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We receive the Spirit of God by faith! |
(Galatians 3:2) This
only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or
by the hearing of faith?
The ministering of the
SPIRIT and MIRACLES are from FAITH!
(Galatians 3:5) He therefore that
ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, [doeth he it] by
the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
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But what about works! |
You can not earn salvation or any of the gifts
of God! But after we are saved, God expects us to use of His Spirit to live a
different kind of life than we have lived before. (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. (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. (Acts 26:20) But
shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the
coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn
to God, and do works meet for repentance.
(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. (1 Timothy 6:18) That they do
good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to
communicate; (2 Timothy 3:17) That the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (Titus 3:8) [This
is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly,
that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works.
These things are good and profitable unto men. (Hebrews 10:24) And
let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: (1
Timothy 5:25) Likewise also the good works [of some] are manifest
beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. (1 Timothy
2:10) But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
(Ephesians 5:11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of
darkness, but rather reprove [them].
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Works follow faith! |
(James 2:14) What [doth it] profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save
him? (James 2:15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily
food,
(James 2:16) And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye]
warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are
needful to the body; what [doth it] profit? (James 2:17) Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (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. (James 2:20) But
wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James
2:21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had
offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (James 2:22) Seest thou
how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
(James 2:24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not
by faith only. (James 2:25) Likewise also was not Rahab the
harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent
[them] out another way?
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Dead faith? |
(James 2:26) For as the body without
the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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We will be rewarded for our works. |
(Matthew 16:27) For the Son of man shall
come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every
man according to his works.
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Our works show our relationship to God. |
(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.
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Conclusion
(A few facts about the path to God) |
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We can’t earn our salvation; it is a free gift from God!
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Before we repent we are out of fellowship with God. God says
that we are at enmity with Him!
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The problem with unregenerate man is that he is selfish and
self-willed. The only way God could secure our salvation was to proffer it as a
free gift.
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We must repent (turn from our sin); otherwise God would be
condoning sin not forgiving sin!
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God’s Forgiving of our sin is dependent on our promise of
conviction to stop sinning!
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Many people justify their sin, or try to hide it from God. This
is FAR from repentance!
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Before Repenting we must be convicted. We must see how horrible
our sin is, and hate it. We must see that apart from the Lord, we
are horrible!
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We must be in earnest about wanting to be saved. Listen to
Jeremiah 29:13 "And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search
for me with all your heart."
Nothing we do short of repenting and placing our
faith in Jesus, and being born again of His Spirit, will save us, and restore
our fellowship with God. After trusting Jesus as our Savior we must obey Him,
for He has the awesome task of saving us. He Himself said, "If we love Him
we will keep his commandments". On the other hand if we choose to return,
and allow the "old man" to rule again instead of Jesus, we will find
that sin will once again be our master. Let me quote Peter;
(2 Peter 2:20 to 2:22) "For if after
they have escaped the pollution's of the world through the knowledge of the
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome,
the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better
for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have
known [it], to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is
happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog [is] turned to his
own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.
And now a quote from the writer of Hebrews;
(Hebrews 10:26 to 10:31 For if we go on sinning willfully after
receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for
sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and the fury of a fire
which will consume the adversaries.
Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the
testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think
he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as
unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted
the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will
repay." And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a
terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
After we are born again, if we allow the Holy
Spirit to lead us, He will lead us into all righteousness and will be fulfilled
in us, 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.
You see the "good works" are
the natural results of Gods Spirit at work in us, with our cooperation! If this
is absent, it only means that He is absent in our life.
John has said, in John 15:5 I am the vine, you
are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he
bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.