If it is true that the only way to heaven is through faith alone and not by works, that in itself is contradictory. If you have faith in Jesus you will obey his commandments wont you? Can you be a Christian and continue to do evil? No. some might say you would have to pray for forgiveness, but isn't that a Work? If you don't pray for forgiveness then you wont be forgiven, so really your salvation comes down to that one work, prayer. But what of this: “We know that god does not hear sinners; but if anyone is god fearing, and does his will, he hears him” John 9:31 This verse says that for god to even hear our prayers we must first fear him and do his will. Is doing the will of god a work? “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has no works? Can that faith save him?” James 2:14 Obviously the answer is that you must take some action to accept the grace given to you by god, but what? “He who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe will be condemned” Mark 16:16 “Now when they heard this they were pierced to the heart, and said to peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brethren, what shall we do?' And peter said to them 'Repent and let everyone of you be baptized for the forgiveness of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit” Acts 2:37-38
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