For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God–
So, my question stands, can anyone answer the question scripture asks??
James 2:14
"What doth it profit a man, my brethen, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?"
Petro
Just a couple of thoughts come to mind here, for instance what did Jesus say about faith?
Luke 7:50
Jesus said to the woman,
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Now let's look at Luke 23:39 - 43
39 And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.
40 But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation?
41 And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.
42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.
43 And Jesus said unto him,
Verily I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise.Now I ask you, in both instances, show me where these people were required to show good works in order to be saved? Were they both not saved by their faith?
Let’s now look at Acts 16
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose.
27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.
28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
30He then brought them out and asked,
"Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31They replied,
"Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—Once again, no mention of good works being a requirement to be saved.
Now if we move on to Ephesians 2 we will read:
1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,
5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
8
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
In conclusion, we receive Faith and Salvation through the Grace of God. Our good works are a result of the new life we come to know after we receive this Grace from the Lord. As we see in Ephesians 2:10, we are created anew “in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do”.
So our good works are an outpouring of our faith, prepared in advance for us by God.
Therefore, Salvation, Faith and good works all come from the Grace of God.
Just my humble thoughts,
Durango