Good Works Poll Question

[nChrist]

I'll ask the moderators not to participate until 11-15.

Please list your reasons and any Scriptures that apply. There's a lot of confusion on this subject, so this is a good question to discuss.

[HisDaughter]

I voted on this last night but I will have to get to the why's  and wherefore's tonight after work. 

In Christ,
Grammyluv

[Littleboy]

Yes,
IF your talking about the WORKS of Faith and NOT the Works of the Law?
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.

17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness  come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Ephesians 2:
8 For by grace  are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God[/color]:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

James 2:
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

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?

17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

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.

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Hebrews 11
1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2For by it the elders obtained a good report.

  3Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

  4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

7By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

   12Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

   13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

   14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

   15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

   16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

   17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

   18Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

   19Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

   20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

   21By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

   22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

   23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

   24By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

   25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

   26Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

   27By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

   28Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

   29By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

   30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

   31By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

   32And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

   33Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

   34Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

   35Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

   36And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

   37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

   38(Of whom the world was not worthy they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

   39And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

   40God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

The way you put the poll, You've left it to the Imagination, And if someone was'nt well versed on what the Bible says, IT might cause some Confusion?
Both answer are correct, "Faith or Works"

[CALH]

James 2:14-17 (New King James Version)
   
14: What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Read through verse 26. Basically, I think we are in error if we see it as an either/or question. It'ds both/and. Faith and works go together. You can have one without the other and expect salvation!

[HisDaughter]

John 3:16

That's it folks.  That's all there is to it.
Of course there are good works to be done.  We should have a servant's attitude, and should strive to be as like Christ as we can in all that say think and do.  But that has nothing to do with our "salvation".  Salvation is a free love gift from the God.

[Jon-Marc]

No, we are not capable of living a perfect life from birth until death, which is what it would take for anyone to earn his way into heaven. That is why Jesus had to die for our sins on the cross, because we aren't capable of getting ourselves there.

Eph. 2:8,9 says, "For by grace are ye save through faith, and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." For our works to help get us into heaven or to keep our salvation is to say that Jesus' death and resurrection weren't enough to save us, and that the hand of God is not strong enough to keep us. I don't know about any of you, but I serve an OMNIPOTENT, loving,  and merciful God. He has the power to save us and to keep us saved without our puny help. He is forgiving when we sin as a Christian, and He will NOT take away what He has given us. Jesus said that of all those that His Father had given Him, He has lost NONE!

[HisDaughter]

No, we are not capable of living a perfect life from birth until death, which is what it would take for anyone to earn his way into heaven. That is why Jesus had to die for our sins on the cross, because we aren't capable of getting ourselves there.

Eph. 2:8,9 says, "For by grace are ye save through faith, and that not of yourself. It is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast." For our works to help get us into heaven or to keep our salvation is to say that Jesus' death and resurrection weren't enough to save us, and that the hand of God is not strong enough to keep us. I don't know about any of you, but I serve an OMNIPOTENT, loving,  and merciful God. He has the power to save us and to keep us saved without our puny help. He is forgiving when we sin as a Christian, and He will NOT take away what He has given us. Jesus said that of all those that His Father had given Him, He has lost NONE!

Amen Brother Jon-Marc! 

[Littleboy]

Hi
I don't know about anyone else?
But, when i found Jesus, God Adopted me as HIS SON, and I am not called a Servant any Longer by HIM...
James 1:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

15Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

SO Evil (LUST) can't Conceive and bring forth sin if you don't let it manafest in you and if you do that NO sin has been commited Right?
How i see this Is, at the end of the 14th verse is at the point of being enticed? right?
So if you dont let the beginning of the 15th verse take place "Lust being Conceived" you have stopped before it became a Sin? Right?
I hope someone can see what i'm saying by this?
YLBD

[HisDaughter]

I don't know about anyone else?
But, when i found Jesus, God Adopted me as HIS SON, and I am not called a Servant any Longer by HIM...

Anyone else want to take a shot at this? 
I think I need to lie down.

[Littleboy]

Sorry for being such a Hardhead about this...
YLBD
P.S
Good Night & may God give you a nice night of rest,
If he don't call for us by Morning I'll Type to ya tomorrow Sis,
God Willing of course?

[HisDaughter]

Matt 20:26  Not so with you.  Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave --just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

Gal 5:13  You, my brothers, were called to be free.  But do not use your feedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love

Eph 6:7  Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men

1 Peter 4:10  Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.

Luke 22:27  For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?  Is it not the one who is at the table?  But I am among you as one who serves.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

By being a servent and serving others we are also being a servent and serving Christ.

Good night LittleBoy and you sleep well too. 

[HisDaughter]

Sis,

I'm the oldest with 3 younger brothers.  This is what they called me and still do.  I like it. 

[HisDaughter]

Every morning I get up and I can hardly wait to see what someone has posted on these polls and I am disappointed.  Of over 3,000 members there are only 4? 5? of us willing to jump up.

I am sure there are other ministers on here that are not moderators.  PK's?  Ladies?  Do you not have an opinion or a BELIEF?  This is the problem with the church today.  Everyone is happy to sit on the side lines and watch.
Say something.  Right or wrong.  That is how we learn folks.  Step out and say what is on your mind.  Tell me I'm an old bitty for writing this.  Anything!

I can tell that there are other people out there by the number of times these threads have been read.  I also know it's not just the people posting... just to read what we've already written.

Come on!  I double dog dare ya!

In Christ,
Grammyluv 

[Littleboy]

Hi Sis,
I know the Greatest among us are to serve others..Yes, we are servants of god in that sense....
I'm the oldest also in my family too..
YLBD

[Littleboy]

You've all read when paul talked about us being in a race?
And that no one enters a race to finish last, Well i took that to Heart when i was a littleboy,
and i've ran with that notion on my mind all my life as far back as i can remember
and i've watched alot of people just walking as some do in races...

I always look at church. Like a gas station you go their to get Filled up, then during the week you pass people up that are out of gas(spiritually), you syphon alittle fuel(Gods Words) out for them so that they can make it to the Gas Station(church) and so on and so forth...
If we all would syphon alittle fuel(Gods Word) for those that are sitting on the side of the road broke down,
we would have alot more people driving around on FULL!
YLBD