Scripture points are shared, today, on why sinners must perform works of faith to exist and mature as Christian believers. Many approaching the Lord continue to speak of, and confuse the sin of Adam and Eve in disobedience and distrust of divinity, “original sin,” and sexual sins (e.g., adultery, fornication, and promiscuity) with works of the flesh (see Galatians 5: 19-21, King James Version, KJV). For continuous and fluid growth within the body of Christ, godly fellowship, regular study to gain sacred knowledge, and communion with GOD through prayer must be combined with uninterrupted sacred practice expressing gratitude, praise, respect, unselfish service, and sanctified worship. To be dead to sin, and alive to GOD is to regularly display the works of salvation, while to be “dead in spirit” is to be physically alive, yet, display no “works of faith” at all. One of the several fighters at “Yahoo! Answers” using the ID “Anonymous” (no profile information appears) posted the following:
For believers in salvation with works plus faith... if we should do things for salvation, why did Jesus die? Just for the original sin?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back. For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth. The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I do this day: the father to the children shall make known thy truth. The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD. (Isaiah 38: 16-20, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Order Your Conversation Aright (07/12/2016); About Other People’s Beliefs (06/22/2016); On Doing Good Deeds (02/02/2016); Repentance and New Life? (12/30/2015); To Give Glory? (11/11/2015); What Is Life? (02/06/2015); The Gift of Life Despised? (10/13/2014); The Life That Endures (10/14/2014)
“Anonymous”, in effect, you have asked, Why are works of faith required from those who are saved? The “works of salvation” appear as the ongoing existence of a new creation from GOD, and the new life from within a sinner through divine rebirth. In the same way our finite lives as men and women upon the earth are made manifest and visible through actions, conditions, and consciousness that are carnal, material and social, eternal life must begin and become increasingly known and visible through operations of divinity appearing as attitudes, behavior and conduct expressing divine love, eternal purpose, godly repentance, praise, reverence, and worship. Saying this another way: just as physical beings must breathe, drink, eat, and eliminate to be “alive”, those that are made alive in Jesus Christ are spiritual beings who participate in and perform the “good works” commanded and ordained by the Father. The works that men carry out upon the earth are a further aspect of revelation whereby divinity is made knowable and known to all created beings and living creatures. Consider again how some of this is stated in language from the Bible:
(1.) Ephesians 2: 8-10, King James Version (KJV): 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(2.) Matthew 5: 14-16, KJV: 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
(3.) Titus 2: 11-14, KJV: 11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 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.
There is far more that to be said, carefully examined, and spiritually understood. (For example, (4.) 1st John 1: 5-9, KJV: 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
Washington, DC
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