Ask Me Help Desk - If "Faith without works is dead" What do you consider works?

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Originally Posted by Moparbyfar

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Originally Posted by LifePaparazzi

it surprises me when people get mad about others speading the good news. (I.E. Jehovah's Witnesses) Why get upset when we know that these people are doing Christian Works?

Don't be too surprised because Jesus said "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you." (John 15:18,19 compare 1 Pet 4:3,4):)

Hate? Maybe, but the Witnesses have certainly done a great job in adding new members to their church. They have a plan and a system and energy that could work for other church bodies if those bodies dare try -- going two-by-two to people's homes and distributing their literature and preaching their faith, then, when someone has agreed to learn more, the Witnesses assign a member to conduct a Bible study at the person's home once a week. Name another church body or religion that is that resourceful and courageous!

Ephesians 2:

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus TO DO GOOD WORKS, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

John 15:5

5"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

So, because God loves, forgives, blesses me; I should love, forgive, bless others.

Thank you all for your input on this question.

John 6:29
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
(KJV)

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Originally Posted by readnow1978

i am a muslim i believe in the oneness of Almighty God and i believe in all his mighty prophets including, Adam, Noah Abraham, Joseph Jacob, Moses David Solomen, Job, Jesus and the last prophet Muhammed, peace be upon them all, THIS LIFE IS A TEST WE HAVE TO LIVE IT BY THE COMMANDS OF alMIGHTY God, we as muslims believ that faith without good deeds is fruitless and good deeds without faith is rootless, we belive in the last revelation of Almighty G

Can you stop spamming this site please? Thank you.

I am a muslim I believe in the oneness of Almighty God and I believe in all his mighty prophets including, Adam, Noah Abraham, Joseph Jacob, Moses David Solomen, Job, Jesus and the last prophet Muhammed, peace be upon them all, THIS LIFE IS A TEST WE HAVE TO LIVE IT BY THE COMMANDS OF alMIGHTY God, we as muslims believe that faith without good deeds is fruitless and good deeds without faith is rootless, we believe in the last revelation of Almighty God, the holy Quran, in which GOD tells us that he gave jesus the gospel and moses the torah and david the psalms, however these have all been changed with time, whereas God says Himself in the quran, that He will safeguard this book and it remains unchanged after 1400 years, read it and follow it, follow the religion of all the prophets and save yourselves and your families from the fire of hell, any questions

Readnow, you have pasted that same answer multiple times. Please do not do that. If you have something constructive to add, however, you are welcome.

The "works" in which James is referring to is living a Christian life and all that it entails. It is living a changed and godly life.

Here is a great explanation: Justified by Faith or Works? Justification, sanctification, salvation, redemption

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Originally Posted by LifePaparazzi

We have all heard the biblical quote of "Faith without works is dead". So, what then exactly are these works?

They are works of faith.

James 1 27 Religion clean and undefiled before God and the Father, is this: to visit the fatherless and widows in their tribulation: and to keep one's self unspotted from this world.

Matthew 25 34 Then shall the king say to them that shall be on his right hand: Come, ye blessed of my Father, possess you the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in:

Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God. But simply saying you have faith without putting that faith into practice is not enough. The book of St. James is very clear.

James 2 18 But some man will say: Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without works; and I will show thee, by works, my faith.

And St. Paul agrees:

Hebrews 11 6 But without faith it is impossible to please God. For he that cometh to God, must believe that he is, and is a rewarder to them that seek him. 7 By faith Noe, having received an answer concerning those things which as yet were not seen, moved with fear, framed the ark for the saving of his house, by the which he condemned the world; and was instituted heir of the justice which is by faith. 8 By faith he that is called Abraham, obeyed to go out into a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he abode in the land, dwelling in cottages, with Isaac and Jacob, the co-heirs of the same promise.

James 2 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar?

Do you see the logic of St. Paul and St. James? Do you see how, by faith we work? Therefore you can't separate faith and works. Because it is by works that we express our faith.

Matthew 7 21 Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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Many people say that simply beign a good Christian and regularly gong to church are works. But how can that be works? How can sitting in church each week and being a good person be considered works? :confused:

Have you ever sat through a boring sermon that you feel has nothing that you can apply to your life? Have you ever gone to Church when you could be playing basketball or watching the football games at Church? That's work. That is tedious work.

But loving God entails the same type of sacrifice as loving anyone else. Love is the greatest cross we have to bear. How many times has your brother or sister, son or daughter said, "Can I get on the computer now?" when you're in the middle of a great conversation? But because you love them, you give up a little bit of your pleasure, a littlbe bit of your life to please them.

How many times has your wife or husband said, "Would you cook breakfast this morning?" But you have other plans which because you love them, you set your plans aside, give up a little bit of your life to love them.

It is the same with God. If we aren't willing to give up at least one day a week to show your love to God, if we aren't willing to sacrifice one little part of our life for God the first day of the week, the first fruits of our week, a little part of our life for God, can we really say that we love Him?

Romans 8 17 And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.

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Your feedback please :cool:

I hope that helps.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Like I said earlier........................

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Originally Posted by Wondergirl

Works are not done to earn God's favor or to get us into heaven. Works are thank yous to God for sending His Son Jesus to redeem us. We are blessed by God to be a blessing to others.

Now, how does one say thank you to God, i.e., how does one be a blessing to others?

I'm from Earth and I 'see' it the way it 'says' it. It doesn't say "good works." It's not referring to "good works" or the "works of the law." The 'Works' it is referring to is purely 'action.' The act of faith. Jesus was asked a question one day, "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. The work of faith for salvation is to believe on Christ. Abraham's action showed belief on Christ. At the offering of Isaac, God preached to Abraham the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Whether a person has "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. The work of faith for salvation is to believe on Christ. Abraham's action showed belief on Christ. At the offering of Isaac, God preached to Abraham the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
Whether a person has " or not, doesn't show me if they are saved. How much good works would you have to see? The way I see if you're saved is if you're resting in Christ. That is an action or work of faith.
The passage isn't primarily about salvation. It's about faith. Faith for Salvation is used as an example. Faith isn't believing everything will be OK. Faith is believing what God says in His Word. But just knowing it doesn't do us much good. We need to do what God says. For example, if you have faith in prayer. It doesn't do you any good unless you ask. "Ask and it shall be given you." or not, doesn't show me if they are saved. How much good works would you have to see? The way I see if you're saved is if you're resting in Christ. That is an action or work of faith.
The passage isn't primarily about salvation. It's about faith. Faith for Salvation is used as an example. Faith isn't believing everything will be OK. Faith is believing what God says in His Word. But just knowing it doesn't do us much good. We need to do what God says. For example, if you have faith in prayer. It doesn't do you any good unless you ask. "The rod and reproof give wisdom... " You can have faith in what the bible says about rearing children. "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." It doesn't do you any good unless you use the rod on your children. By the way if you don't believe this, then you don't have faith because that's what it says. You can have faith in what the bible says about finances. "Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband." If you don't save any money, your faith is dead. You can have faith in what the bible says about marriage. "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED"
But if you don't TRUST CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOUR then you won't be saved.