Faith or Works?

Contradiction?? 

So which is it? According to the Bible...

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." {Ephesians 2:8-9}

Then it also says this..

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." {James 2:17}

So? Which is it..

First, there are NO Contradictions in the Bible. No not one. There are misinterpretations, misunderstanding of Scripture, and willful twisting of Scripture. But there are NO Contradictions. Second, they are BOTH correct. It is not either or. Here is where misunderstanding comes in..

First..

"For by grace are ye saved through faith;" you are SAVED by Faith. There is no other way. One has to first believe..

"But 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." {Hebrews 11:6}

If you have heard the Word, God so loved the World, He sent His only Begotten Son, the Gospel, and do not believe that Jesus came to earth and lived the way He did, and Died the way He did, and more importantly, raised from the Dead as He did, then you cannot possibly accept His Sacrifice for you and your Sin. You have to first hear and accept these things on Faith that they are true.

"and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: " You cannot do ANYTHING, or be good enough, to EARN your way to Heaven. It does not matter what you do. It matters what you believe. God gave the Gift of Salvation to ALL that ask Him. It is all inclusive, and very defined. Accept Jesus and live, reject Jesus and die.

"Not of works, lest any man should boast." Not of Religion. It does not matter what Religion you claim. It does not matter if you are a good little Muslim, Jew, Christian, It is not about Religion. It is about a relationship with God through Jesus the Christ. It does not matter what MAN says about anything. It is simply Faith that you are saved by the Grace of God.

Look at Paul's letter to the church in Ephesus

"That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God." {Ephesians 3:17-19}

Now AFTER you are Saved? Then....

"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." {James 2:17}

Go to James 2. Start at verse 14

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 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? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." {James 2:14-17}

What good does saying you have Faith in a Loving, Caring, Saving God, if you have means to Love, Care for, and lead others to Salvation, and yet, you CHOSE to do nothing.. Jesus said this..

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." {Matthew 7:15-20}

When someone looks at you and your Life, can they tell the difference? Seriously. Look in the Mirror, I'm talking to Children of God here, look in the Mirror. DO YOU see any difference in you and the World? Do others? How are you living your life? What Fruit are you Producing??

Back to James 2

"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 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. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." {James 2:18-26}

Even devils know there is a God. Think about that. Satan was there in the beginning. He knows God is there and real. He has seen Him face to face. He was there when the Bible was written. He can quote it Word for Word. Does this make him a good and Saved person? God gives us many examples of Faith in Hebrews 11. Noah building the Ark on a Sunny day, Abraham going out, Sara becoming Pregnant in old age, ETC. I encourage you to check out Hebrews 11.

See, Jesus gave us a way of escaping Sin and death. He gave us Eternal Life. He set us free. However, He also gave us The Great Commission..

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."{Matthew 28:19-20}

See, it really IS simple. Want more? Do more.The Law of giving and receiving is as real, and as constant, as the Law of Gravity. Want more money? Give more. Want more Wisdom, share that of what you know with others. Want more Grace? Give more. Want more Faith? Share more. Want more Blessings in all areas of life? BE a Blessing to others. Jesus told us plainly...

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." {Luke 6:38}

It is not now, nor has it ever been, about YOU. It is ALWAYS about someone else. God Blesses you so that you may Bless others. He fills you up to pour out onto others. He Planted His Seed in you so that you may bring forth a Harvest.

It was NEVER meant for you to believe, "I got mine, I'm good." The Word declare that you died WITH Him. You died with Jesus. Now you have been risen with Him, You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10} It is not about YOU, anymore.

You cannot be Saved without Faith. There is nothing you can do to inherent Eternal Life. However, once you ARE Saved, you must not be content with merely that. Remember, Jesus even warned us that we will be Judged by what we DO....

"And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal." {Matthew 25:23-45}

Be careful Child of God, that not only to you BELIEVE and accept your Salvation, but that you also have Works to show for your Faith. Be the Good Tree. Be the Child of God you are. Once you are truly Saved, you should have a DESIRE to do good Works. Now go forth and do them..

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray..

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature.

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be Blessed, be a Blessing, and Jesus IS Lord..