Friday, June 23, 2017

SALVATION IS A CONCEPT THAT COULD MEAN MANY DIFFERENT THINGS AND THIS IS EVIDENCED AMONG THE NUMEROUS VIEWS THAT EXIST AMONG THEOLOGIANS, PHILOSOPHERS AND RELIGIONISTS. Among Christians The Idea Of Justification Has Created Confusion Because Of The Ignorance That Persists Regarding What The Bible Really States. One of the reasons people do not understand what ought to be a simple truth is because of disinformation that is purposefully introduced into the theological arena.



The Bible says we are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8), but justified by faith and works ( James 2:24). What is the difference?

Harry Riches

Happy Riches Answer requested by Diane Shatto

Great indeed is the difference between being saved by faith and attempting to be saved by works. But being saved by faith and justified by works are not antithetical to each other. Rather, we have a complimentary expression of one being manifest in the other, similar to an ovum being impregnated by a spermatozoon. The ovum and the spermatozoon no longer exist. Likewise when the word of faith enters the spirit of the human, fruit manifests that originates from faith demonstrated through works.

The concept of salvation as promulgated within the Bible is not one of works, for that would be self-justification. Neither is it a claim that profession of faith justifies. Rather, faith is an active element that manifests itself through actions that verify claims of faith.

In the book of Galatians we read a statement about true faith that enables us to comprehend the difference between a statement of belief and justification by works.
  • For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is of any avail, but faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6)
People, who are intellectually orientated rather than socially orientated, are often unable to grasp that faith working through love is how people are justified by works.

Conversely, those who are justified by works often do not possess the intellectual skills to analyse their actions—but then they are often too busy doing what is required to have the time for contemplating what might be required. (If only I were so adequately endowed.)

Interestingly, Calvin claimed that salvation by works was anathema, yet he signed the death warrant of Michael Servetus, rather than loving his neighbor as himself. The Bible states that he who hates his brother is a murderer, and no murderer has eternal life.
  • Any one who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15)
If a person is exercising faith working through love, then we will know them by their fruit. For it is one thing to provoke a person to be saved, another to be provoked by such animosity that one would lose one’s own hope of salvation by murdering or consenting to the murder of another.

The misconception that causes so many arguments between those who claim that “we are saved by faith alone” and those who state that “one’s work justifies one’s faith “ would cease if all understood “faith working through love” is what is required. While there is no difference between justification and salvation—for God justifies (Romans 8:33)—there is a misconception regarding the views concerning being saved as a gift (Ephesians 2:8) and being saved because of the gift at work (James 2:24). Therefore the difference, in some instances, would be a matter of securing or losing one’s hope of salvation. Those who believe the lie (John 8:44), do not believe they have to produce evidence of salvation—otherwise known as fruit (Matthew 7:16). Evidence of fruit is not something that man alone can produce, it has to be the work of God within.

Without Simple Truths Being Understood People Wander Off The Path Of Salvation

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