Do NOT be deceived by this!
First, the one true ‘religion’ that the bible is talking about ‘saves!’
James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look afterorphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Guess what, this has been the mission and the workings of the Church now for 2,000 years! As you can see, there is a ‘religion’ than can truly saves us and even God the Father accepts this as pure and faultless.
Religion is the means by which Christ established and by which He saves us. Religion is the means by which fallen humanity can come in contact with the infinite.
Second, to say that ‘good works’ are not necessary for salvation is a ridiculous thing to say and goes contrary to what the bible teaches! This is the belief of the ‘faith alone’ believers (sola fidei). Believing that faith alone saves them and that good works or works are not necessary for salvation. This is problematic in a lot of angles because it cannot support its own. The early church fathers doesn’t support it, the bible does not support it. Hence, even the devil has faith and believes but where is he at now?
James 2:19 – “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
If we say that good works are not necessary, then Jesus Christ would have been just wasted his time and effort establishing his Church and preaching the things that we ought ‘do’ to attain eternal salvation.
It is easy to say, “Yes, I have great faith in you Lord, and I love you,” but then, you can’t even see it’s fruits in his actions, then where’s your faith? A faith without works is dead!
James 2:1 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,but only the one who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
It’s clear! After all, you have to do something in order for you to attain eternal salvation. The word ‘does’ is something we ‘do,’ right?
What about the scene on the final judgement? Isn’t it that, we, all of us, were judged according to what we have done? So, if you were not ‘good’ when you were still on earth then you would end up in hell, right? But if you did ‘good’ (hence, good works!) Then, you would end up in heaven, ain’t it?
Revelations 20:13 – “The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.”
My conclusion to this, I say, too much sugar coating of spiritual stuffs is dangerous to your soul!
First, the one true ‘religion’ that the bible is talking about ‘saves!’
James 1:27 – “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look afterorphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
Guess what, this has been the mission and the workings of the Church now for 2,000 years! As you can see, there is a ‘religion’ than can truly saves us and even God the Father accepts this as pure and faultless.
Religion is the means by which Christ established and by which He saves us. Religion is the means by which fallen humanity can come in contact with the infinite.
Second, to say that ‘good works’ are not necessary for salvation is a ridiculous thing to say and goes contrary to what the bible teaches! This is the belief of the ‘faith alone’ believers (sola fidei). Believing that faith alone saves them and that good works or works are not necessary for salvation. This is problematic in a lot of angles because it cannot support its own. The early church fathers doesn’t support it, the bible does not support it. Hence, even the devil has faith and believes but where is he at now?
James 2:19 – “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”
If we say that good works are not necessary, then Jesus Christ would have been just wasted his time and effort establishing his Church and preaching the things that we ought ‘do’ to attain eternal salvation.
It is easy to say, “Yes, I have great faith in you Lord, and I love you,” but then, you can’t even see it’s fruits in his actions, then where’s your faith? A faith without works is dead!
James 2:1 – “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Matthew 7:21 – “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,but only the one who DOES the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
It’s clear! After all, you have to do something in order for you to attain eternal salvation. The word ‘does’ is something we ‘do,’ right?
What about the scene on the final judgement? Isn’t it that, we, all of us, were judged according to what we have done? So, if you were not ‘good’ when you were still on earth then you would end up in hell, right? But if you did ‘good’ (hence, good works!) Then, you would end up in heaven, ain’t it?
Revelations 20:13 – “The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds.”
My conclusion to this, I say, too much sugar coating of spiritual stuffs is dangerous to your soul!