"As for you, you were dead in your
transgressions and sins, in which
you used to live when you followed
the ways of this world and the ruler
of the kingdom of the air, the spirit
who is now at work in those who
are disobedient.
All of us also lived among them at
one time, gratifying the cravings of
our sinful nature and following its
desires and thoughts.
Like the rest, we were by nature
objects of wrath.
But because of His great love for us,
God who is rich in mercy, made us
alive with Christ even when we were
dead in transgressions- it is by grace
you have been saved.
And God raised us up with Christ
and seated us with Him in the
heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,
in order that in the coming ages
He might show the incomparable
riches of His grace, expressed in His
kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
For it is by grace you have been saved,
through faith- and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God- not by works,
so that no one can boast.
For we are God's workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us
to do."
Ephesians 2: 1-10
Salvation is never by good works alone. It is by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms. Isn't that wonderful! We are where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. Is there anything more wonderful than this revelation? And so we shine with the righteousness, the holiness and glory of Christ within us. For we are already dead to transgressions and alive in Jesus Christ alone.
I Simply Live - Hillsong
6 comments:
Not Saved by Faith Only
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)
It cannot get any clearer than the verse in James that good works are necessary for Christians to truly have the life that Jesus promises.
Common objections...
James is not speaking of salvation. But notice that the verse immediately preceding refers to Abraham's saving faith...
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. (James 2:23)
The book of James is hard to understand and therefore this verse should be ignored. In fact, Martin Luther wanted to remove this book from the Bible.
But the verse is actually easy to understand for those who accept Catholic teaching.
Shame on those Protestants...interpreting the Bible as their sole authority with preconceived doctrines.
Hi Michael Gormley,
It is unfortunate that you would say that. Actually, Christians (Protestants as you say) do not have preconceived ideas but Catholics do. We follow God's words in the Bible unlike Catholics who ignore God's words in the Bible and even emasculate those words. Exodus 20:4-6 prohibits the worship of icons or statues but Catholics are doing that in clear violation of God's commandment. What's worse is that they omitted that commandment from their cathechism and divided the tenth commandment in two although the Catholic Bible retain the original commandment of God. There are countless other things but they are too many to mention here. Suffice it to say that we base our faith in God's words whereas Catholics base their faith in their church pronouncements and traditions. Anyway, thank for your visit and comments. God bless you always.
Dear Mel,
When discussing Apologetics with non-Catholics, you must do it right from Holy Scripture. When Protestantism was first formed in the 16th century, the reformers lost all Authority which they enjoyed in the Catholic Church.
They therefore turned to the Bible as their 'sole rule of authority'. This is called 'Sola Scriptura', or 'Bible Alone'.
They also could not claim Apostolic Tradition anymore since they could not show Apostolic Succession.
They put Apostolic Tradition in the same category as man made tradition and in so doing condemned all tradition.
Holy Scripture specifically says to keep the traditions with which you have been taught, which are the Apostolic traditions, and to reject man made traditions. Interestingly, the false doctrine of 'Sola Scriptura', is a man made tradition with its origin at the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
Using the reformers very own rules, 'Sola Scriptura' should then be condemned by themselves.
Hi Michael Gormley,
I don't want to go into any more debates or arguments for the Bible says that it is counter productive. I'm sure we both share the same ideals of saving souls so that none should perish. Anyway, I respect the ideals of the Catholic faith for I was once embracing the same belief. Thanks for your visit and comments and God bless you always.
God bless you, Mel!
Hi Michael,
God bless you too.
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