stevep@cadence.com (Steve Peterson) (12/06/90)
Twice in the last two days, I have seen mail from persons who make the following charge: |Therefore,...why do the JW's tell people they have to do a specific set of |good works... I hope that this will add some prospective to the topic...... Actually, we don't. We realize that salvation comes through Faith. Does this mean that I can proclaim that "I have Faith" and then be living my life as one who does not have faith? No, of course not. If I have true faith, then this will reflect itself in my personal life. I will do my best to stop doing what God hates, and I will also do my best to do what God likes. For example, I would do my best to not commit fornication, while at the same time do my best to kind, generous, and be loving to my neighbor. We whole heartedly believe that Salvation comes through faith, but "Faith without works is dead." Some people though, say "My Salvation is due to my faith, therefore Works are unimportant." True, Salvation is due to faith, but do you think this person will be saved if they *purposely* do what God hates, or *purposely* don't do what God wants them to do, even after they know what is right/wrong in God's sight? Of course, the decision is really up to God but, What is your opinion? Best Regards...... Steve Peterson ---- stevep@cadence.com or ...!uunet!cadence!stevep
gross@dg-rtp.dg.com (Gene Gross) (12/13/90)
Again, I want to reiterate, Steve, that the faith is not of ourselves. It is a gift from God (Eph. 2:8). I do not disagree that after salvation comes works. However, let's be careful about walking a legalistic line here. God forbid that we should make a new Law out of the Gospel. For the moment, let's take a side trip and examine salvation. The Hebrew and Greek words for "salvation" imply the ideas of deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, and soundness. Salvation is the great inclusive word of the Gospel, gathering together all the redemptive acts and processes: such as justification, redemption, grace, propitiation, imputation, forgiveness, sanctification, and glorification. Salvation is spoken of in three tenses: 1. The Christian has been saved (implying a current possession) from the guilt and penalty of sin (Luke 7:50; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15; Eph. 2:5, 8; 2 Tim. 1:9) and is safe. 2. The Christian is being saved (a working out of that which we already possess) from the habit and dominion of sin (Rom. 6:14; 8:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 2:19, 20; Phil. 1:19; 2:12, 13; 2 Thess. 2:13). 3. The Christian will be saved (the blessed hope of that which we possess) at the Lord's return, from all the bodily infirmities that are the result of sin and God's curse upon the sinful world (Rom. 8:18-23; 1 Cor. 15:42-44), and brought into entire conformity to Christ (Rom. 13:11; Heb. 10:36; 1 Pet. 1:5; 1 John 3:2). As I said in an earlier posting, salvation is by grace through faith, is a free gift and wholly without works (Rom. 3:27, 28; 4:1-8; 6:23; Eph 2:8). The divine order is: first salvation, then works (Eph. 2:9, 10; Titus 3:5-8). Gene