Salvation by "works" comes from pagan doctrines--by request! (page 2)

This blatantly goes against the very Bible they claim to be going by. All anyone has to do is look up the Born Again's favorite scripture at Ephesians 2:8 and 9 to see this.

JosephMalik

Salvation by "works" comes from pagan doctrines--by request!

To All,

Pagan doctrines or Christian facts, what really is going on here? This term "works" is a misunderstanding of what was really conveyed in some NT texts. And for this we need some background. Does it mean what the WT is doing? No! Does it mean that we work our way to salvation? No, not really! There is also a matter of motive involved which can hide what kind of person we really are. So what am I trying to say? "Works" in many texts is shorthand for Law which was now abolished as a means of salvation. But since many Christians were still keeping this Law as an essential part of it and many others like the WT are still making Laws for this purpose as if they are essential we learn this:

Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Ro 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

And there are many such texts, some more subtle than this that refer to the Law and not to the normal things we do for the Faith that can also be identified as works. We must be careful no to confuse them and understand what they really mean.

So we also have: Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

And James who at one time supported this Law now uses this word another way to show that what we do with our lives does matter. Works of Faith are a natural and necessary part of every true believer.

And of course there are other uses of this simple word as well so we must pay careful attention to the texts to prevent the confusion that comes from pagan doctrines.

In the end when all the smoke clears, for Christians and non-Christians alike, what our Lord will be looking for when He returns is decent human beings worthy of populating His Kingdom here on earth and filling it to capacity as originally intended. Some by means of the resurrection or being changed will qualify as teachers (priests) while others will need to be taught at that time. So what we all do now, call it works or something else will matter then when our record is examined by Him at that time.

Joseph

Dogpatch

Thanks to Atlantis for all his hard work. Aside from helping answer some of my mail, as you see he does way MORE than that on his own and has for some years. Real great person, too, be good to him and he will bless your day. He's a Christian and a sweet friend.

Randy

Atlantis

WTWizard:

Yes, the NWT states at Ephesians 2: 8-9, "By this undeserved kindness, indeed, you have been saved through faith; and this not owing to you, it is God's gift (9) No, it is not owing to works, in order that no man should have ground for boasting."

All of us do "good works" every day because we have a desire to do them, not because we are "forced" or "threatened" to do them. There is a difference! How many JW's go to meetings and really don't want to be there? But, they know if they do not perform this "work" by attending meetings, or by going in field service, then sooner or later, they will face the consequences for their absence!

JosephMalik:

Dogpatch:

Thank you all!

N.

Solace1998

this is the argument

A=B

definition of B

(nothing to do with A)

B=A

fail

Salvation by "works" comes from pagan doctrines--by request!

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