Works
Works or Faith
Are we saved by works or faith? Should we ask Paul or James? Should we first define terms like works, faith, law and even saved?
We are saved by true faith.
How do you know you have living faith?
Just because some one says Lord, Lord or that they have faith does not make it so. Christ is very specific that you have to be a doer of the word.Cite error: Closing </ref> missing for <ref> tag but they will just be fooling themselves according to Jesus who will tell them he does not even know them. He will tell them to depart from him because of what they have een doing which will be counted as workers of iniquity.[1]
Many will think they are believers James was adamant:
- "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone... But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?... For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:17-26
If there are no works nor righteousness or if you are doing contrary to the doctrines of Christ that is very strong evidence you do not have real faith. Yes, no one is righteous and real faith is counted as righteousness.[2] Fake faith saves no one.
In truth many are under a strong delusion that they have faith when they do not.
Many clearly think they have faith and works but must have been deceived, at least self-deceived because of their works of iniquity like the covetous practices of those who become merchandise, return to the bondage of Egypt, and curse their children with debt. And then there is the whole Matthew 25:34-46. Those helping the brethren are in even though they did not know why until they were told and those not helping the brethren are out.
There are those who might try to get you to think that the commandments were done away with but that is not what Paul was saying. It was the ritual performance of the rules and interpretations of the Pharisees Their hand written ordinances and certainly their Corban that the followers of Christ were no longer bound by. but the Commandments were just as valid for Paul as it was for Christ and Moses.
Good works
In the Old Testament we see the phrase "good works" once although it is from the Hebrew word טוֹב towb [tobe][3] from 02895 which appears in a variety of forms almost 600 times.
Nehemiah 2:18 Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king’s words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
In the New Testament we see the Greek words kalos[4] ergon[5] [καλός ἔργον] translated "good works".
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 26:10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.
Mark 14:6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
John 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Acts 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
Romans 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Philippians 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Colossians 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
1 Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
1 Timothy 3:1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
1 Timothy 5:10 Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.
1 Timothy 5:25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.
1 Timothy 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
2 Timothy 2:21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.
2 Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Titus 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,
Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Titus 3:14 And let ours also learn to maintain good works for necessary uses, that they be not unfruitful.
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 3:13 Who [is] a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good <2570> conversation [6] his works <2041> with meekness of wisdom.
1 Peter 2:12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Works of the Law
Understanding the practical application of the laws and statutes of the Old Testament, its altars of clay and stone, the function of the priests and the sacrifices they received takes much of the superstitious applications and applies a new light to the workings of their society and what it took to be a free people. It also gives us a clear perspective of the early Church and phrases like Pure Religion and the perfect law of liberty.
- "And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, and in the law, and in the commandments, to seek his God, he did [it] with all his heart, and prospered." 2 Chronicles 31:21
It is clear by this statement in Chronicles that there are different kinds of works:
- works of service
- works of the law
- works of the commandments
All may be done in hope that we may prosper.They may be done with all your heart or what we might call halfheartedly which of course would produce a different result.
There is also works:
- works of love and
- works of faith
The word work here is from the Hebrew word ma'aseh[7] which s from the root word to do.
In Psalms 119:126 we see David talking about people who made void the law "[It is] time for [thee], LORD, to work: [for] they have made void thy law." and in the very next verses David talks about his "love" for the law[8] and how he holds the precepts of what was right in God's eyes in high "esteem". [9]
He is talking about a righteous way and a false way that evidently is not righteous. The word we see as false is from the Hebrew word sheqer[10] meaning to lie. Seeing the truth about ourselves, why we do what we do, what is righteous and unrighteous is critical in the scheme of things. A lie is imply something less than the whole truth, it is missing some aspect of the truth. Jesus was "the way, the truth, and the life". [11] Christianity was called The Way and we were instructed by Jesus to seek the righteous way of God which s the whole truth. We are to eek it with our whole heart mind and soul.[12]
The word law here is the word torah[13] and has been about righteousness from the beginning. The Ten Commandments are guideposts of the law telling us when we are off the path or way of righteousness.
David goes on to say that this love for the law and hating the way of evil is why he is able to keep the law.[14] This keeping of the law is not just done in fact nor by his own will but because he loves the law his very soul is able to keep the law and if he does not keep the law his deeds give evidence that he does not truly love the law of God.
Jesus talked about those who did not commit adultery and therefore obeyed the letter of the law but in truth they committed adultery because they lusted in their hearts.[15] And he talked about men and women committing adultery by divorcing simply because they chose to not forgive and love one another trying to use their incompatible differences as an excuse to abandon their vows before God.[16]
The law was given to give life, that our days be long upon the land and so that we would know the ways of righteousness and also know when we departed from that righteous way. It was to aid us in finding our way to repentance and back to the tree of life and the Holy Spirit of God. But it has to be written on our hearts and minds by God and is when we truly love Him. It is clear by the teachings of Jesus and even the Old Testament that if you only commit adultery in your heart but break no law with your actions you are corrupting your soul and your own life.
- "[But] whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth it destroyeth[17] his own soul[18]." Proverbs 6:32
If you looked up all references in the Bible to adultery you would find that most of the time they are talking about national adultery and not merely sexual adultery as a violation of the covenant of marriage or the contract to marry.
This is a part of the metaphor use of terms like Bridegroom and Bride used in reference to His Church and its ministers who are supposed to be in the world but not Of the world.
In Jeremiah[19] the prophets write about the adultery of the nations of Israel and Judah after they rejected God and elected to have a man and his ministers rule over them as the leader of their country and commander in chief of a standing army.
That choice of the people was a rejection of God and an election of a man to rule over their nation. The following of that path lead to a series of choices that backslid the people away from the ways of God. Those leaders who exercised authority one over the other would act foolishly and even lead them to assume the role of gods. This all came about because of what was in the hearts of the people despite the warnings against it by Samuel.[20] These choices of the people who no longer loved the way of God ended up corrupting the people and dividing the nation in a series of civil wars that weakened the whole nation so that they went into captivity.
Foreigners would rule over them[21] and their altars that had once blessed the nation by the freewill offerings of the people became institutions of corruption. Their sacrifices were making the word of God to none effect like the Corban of the Pharisees because they were compelled by foolishness of their leaders and the covetousness of the people.
There sacrifices were not bloody because they killed sheep but because their rulers forced the sacrifices of the people in social welfare schemes that made the word of God to none effect[22] like the Corban of the Pharisees. This was the foolishness of Saul that caused his kingdom to fail as it does with every people who choose to covet their neighbor's goods through the authority of men who may call themselves Benefactors but force the sacrifices of the people.
A nation who will not care for their needy in Pure Religion will not remain free.
They had forsaken the ways of God though they still professed Moses and God as their God.[23] Modern Christians have followed this same way and their twisted Theology is merely a tool of self justification.
- “For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD: therefore they shall not prosper, and all their flocks shall be scattered.” Jeremiah 10:21
The Freewill offerings of the Tithing of the people kept them free and in the Grace of God but because of their covetous hearts that did not truly love God they took up another way and went into bondage.
- “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:1
When Jesus came he made it clear that the Pharisees were making the Word of God to none effect by their system of Corban. Evidently they did not love the law or hold the law of love in high esteem.
He announced that he would take the kingdom from them and appoint it to His little flock, which he did. The reason was clearly, in part, their corban was not producing the fruit in society that comes from a system of faith, hope and charity.
- "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death." Romans 7:5
Without a daily ministration of welfare provided by faith but the force of the law imposed by the Pharisees and Herod through their Corban makes the word of God to none effect so that the people stumble.
- "Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;: Romans 9:32
The people not only become divided but are degenerate by a curse of their covetous practices into perfect savages seeking again a ruler to be their benefactors and make them "safe and secure".
- "For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." Galatians 3:10
If they provided that welfare through Pure Religion and the perfect law of liberty as prescribed by Moses, John the Baptist, Jesus and all the prophets you will go the way of Balaam and the Nicolaitans which God hates.
- "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10
The faith, hope and charity of the early Church caring for one another locally and providing relief and aid internationally functioned without the corruption found in the Imperial Cult of Rome which operated like the Corban of the Pharisees through force, fear, and fealty.
- "Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10
Once we understand that the works of the law meant the works of force used by the benefactors who exercise authority one over the other like Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Caesar and the Pharisees at that time we can see Paul is making a distinction between faith or fealty to the fathers of the earth, charity or force of benefactors who exercise authority one over the other, and hope or the force required with entitlements which are the wages of unrighteousness.
- "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:16
From the beginning the choice has always been between the ways of Cain, Nimrod, Pharaoh, Caesar and the Pharisees or The Way of Abraham, Moses, John the Baptist, and Jesus.
- "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." James 1:25
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Footnotes
- ↑ Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all [ye] workers of iniquity.
- ↑ Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
- ↑ 02896 טוֹב TetVavBeit towb from the verb [tobe] 02895; adj/n m/ n f; [BDB-373b, BDB-375a, BDB-375b] [{See TWOT on 793 @@ "793a" }] AV-good 361, better 72, well 20, goodness 16, goodly 9, best 8, merry 7, fair 7, prosperity 6, precious 4, fine 3, wealth 3, beautiful 2, fairer 2, favour 2, glad 2, misc 35; 559
- adj
- 1) good, pleasant, agreeable
- 1a) pleasant, agreeable (to the senses)
- 1b) pleasant (to the higher nature)
- 1c) good, excellent (of its kind)
- 1d) good, rich, valuable in estimation
- 1e) good, appropriate, becoming
- 1f) better (comparative)
- 1g) glad, happy, prosperous (of man’s sensuous nature)
- 1h) good understanding (of man’s intellectual nature)
- 1i) good, kind, benign
- 1j) good, right (ethical)
- n m
- 2) a good thing, benefit, welfare
- 2a) welfare , prosperity, happiness
- 2b) good things (collective)
- 2c) good, benefit
- 2d) moral good
- n f
- 3) welfare, benefit, good things
- 3a) welfare , prosperity, happiness
- 3b) good things (collective)
- 3c) bounty
- ט Tet Introversion - The Concealed power of good or paradoxically evil [to twist a snake... wheel To surround (gestation)] (Numeric value: 9)
- ו Vav Connection, Connecting realms and worlds or the dividing veil between them. [nail... And, Add, secure, hook] (Numeric value: 6)
- ב Beit Purpose: God's Dwelling Place Below - a house or God's house here. [household, in, into] (Numeric value: 2)
- ↑ 2570 καλός kalos [kal-os’] of uncertain affinity; adj; TDNT-3:536,402; [{See TDNT 353 }] AV-good 83, better 7, honest 5, meet 2, goodly 2, misc 3; 102
- 1) beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable
- 1a) beautiful to look at, shapely, magnificent
- 1b) good, excellent in its nature and characteristics, and therefore well adapted to its ends
- 1b1) genuine, approved
- 1b2) precious
- 1b3) joined to names of men designated by their office, competent, able, such as one ought to be
- 1b4) praiseworthy, noble
- 1c) beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life, and hence praiseworthy
- 1c1) morally good, noble
- 1d) honourable, conferring honour
- 1e) affecting the mind agreeably, comforting and confirming
- 1) beautiful, handsome, excellent, eminent, choice, surpassing, precious, useful, suitable, commendable, admirable
- ↑ 2041 ~ἔργον~ ergon \@er’-gon\@ from a primary (but obsolete) ergo (to work); TDNT-2:635,251; {See TDNT 254} n n AV-work 152, deed 22, doing 1, labour 1; 176
- 1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
- 1a) that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
- 2) any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
- 3) an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
- 1) business, employment, that which any one is occupied
- ↑ 391 ~ἀναστροφή~ anastrophe \@an-as-trof-ay’\@ from 390; TDNT-7:715,1093; {See TDNT 752} n f AV-conversation 13; 13
- 1) manner of life, conduct, behaviour, deportment
- ↑ 04639 ^השׂעמ^ ma‘aseh \@mah-as-eh’\@ from 06213; n m; AV-work 189, needlework + 07551 5, acts 4, labour 4, doing 4, art 3, deed 3, misc 23; 235
- 1) deed, work
- 1a) deed, thing done, act
- 1b) work, labour
- 1c) business, pursuit
- 1d) undertaking, enterprise
- 1e) achievement
- 1f) deeds, works (of deliverance and judgment)
- 1g) work, thing made
- 1h) work (of God)
- 1i) product
- 1) deed, work
- ↑ Psalms 119:127 "Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."
- ↑ Psalms 119:128 "Therefore I esteem all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right; [and] I hate every false way."
- ↑ 08267 ^רקשׁ^ sheqer \@sheh’- ker\@ from 08266; n m; AV-lie 28, lying 21, false 20, falsehood 13, falsely 13, vain 5, wrongfully 4, deceitful 2, deceit 1, liar 1, misc 5; 113
- 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
- 1a) deception (what deceives or disappoints or betrays one)
- 1b) deceit, fraud, wrong
- 1b1) fraudulently, wrongfully (as adverb)
- 1c) falsehood (injurious in testimony)
- 1c1) testify falsehood, false oath, swear falsely
- 1d) falsity (of false or self-deceived prophets)
- 1e) lie, falsehood (in general)
- 1e1) false tongue
- 1f) in vain
- 1) lie, deception, disappointment, falsehood
- ↑ John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
- ↑ Mt 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
- Mr 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
- Lu 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
- ↑ 08451 ^הרות^ towrah \@to-raw’\@ or ^הרת^ torah \@to-raw’\@ from 03384; n f; AV-law 219; 219
- 1) law, direction, instruct
- 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
- 1a1) body of prophetic teaching
- 1a2) instruction in Messianic age
- 1a3) body of priestly direction or instruction
- 1a4) body of legal directives
- 1b) law
- 1b1) law of the burnt offering
- 1b2) of special law, codes of law
- 1c) custom, manner
- 1d) the Deuteronomic or Mosaic Law
- 1a) instruction, direction (human or divine)
- 1) law, direction, instruct
- ↑ Psalms 119:129 "Thy testimonies [are] wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them."
- ↑ Matthew 5:28 "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
- ↑ : Matthew 5:32 "But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery."
- Matthew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery."
- Mark 10:11 "And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her."
- Mark 10:12 "And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery."
- Luke 16:18 "Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery."
- ↑ 07843 ^תחשׁ^ shachath \@shaw-khath’\@ a primitive root; v; AV-destroy 96, corrupt 22, mar 7, destroyer 3, corrupters 2, waster 2, spoilers 2, battered 1, corruptly 1, misc 11; 147
- 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay
- 1a) (Niphal) to be marred, be spoiled, be corrupted, be corrupt, be injured, be ruined, be rotted
- 1b) (Piel)
- 1b1) to spoil, ruin
- 1b2) to pervert, corrupt, deal corruptly (morally)
- 1c) (Hiphil)
- 1c1) to spoil, ruin, destroy
- 1c2) to pervert, corrupt (morally)
- 1c3) destroyer (participle)
- 1d) (Hophal) spoiled, ruined (participle)
- 1) to destroy, corrupt, go to ruin, decay
- ↑ 05315 ^שׁפנ^ nephesh \@neh’- fesh\@ from 05314; n f; AV-soul 475, life 117, person 29, mind 15, heart 15, creature 9, body 8, himself 8, yourselves 6, dead 5, will 4, desire 4, man 3, themselves 3, any 3, appetite 2, misc 47; 753
- 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
- 1a) that which breathes, the breathing substance or being, soul, the inner being of man
- 1b) living being
- 1c) living being (with life in the blood)
- 1d) the man himself, self, person or individual
- 1e) seat of the appetites
- 1f) seat of emotions and passions
- 1g) activity of mind
- 1g1) dubious
- 1h) activity of the will
- 1h1) dubious
- 1i) activity of the character
- 1i1) dubious
- 1) soul, self, life, creature, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, passion
- ↑ Jeremiah 3:8 And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce; yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and played the harlot also. Jeremiah 3:9 And it came to pass through the lightness of her whoredom, that she defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks. Jeremiah 3:10 And yet for all this her treacherous sister Judah hath not turned unto me with her whole heart, but feignedly, saith the LORD. Jeremiah 3:11 And the LORD said unto me, The backsliding Israel hath justified herself more than treacherous Judah.
- ↑ See 1 Samuel 8
- ↑ Ezekiel 16:32 "But as a wife that committeth adultery, which taketh strangers instead of her husband!"
- Ezekiel 23:37 That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them.
- ↑ Hosea 4:2 By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.
- ↑ Jeremiah 5:7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by [them that are] no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
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