Subject: What is the full meaning of Good Works |
Bible Note: Learn, first of all I'd suggest getting off the spiritual roller-coaster! What I'm referring to here is the thinking that shines through in your post that salvation spins upon a never-ending wheel of sinning-remorse-repentence-forgiveness -- round and round it goes for the rest of your life. Not so! If it were, your salvation would rest upon where you happened to be on the spinning wheel when your number came up to check out of this world. If you were in the forgiveness cycle, fine. If in the sinning cycle, well, too bad. It's like playing roulette with your salvation. ..... God doesn't gamble. You are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not of works, and He who is able to save you is able to keep you saved. There is no record in all of Scripture of anyone being saved twice. ...... When a sinner becomes a regenerate believer, his life is forever changed and he becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus. The good works that follow regeneration are a testament to that new birth in Christ, but had nothing to do with bringing the new birth about and have nothing to do with keeping or losing his regeneration. Salvation is God's business, something He accomplishes through the shed bled of His Son on the cross. Good works are our outward response to and evidence of the inward change that Christ has effected in us ..... Faith without works is dead. You've read that in the book of James. And, of course, it's true! Saving, regenerative faith results in changed lives and good works. Dead faith, such as the demons had in your reference, or such as it is possible for human beings to have, does not change lives, brings no regeneration, produces no good works. --Hank |