Bible Question: I truly believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, however I find what seems to be contradictions between what Jesus said, (which I believe to be the true authority.) and Paul's teachings. One example would be what seems to be opposition in Matthew 25:35-46 where Jesus' emphasises works not faith and again in Revelations and in James 2:20 James says Faith without works is dead. Paul appears to confirm this in 2 Corinthians 5:10 but then Paul in Ephesians 2:8-9 seems to contradict Jesus, James and even himself. Can anyone help me to better understand this? There are other examples but I'll start here. |
Bible Answer: Paul sums salvation up perfectly when he wrote that "By grace are you saved, through faith. Not of works, lest any man should boast." Basically meaning, that there is no act under heaven that you did to achieve salvation. It is purely based upon the Grace of God through the channel of your faith in his power and his son Jesus Christ. You, as a saved person, have no bragging rights over another. Now .. where do works come in? Works are the outward expression of your inner faith and belief. The saying "if it walks like a duck, looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck .." holds true here. A true Christian will gladly and freely perform acts of generosity and love. Not because he is trying to get into heaven, but because he wants others to know who he serves. Paul reflects this time and time again when he addresses himself as "a slave of Christ" in the introductions of his epistles. Now, if you came across a person claiming to be a Christian, but was rude, violent, obscene, and simply un-caring, then there would be severe doubt as to whether or not that person was truly saved. As Jesus describes in many of his parables, when a seed is planted and there is growth, there should also be fruit. Works support and show others that we are bearing fruit. Works doesn't save you. You don't work your way into heaven. You prove to others that you are on your way to heaven by doing what a Christian would naturally want to do. Quvmoh |