Good read on the importance of both.
https://www.catholicgentleman.net/20...adox-of-grace/
Good read on the importance of both.
https://www.catholicgentleman.net/20...adox-of-grace/
"If People Concentrated on the Really Important Things in Life, There'd be a Shortage of Fishing Poles." - Doug Larson
"Peace is not the absence of turmoil but the presence of God" Jo-Ann Thomack
" A Few Good Fish"
Please check out my youtube channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuuwIthNWDweOTGjtkfOVGw
Ok, any analogy carried far enough breaks down but here goes---
A sailboat (on a bass boat site?) moving thru the water makes ripples. The ripples in no way push the boat, the wind does that. The ripples are a natural byproduct of the boat moving. So it is with faith, good works are a natural byproduct. No ripples means the boat isn't moving. BTW, what is the wind in the sails?--Holy Spirit.
As I have said before, even our 'good works' done in faith are 'filthy rags' in God's sight-- a scary thought. It only makes grace all the sweeter. Is 64:6 "All our righteous acts are like filthy rags." We are totally dependent on God's grace for salvation. How do we say thanks for Christ's perfect life (credited to us) and His sacrificial death (suffered hell in our place)? Cool, He gives us a list of ways to say thanks--its called the Ten Commandments.
Many things in the Old Testament Ceremonial Law (pertaining to the Tabernacle/Temple) made a person ceremonially unclean and forbidden from worship (separated from God). While Christ fulfilled these laws (they pointed to Him and upon His life were obsolete/abrogated)--He recognized them. He was 'unclean' when the menstruating woman touched Him, when He willingly touched a dead person, etc. In life, Christ tented with His people, the rabble. He willingly became 'unclean' for us when he touched us. '...they will call him Immanuel ("which means God with us").' Matt 1:23
Matt 4:16 (referencing Is 9:2), "The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."
Whom is the dead person that Christ willingly touches? Its us. Its me.
Last edited by msethsmile; 06-06-2018 at 08:54 AM.
For those that think 'good works' earn us salvation, mark this: To be acceptable by God, our works must be perfect--continually perfect.
Good points and thanks for responding. I mis-labeled the thread title. It should read Faith AND Works. That is the point of the article I linked, the "paradox of Grace" as the author states it, and if you look closely the same thing that is said in the COC sermon linked by Tarheel and the analogy by msethsmile. While the sermon emphasizes works and their importance, the pastor still comes back to you must have faith in Christ, otherwise you are doomed, in other words works alone will not save. In the boat analogy, faith in Christ given by the Holy Spirit (wind) produces good works (ripples), but there will ALWAYS be ripples/good works as long as there is wind/faith.
Last edited by sdbrison; 06-06-2018 at 11:22 AM.
"If People Concentrated on the Really Important Things in Life, There'd be a Shortage of Fishing Poles." - Doug Larson
"Peace is not the absence of turmoil but the presence of God" Jo-Ann Thomack
Hebrews 11:6, "And without faith it is impossible to please God,..." An unbeliever donates $1 billion to charity--this is a stench in the nostrils of God.
Read the parable of the Sheep and the Goats --Matt 25:31-46.
The sheep on the right will receive their inheritance (someone has to die to get an inheritance). People don't earn an inheritance, "the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world."--its given to them. The sheep will be surprised to learn the 'good' things they did to others were also for Christ. Their faith/ripples showed.
The goats on the left lacked faith and ripples. They did not do good deeds for their neighbor or Christ. They will go to 'the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.' Notice the 'eternal fire' was not prepared for man (compared to heaven prepared for the sheep), yet that's were the goats wind up.