WHO IS RIGHT?
According to Jesus, we are saved by work and not by faith.
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23, "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?'
And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"
According to Paul, we are saved by grace and not work because work will make us boast.
Paul wrote, “For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
According to James, we are saved by faith and work. James said, “But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:20-24,26.
What do Biblical scholars believe? Honestly, I do not know for sure what they believe. Some Biblical scholars in my church believe that we are saved by our wealth. They are growing fast, amazingly fast. The property that they own or rent doubles or triples. The offering and tithes that they get doubles and triples. And the noises that they produce in the building during the service (band and musical performance) double or triple from the last time I was there. The next time when I go to church I have to make sure that I have earplugs on.
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