CREDIBILITY ISSUES

 
The Apostle John in Revelation 20:12-13 wrote about his vision, “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.” None will be judged by their faith only, none! 
The apostle Paul, however, wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9, not from a vision that he he received from God, “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.”
Readers, I want to ask you a question, who is more credible, the apostle John or the apostle Paul? John wrote from what he saw in his vision that he received from God, and I don’t know who gave Paul his idea, salvation by faith and not works. Was that not what he said in Ephesians 2:8-9?
The apostle James wrote, “What [does it] profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what [does it] profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble! 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.” James 2:14-24.
Jesus said, "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!'” Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus said many people of great-faith-but-no-work will come before Jesus when He returns, claiming right to eternal life based on their their faith and no work, and Jesus sends them away disappointed - “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” 
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. No one is saved by faith only except the thief on the cross.

hkhoe@thexcommandments.com

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