August 22, 2024 • 41 mins
Hey guys, welcome back to another episode of "We Think Biblically." Today, we're diving into a topic that is both heavily debated and often misunderstood: the relationship between faith and works. Are we saved by faith alone, or do our works play a part? Join us as we explore what the Bible says about this crucial aspect of our Christian walk.
We'll kick things off by discussing the challenges and rewards of homeschooling, sharing personal experiences and practical tips. Then, we delve deep into the heart of today's topic: how faith and works interact in the life of a believer. We'll examine key scriptures, such as Romans 3:28 and James 2:17-24, to understand the biblical perspective.
Throughout the episode, we'll debunk common misconceptions and highlight the importance of genuine faith that naturally leads to good works. We'll also share a compelling story that illustrates the harmony between faith and works, and discuss how true faith should produce visible fruit in our lives.
Whether you're a new believer or have been walking with Christ for years, this episode is sure to offer valuable insights and encouragement. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share your thoughts with us. Let's grow together in our understanding of what it means to live out our faith in action!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Music.
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Hey guys and welcome back to another episode on we think biblically So here
we are once again another,
thursday episode Another week Another day another dollar The weeks go by so
fast when you're doing these podcasts.
Yeah, it really does I think we're
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just gonna start doing one every single day of the week one every day.
They probably get really sick of hearing us I don't get sick of hearing myself,
so anyway Brianna you started homeschool
with 24 you've done this now how
many days and the first and second day went great no complaining no nothing
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today was you woke up in a totally different mood and it was a little bit rough
today but we worked past it and he still
got a star and we talked through it and hopefully he does better tomorrow right
and we're just talking like he got a star i'm not home also i'll point out but
they're doing their homeschool i'm gone at work like always but anyway we told
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him if he will do his work and you know five stars,
like for each day of the week monday through friday tuesday wednesday thursday
friday it's five stars but he's got to fill it up he can't just like skip a
day or whatever five five consistently.
And if he does, he'll get a prize at the end of the week. Only if he does his
work without complaining. Not whining or complaining.
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Get up on time. And perform.
Perform. Perform. Perform.
Or what would you complete his work well? Please tell Twitter. Then perform.
Like if you're going to perform a home party or something. Don't get it.
And last week episode really had us thinking about.
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Oh, yeah. So we was talking about last week. I was just sitting here staring
at her like, what are we thinking about?
Anyway, we was talking about being slow to speak.
So I was, and we were talking about like last week about how we need to,
if there's something we don't know the answer to, we need to pray about it.
So I asked Brianna just the other day, I asked her something.
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She said, well, I don't know. I got to pray about it and I'll get back to you.
I said, honey, I said, all I'm wanting to know is, where you want to eat at.
You don't got to pray about that. And if you got to pray for sure,
are you in that kind of relationship? You're going to get that kind of response that quick.
So anyway, everything I was asking her, it was just let me pray about it.
What'd you do today? Let me pray about it.
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What do you want? What do you want to do tomorrow? Let me pray about it.
I mean, just so Brianna needs prayer, guys.
Or I need prayer to, you know, keep hanging in there.
How was your week? Did I ask for more? No, you didn't. But so far,
we've still got a few days left.
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It's going good so far. It seems like we're always talking about the podcast
and things that we're trying to work at.
The microphones that we got, they're wireless, and they're kind of on the cheaper
end. We got one now, and I got one, but they kind of suck.
The audio don't sound that clear onto them.
And also, we can't hear ourselves right now, so that's one thing we don't like.
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Like, we don't know what we're sounding like. So we're going to try this episode here with them.
And if it don't work out, we might end up just investing in another one of the mics like I already had.
Just so we don't got to lean over. And it kind of gets hard sharing one mic
because you got to lean over closer and back up.
And right now, like we're setting a little bit of a distance from each other.
It makes it a lot easier. We've got more room for a Bible, iPad, stuff like that.
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So we're going to give these mics one more shot. and I think that they might
be good like for if you're doing outside witnessing maybe ministry you know
doing something outside that you need just something quick and simple.
But for what we're doing right now they don't seem like they don't seem like they're doing,
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as good a job as what we hoped they would have we might end up going back to
the other mic and just investing in another one of the same exact mics because
that one there has got pretty good audio quality it ain't too bad We just didn't like the idea.
Yeah, and we just didn't like the idea of having to share one I've seen these they're wireless.
Do you have like a charging case all kinds of?
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Stuff and thought it would be better Unfortunately, it don't seem like it's
going away Okay, what else? Oh.
We found we found out that only a few of our episodes went on Spotify.
We had up to this since we started using Podbean.
Yes, we found out that only I think
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the last episode we had on there was disciplines for spiritual growth.
Well, then I don't know right now. You search it. If you get on Spotify,
you know, type in We Think Typically.
I don't know how many episodes come up. I don't know if you're getting the full episodes or not.
But when you look it up on like certain yes
like on on the website that we said we had
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set up through podbean when you click the
link on that they all know only the ones that the latest episode disciplines
for spiritual growth but then you actually have the spotify app on your phone
you look it up then you can yes you get the latest that was that was the latest
episode but now Now I tried,
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like, getting everything set up better,
and now it is saying that we are not meeting a couple of requirements to have it on to Spotify.
One is something about our logo needs to be, like, higher resolution or,
like, a different size or something, which that's minor.
No big deal there. Try to get that figured out.
But then the other one is, like, the recording format, like what it is,
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like MP4, MP3 or like that.
That's getting into technical stuff. But anyway, I don't guess it's meeting
the requirement for that.
So patience with us as we're trying to work things out with Spotify.
We will get it back on there as soon as possible.
But until then, you can find the podcast on to Apple Podcasts,
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iHeartRadio, YouTube. I mean...
I think it's, like, something to do with Amazon. There's all kinds of stuff.
I mean, you can pretty much find it, like, anywhere.
You can find it on the simplest, but you can't, like, exit out of it.
Yeah, like, if you want to, like, yeah, you got to keep your phone on.
If you want to lock it or something, you know, you got to. I don't know if it's probably up on Apple.
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Right. Or if you don't have iPhone, then, you know, you can look it up onto
something different, the iHeartRadio or something like that.
But you can just check the website out and see
one of the links on there and click them and try them out and see which one you
like the best but we're definitely going to work at getting it back onto spotify
that's just something we're going to have to try to figure out some of
the kinks into and we'll get it worked out but anyway before we ramble on about
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all that stuff again for too long we're going to go ahead and get into the topic
now this topic is really one One that is heavily debated and could probably,
I don't know, this can maybe get somebody some negative comments, possibly.
Maybe some good comments. Thumbs up.
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We want to hear your feedback. Also, you know, if you're enjoying an episode,
give us a comment, whether it's on YouTube, Apple podcast.
However, you know, reach out to us with an email.
You know, send us an email, something you want, something you want us to cover.
Let us know on that. Also, subscribe to the channels, like and share.
Yeah, we don't care guys get the word out there Anyway, we're gonna be talking
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about Here's what here's the topic guys drumroll, please.
Faith and more or Hey that Sorry That is the question this is a heavily debated issue
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topic faith and works or Faith that works and sometimes we get the both of these
confused I mean like there's like a lot of confusion going on here.
So we just want to look at the bible and try to Yes,
and and see a lot of the problem is You have a lot of false teachings going
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around and it's not just that you're just pulling things out of the thin air
guys They have scripture and they were like,
oh they're using the bible Bible, but are they given a correct interpretation
of it? Are they reading them?
Yes. Are they presenting it correct? Are they interpreting it correctly?
Is it meeting the requirements? Are they letting it say what it's actually meaning?
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Are they trying to say it's saying something else and meaning something else?
So we're going to try to just let the scripture speak for itself and see what we can come up with here.
Okay, we're going to start out. We're going to read Romans 3,
verse 28 is the first verse I'm going to start out with.
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And me and Brianna's both got different verses here. I don't know her full take
on this and what all she's going to share.
She don't know what all I have, what all I'm going to share.
But Romans 3, verse 28, if you've got your Bibles, guys, you're more than welcome
to read along with us. we always want you guys to go back, double check it.
Something you have a misunderstanding on or misunderstood us on or you don't
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agree with us on, kind of reach out to us and let us know.
And if we was out of order or out of context with the word of God, we will correct it.
But Romans chapter 3 verse 28 says, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith,
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Without the deeds of the law. Now that's basically talking about.
That's basically talking about works. You're justified by faith.
Without the deeds of the law. Excuse me.
Basically again. It's without works.
But then we have the next verse. The next portion of scripture.
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I want to read is in James chapter 2.
And it's verses 17 through 24.
I got lots of verses. So it's going to be a lot of reading. and you want to
get a pen and paper and write these verses down, you're more than welcome.
We're going to start reading James chapter 2, verse 17.
It says, Even so, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
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It says, Yea, man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works.
Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
Thou believe that there is one God, you believe well. The devils also believed and trembled.
But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
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Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God,
and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.
And he was called the friend of God.
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You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Now, there was a person by the name of Martin Luther, and he gave these two scriptures.
And he said, if anybody could harmonize these two scriptures,
he said, you would prove me to be a fool.
And it doesn't take much work or much explanation to harmonize these scriptures.
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You know, many people, we point to stuff like this, and there's other portions
of Scripture as well, that people
say, well, there's inconsistencies or contradictions into the Bible.
Guys, no, there is not. When you truly read it and study it through and just
let the Word speak for itself and take it in context, there is no contradictions,
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there is no shortcomings,
there is no fallacies into it.
It's infallible, it's inerrant. it all works together.
And we're going to start out just by talking just a little bit about faith.
And before we really get too much into this, we're going to give the definition of what faith is.
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Do you have the definition of what faith is, or do you want me to share that part?
I want to read James 2, 14 through 26, but you can go ahead and share what.
Okay, I'm going to share this definition, and then Brianna is going to read
that portion of Scripture again.
The definition, faith, is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
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Faith is that which assures us that our hope is reality. Even though we cannot
see it, if we have faith, we are convinced that what we believe is real, true, and reliable.
The biblical object of faith, now listen to this.
The biblical object of faith is the person and work of Jesus Christ.
True faith has always been the identifying mark of the people of God. It's not just faith.
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You know, people will say, oh, you just got to have faith, but they never say in what.
It's not a blind faith, guys. It's not a misled faith.
It's the object of our faith is the person and work of Jesus Christ.
And I will, I will read you a verse, and I'm going to let Brianna go from here before I take too long.
Romans 5 and 1 says, Therefore, being justified by faith, Listen,
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you are justified by faith.
We have peace with God. But listen with the faith. You are justified by faith through Jesus Christ.
It says, Therefore, being justified by faith, We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So it's not blind faith. We're going to start out with that right there.
They're the object of our faith.
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It's not blind. It's not misled or misguided, but it is in the person and the
work of Jesus Christ and through him, what he done up on the cross.
So that being said, Brianna, you can go from there.
I read James 2, 17 through 24.
I'm going to read 14 through 26. Okay. It says, What does it profit,
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my brother, 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.
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If it does not have works, it 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 in trouble. But do you want to know,
O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
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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, things was made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled,
which says Abraham believed God and it was accountable.
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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.
Likewise was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received
the messengers and sent them out another way.
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Whereas the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Amen. So true.
So guys, here, this is the heavily debated topic. Is it faith and works?
Does it take both of them to save us? Or is it faith that works?
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Basically explaining what that is.
True, genuine faith produces works.
It's something that's going to be accompanied. It's followed by works.
And just to just, we'll go ahead and say this. So you guys ain't wondering,
or we don't say it clear enough.
It is not faith and works. There is one thing, and I'm going to read a Bible
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verse in just a second. we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ,
not our works. It's not faith and works.
It's faith, faith alone, by grace alone, but it's faith that works.
It's a genuine faith. A true faith will produce works in our lives.
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It's not that the works can save us, but if you have true faith,
It's gonna produce works in your life in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9
says for by grace Listen at this for by grace He's are you saved through faith
and that not of yourselves that is the gift of God not of works least any man should boast.
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Grace is unmerited favor. I,
Grace is something that you did not deserve.
So if it was something that would if we got grace by works, then you can no
longer call it grace because grace is something that you did not deserve.
So it would no longer be called grace for one. But it says we're by grace.
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We are saved through faith and that not of ourselves.
It is the gift of God, not of works.
Least any man should boast. So it's not of works. It's not faith and works.
Guys, but it's faith that works. It's true faith that is going to produce works,
and that is the whole thing when we just read in Romans.
It says, therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
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That's all it truly takes, guys, to be saved is faith in the finished work of
Jesus Christ and what he did upon the cross, but if it is true, genuine faith,
it is going to be followed up, and works are going to proceed from that,
and that's all James James was saying, he said, when he says,
a man may say thou has faith and I have works.
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He said, show me your faith without your works.
How are you going to display that faith? Then you're saying you have faith,
but you don't have works.
James said, I will show you my faith by my works.
Basically, my faith is active. It's producing something in my life.
It's not just a dead faith, but it's alive and an active faith that produces works.
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James 2.26 says, For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.
If we believe that God is truly God and that He has saved us through our faith
in Christ, why would we not obey Him?
Our deeds do earn our salvation, but what we do proves whether or not we really have saved ourselves.
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So true. And you know, there's evidence that a person is alive.
The first thing like ENT or not ENT, what's the first responders?
Sorry, I'm thinking of ENT with Cohen.
First responders, first thing they'll check somebody for like laying out or unresponsive.
They put their fingers on their neck or their wrist and they check for a pulse.
If they see any movement in the body or anything, that's evidence that that
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person is alive. They look for motion.
They look for something like some kind of activeness, something moving, something in your body.
Okay, so if faith is true, genuine faith, if faith is alive,
guys, there's going to be activity that is going to be following it.
It's not just going to be stagnant and still. That is a dead faith.
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But genuine, live, active faith produces works.
It's not that. And let's make this clear. Just using faith in God naturally
leads a believer to participate in good works.
Yes. And let's make this clear, it is not to arm or keep.
Your salvation works is not going to earn your salvation or it is not going
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to keep your salvation. We do not.
But this is basically evidence of your salvation.
I don't know if I could say that any simpler. That's about as simple as I could say it.
It's just it's evidence of your salvation. And also, I don't.
This is probably going to be a little bit of a lengthy episode.
We'll try not to be too long, but we just had a lot to cover and we wanted to share it.
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I'm going to read this little story. This was in my Berean school in the Bible.
This was a little story that was in there. It says, an old man used a small
boat with two oars, or that's paddles for those who don't know,
to help people cross a river.
One day, a passenger noticed the word faith on one of the oars,
and the word works on the other.
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The passenger asked, why have you carved a word on each oar?
Asked the curious writer i'll show you
replied the old man at first he rode only with
the oar of faith this caused the boat to go
in a circle then he rode only with the oar of works again the boat went in a
circle but only the other way however when the man rode with the two oars of
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faith and works the boat traveled straight ahead so it is in life said the wise
old man faith and works must pull together.
One without the other is useless.
And guys, that is about as plain and as simple as you can say it.
It is two sides of the same coin. They go hand in hand.
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If you truly say you have faith, then evidence of that faith is going to be through works.
You are going to step out and you are going to be bearing fruit.
You are going to be being a light. There's going to be evidence of that faith.
If you just have works without faith, that ain't going to get you nowhere either.
You can't earn salvation.
You can't earn or deserve your way into heaven as a gift from God.
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But if you truly have faith in what Jesus done, there will be works that will
flow from your life and evidence of it.
Galatians 3 and 11, it says that no one is justified by the
law and the sight of god is evident for the just
shall live by faith look i'm going to read my commentary
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real quick on my book it says your bible book and my bible i mean it is a book
but it's a bible bible book no one will earn his way into heaven by keeping
the ten commandments they were not given for that purpose the law is like a
mirror all it can do is reflect what we are in truth,
unclean, and desperately in need of help. Yeah, so true.
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Another thing, I think this was important to point out when Brianna was just
talking about the law, there was a work that was required to,
for salvation. But I want you guys to understand the work that was required,
we could not accomplish it.
The work that was required, what was needed to be done for salvation to be granted
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to all of mankind, we could not accomplish it. It was not in our means to do it.
The work that was required for salvation was only able to be accomplished by Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5 and 17 says, think not that I am come to destroy the law,
this is Jesus talking, or the prophets.
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I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. He lived a perfect, sinless,
blameless life here on this earth.
He took our punishment, our sin upon Him. He bore it all on the cross.
He rose again the third day and he is now seated at the right hand of the Father
making intercession for us.
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And it was only through him and the work that he did upon that cross.
That was the only work that was required for salvation.
And that work that was required, again, we could not accomplish it.
It was something we could not do within ourselves.
The work that was required for salvation was finished by Jesus.
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He actually said these exact words.
John 19 and 30 says, when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished.
And you think about that, that's kind of weird for him to say he's hanging there onto a cross.
And this is what he said, it is finished.
And the Bible says he bowed his head, he gave up the ghost, meaning the work
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that was required to bring, to bridge that gap between God God and sinful man,
the work that was required to do that, Jesus Christ did it.
He finished it. He accomplished it. And there is no other work that needs to be done.
There's no other foundation that can be laid other than Jesus Christ and him
crucified. That is it, guys. It is faith alone.
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It is faith alone by grace alone. That is it.
Nothing else. And it was a work that we could not accomplish.
But Jesus Christ came. He accomplished it.
That's very true. You want to go from there? Yeah, sure.
Ephesians 2, 5 through 10 says,
Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ,
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by grace you have been saved, and raised us up together and made us set together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come we might show So that exceeding riches of His grace
and His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,
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it is the gift of God, not of works.
Lest anyone should boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Just as clearly as Paul said, we are saved by works, he immediately adds that
we are created in Christ to do good works.
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Amen. That God had long ago planned for us. Amen. That's so true.
Not saved by good works, but for good works. That's so true. That's a good point.
And let's see here. there.
Galatians 2 and 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
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even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith
of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
It was a once for all sacrifice of Christ that justifies sinners.
And that's something guys to remember. We begin by faith and we continue in faith.
Don't begin, and then we go off on something else. We've got to keep,
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oh, I've got to, you know, I believe Jehovah's Witnesses believe they've got
to share the gospel with so many people, and they've got to do all these things,
but we start by faith, we continue in faith, we end it by faith.
That is it. I mean, it's a faith thing.
And again, it's not blind faith or misguided faith, but it's faith in the work
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and person of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2 and 21 says, I do not frustrate the grace of God,
for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead and vain.
Guys, if there was another way to get salvation, if salvation could have been
brought about by works, God would have been a very cruel God to send His Son,
Jesus Christ, to endure and suffer the things that He did and what He had to go through.
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If salvation, some other way, could have been brought about,
God would have been a very cruel God. But guys, this is the point.
There was no other way. No other way could salvation been presented to us but through Jesus Christ.
You can go from there if you want. Galatians 2.16 says, It says,
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No one that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in
Christ and not by the works of the law.
For by the words of the law, no flesh shall be justified.
So true. Let me read this right here. You can find this on gotquestions.com.
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Misunderstanding the relationship of faith and works comes from not understanding
what the Bible teaches about salvation.
There are many errors in regards to faith and works.
One error is easy believism, the teaching that as long as a person prayed a
prayer or said, I believe in Jesus at some point in his life,
then he is saved no matter what.
So a person who as a child raised his hand in a church service is considered
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saved, even though he has never shown any desire to walk with God since.
And is in fact living in blatant sin.
This teaching, sometimes called decisional regeneration, is dangerous,
and deceptive. The idea that a profession of faith saves a person,
even if he lives like the devil afterwards, assumes a new category of believer
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called the carnal Christian.
We've all heard about the carnal Christian. We think that that's just a phase
we go through and, you know, it's okay to live in a lifestyle of sin,
not making a slip up and, oh, I've done this by accident, but you are living
a life of sin, continuing into it, and we just call it the carnal Christian.
Him this allows various ungodly lifestyles
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to be excused a man may be an
unrepentant adult or a liar or bank robber but
he's saved he's just carnal yet we can see in james chapter 2 an empty profession
of faith one that does not result in a life of obedience to christ is in reality
a dead faith that cannot save and guys we see that so much today there's there's
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there's no one in between.
We got those, the things they must maintain good works and, and salvation is
dependent upon them doing something on their end.
But guys, that is so that that is an error, but then it's also an error to say,
well, since it's by grace and it's nothing I can do, then I don't have to do good works.
No, you don't have to do anything, but if you truly have genuine faith,
(30:39):
guys, there's going to be evidence.
There's going to be something in your life that is going to be different.
We're We're going to talk about the fruit in just a second.
But this idea of a carnal Christian, you can just live into a lifestyle of sin. Examine yourself.
Examine your faith. Is it really into the work and person of Jesus Christ?
(31:01):
Is it a genuine faith? Is it a live and active faith?
Or is it just a head faith that's never went no farther than, oh, I believe.
I'm saved now. Or is it active, guys? Guys, is it a true act of faith?
We need to examine ourselves. Brianna, you can go from there if you want.
I ain't either.
(31:22):
I know, guys, we've covered a lot, but this is just a really good topic and
one that I just really want to nail home and try to make it as plain as what we can.
It's kind of hard to understand the place and work thing, but hopefully we kind
of are explaining it where people can understand it. We're not theologians.
We're not scholars, guys.
(31:43):
We're just two people with a Bible.
True faith bears fruit. The Bible says in Matthew 7 and 16, You shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so,
every good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(32:07):
Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits you shall
know them not everyone that saith unto me Lord Lord
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but listen what it
says but he that does the
will of my father which is in heaven many will say to me and that day Lord Lord
(32:30):
have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and
ending and in thy name done many wonderful works and then this is of Jesus saying this, and he says,
then I will confess unto them, I never knew you.
Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You know, it says there in verse 21, it says, not everyone that saith unto me,
(32:54):
Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
It can't just be faith from the word of mouth. It can't just be a faith that is only in our head.
And oh yeah, I believe it, but guys, we're never truly showing examples of that faith.
We never have evidence of it. It's not just faith from a word of mouth.
(33:15):
Matthew 15 and 8 says, this people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honor me with their lips.
This is what their heart is far from me.
When you truly have, when you have truly put faith into the resurrected Savior,
that old heart begins to change. Everything has changed. You will become born again.
(33:36):
Everything is changing. The way you think, the way you talk,
the way you act, everything about you has changed.
There should be evidence of that into our lives. This is something I want to point out here.
It talks about that a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit,
and a bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit. and says you will know them by their fruits.
(33:59):
Galatians 5, 22-24 says, but the fruit of the Spirit.
We are born, when a person becomes born again, we're born of the Spirit.
We are that new creature.
And no sooner than we are born again, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
And this is something that should be active in every born-again person's life.
(34:21):
This is a non-negotiable thing. The fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance against such. There is no law.
And they, listen to what it says, they that are Christ have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lust.
(34:43):
This is something, these are fruits.
This should be evident in every one of our lives.
You know, many times we say, oh, those are things that's evidence of when a
person's been baptized and they're filled with the Holy Spirit.
Well, guys, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit from the moment we accept Christ
as our Lord and Savior. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and we are a born
(35:05):
again person and a new creature in Christ Jesus.
And these are the fruits that should be active. This is the evidence of a born-again
person, not just being filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit.
This right here is just the evidence. This is a non-negotiable evidence of every
born-again person that we should see in their lives at some point in some time.
(35:27):
Just something to think about. Go ahead, Brianna.
Go ahead. You can share it. I'm pretty much done too.
Titus 3 and 5 says, Not by works of righteousness, which we have done,
but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Not by works.
(35:48):
Amen. So truly, guys, the whole point of this is we don't, I don't want you
guys to feel that you have to,
or I don't want us to come across or make somebody feel like that we are saying
you have to do something to earn your salvation.
I hope we have been very clear and outspoken about that.
(36:08):
As your salvation comes, the work that was required was completed by Jesus Christ.
And now we just have faith in what he done. We just trust in the work that he done.
We trust in him. You know, there's a person by the name of Ray Comfort,
and this is one of his famous things. He'll say, you trust in Jesus like you would a parachute.
And that is basically, guys, you are, I've never been skydiving,
(36:31):
but once you make the Good job.
It's out of your hands. You just got to fully trust in the parachute to let you have that safe land.
And guys, that is the way it is with Jesus Christ and our salvation.
We just got to trust in him, guys, that what he done, it was enough,
it is enough, and it is going to see us through.
But if we are truly trusting in Jesus and we have truly placed our life in him,
(36:56):
guys, they're all to be a difference.
It sickens me today when I look around and I see so many professing Christians
and people who are saying they have faith in God and they are walking with Him
and they have been born again, but their lifestyles look no different.
They talk no different. They're doing the same thing that the people who want
nothing to do with God, the same people who actually outright deny God and say
(37:21):
they want nothing to do with Him. the Christian, the professing Christians look no different.
Guys, this is a problem. This is an error. I'm not trying to preach.
I'm sorry. I just kind of, I get a little carried away.
It is biblically inconsistent to say that someone has been saved, but has not changed.
Many people go through the outward motions of giving their lives to Christ,
(37:43):
but no lifestyle change follows.
This This is not real salvation. It's dead faith.
But when you think about this, when you walk into a dark room and you flip on
a light switch, you expect light.
Right now, when we come back here to record this episode, I had to flip on that
light switch because the room was dark.
If the light wouldn't have come on, guys, guess what? I would have thought something's
(38:08):
going on. Something's not right.
Well, how is it when we become saved, we were supposed to be illuminated.
We're something that light switch is supposed to be on and if we are seeing
something else something of darkness and,
Something's wrong. Something's not right. If no light appears,
you rightly assume something is wrong.
(38:28):
It would be logically inconsistent to say that the light is on when the room is still pitch black.
Light naturally dispels darkness.
When a dark heart receives the light of salvation, it is illuminated.
Priorities change. Desires change. Outlooks change.
Life is seen clearly for the first time. If the darkness of sin continues,
(38:50):
we can rightly assume no light ever came on.
And guys, my hope and prayer is that we would examine ourselves.
We would truly look over our lives and we would make for sure that our faith
is not a dead faith, that we are not just having a head knowledge.
It's not just faith, but it's just, oh yeah, I believe, but it's never went
(39:13):
no farther Father, guys, that we have a genuine faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ,
and that we would remember that we are not saved by faith and works,
but we are supposed to fall into the category of faith that works.
If we have true faith, guys, if we have truly been born again,
(39:35):
let's make for sure that there's evidence of it.
Let's not just live lives, and if you have truly even born again,
this shouldn't come as a task or a chore or something that you feel, oh man, look what I know.
It should be something, there's something on the inside of you,
a new desire to want to be different, to want to not walk the same way that
the old you used to walk or that your friend doing the same things that your friends are doing.
(39:59):
There should be something inside you telling you to want to be different and to be different.
Just something to think about. so I apologize
for us going so long it was just a really good topic I enjoyed it I pray and
hope you guys enjoyed it and are encouraged by it and just dig into your word
(40:20):
again if we said something wrong or something that you would like some more
clarity on to just kind of reach out to us.
Yeah if you have a question just let us know we may have to pray about it But
we will try to get you an answer that is found within scripture,
not something we're just pulling out of thin air.
(40:40):
But guys, we hope you are encouraged by this. Again, we're going to try to get it on Spotify.
But until then, you can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and pretty much anywhere
else you listen to a podcast that you can find it.
We'll see you guys next week. Thank you for listening. One way, thanks by both ways.
Music.
Music.
(00:16):
Hey guys and welcome back to another episode on we think biblically So here
we are once again another,
thursday episode Another week Another day another dollar The weeks go by so
fast when you're doing these podcasts.
Yeah, it really does I think we're
(00:37):
just gonna start doing one every single day of the week one every day.
They probably get really sick of hearing us I don't get sick of hearing myself,
so anyway Brianna you started homeschool
with 24 you've done this now how
many days and the first and second day went great no complaining no nothing
(01:00):
today was you woke up in a totally different mood and it was a little bit rough
today but we worked past it and he still
got a star and we talked through it and hopefully he does better tomorrow right
and we're just talking like he got a star i'm not home also i'll point out but
they're doing their homeschool i'm gone at work like always but anyway we told
(01:25):
him if he will do his work and you know five stars,
like for each day of the week monday through friday tuesday wednesday thursday
friday it's five stars but he's got to fill it up he can't just like skip a
day or whatever five five consistently.
And if he does, he'll get a prize at the end of the week. Only if he does his
work without complaining. Not whining or complaining.
(01:47):
Get up on time. And perform.
Perform. Perform. Perform.
Or what would you complete his work well? Please tell Twitter. Then perform.
Like if you're going to perform a home party or something. Don't get it.
And last week episode really had us thinking about.
(02:14):
Oh, yeah. So we was talking about last week. I was just sitting here staring
at her like, what are we thinking about?
Anyway, we was talking about being slow to speak.
So I was, and we were talking about like last week about how we need to,
if there's something we don't know the answer to, we need to pray about it.
So I asked Brianna just the other day, I asked her something.
(02:37):
She said, well, I don't know. I got to pray about it and I'll get back to you.
I said, honey, I said, all I'm wanting to know is, where you want to eat at.
You don't got to pray about that. And if you got to pray for sure,
are you in that kind of relationship? You're going to get that kind of response that quick.
So anyway, everything I was asking her, it was just let me pray about it.
What'd you do today? Let me pray about it.
(02:57):
What do you want? What do you want to do tomorrow? Let me pray about it.
I mean, just so Brianna needs prayer, guys.
Or I need prayer to, you know, keep hanging in there.
How was your week? Did I ask for more? No, you didn't. But so far,
we've still got a few days left.
(03:18):
It's going good so far. It seems like we're always talking about the podcast
and things that we're trying to work at.
The microphones that we got, they're wireless, and they're kind of on the cheaper
end. We got one now, and I got one, but they kind of suck.
The audio don't sound that clear onto them.
And also, we can't hear ourselves right now, so that's one thing we don't like.
(03:41):
Like, we don't know what we're sounding like. So we're going to try this episode here with them.
And if it don't work out, we might end up just investing in another one of the mics like I already had.
Just so we don't got to lean over. And it kind of gets hard sharing one mic
because you got to lean over closer and back up.
And right now, like we're setting a little bit of a distance from each other.
It makes it a lot easier. We've got more room for a Bible, iPad, stuff like that.
(04:05):
So we're going to give these mics one more shot. and I think that they might
be good like for if you're doing outside witnessing maybe ministry you know
doing something outside that you need just something quick and simple.
But for what we're doing right now they don't seem like they don't seem like they're doing,
(04:26):
as good a job as what we hoped they would have we might end up going back to
the other mic and just investing in another one of the same exact mics because
that one there has got pretty good audio quality it ain't too bad We just didn't like the idea.
Yeah, and we just didn't like the idea of having to share one I've seen these they're wireless.
Do you have like a charging case all kinds of?
(04:46):
Stuff and thought it would be better Unfortunately, it don't seem like it's
going away Okay, what else? Oh.
We found we found out that only a few of our episodes went on Spotify.
We had up to this since we started using Podbean.
Yes, we found out that only I think
(05:08):
the last episode we had on there was disciplines for spiritual growth.
Well, then I don't know right now. You search it. If you get on Spotify,
you know, type in We Think Typically.
I don't know how many episodes come up. I don't know if you're getting the full episodes or not.
But when you look it up on like certain yes
like on on the website that we said we had
(05:29):
set up through podbean when you click the
link on that they all know only the ones that the latest episode disciplines
for spiritual growth but then you actually have the spotify app on your phone
you look it up then you can yes you get the latest that was that was the latest
episode but now Now I tried,
(05:51):
like, getting everything set up better,
and now it is saying that we are not meeting a couple of requirements to have it on to Spotify.
One is something about our logo needs to be, like, higher resolution or,
like, a different size or something, which that's minor.
No big deal there. Try to get that figured out.
But then the other one is, like, the recording format, like what it is,
(06:15):
like MP4, MP3 or like that.
That's getting into technical stuff. But anyway, I don't guess it's meeting
the requirement for that.
So patience with us as we're trying to work things out with Spotify.
We will get it back on there as soon as possible.
But until then, you can find the podcast on to Apple Podcasts,
(06:37):
iHeartRadio, YouTube. I mean...
I think it's, like, something to do with Amazon. There's all kinds of stuff.
I mean, you can pretty much find it, like, anywhere.
You can find it on the simplest, but you can't, like, exit out of it.
Yeah, like, if you want to, like, yeah, you got to keep your phone on.
If you want to lock it or something, you know, you got to. I don't know if it's probably up on Apple.
(06:58):
Right. Or if you don't have iPhone, then, you know, you can look it up onto
something different, the iHeartRadio or something like that.
But you can just check the website out and see
one of the links on there and click them and try them out and see which one you
like the best but we're definitely going to work at getting it back onto spotify
that's just something we're going to have to try to figure out some of
the kinks into and we'll get it worked out but anyway before we ramble on about
(07:23):
all that stuff again for too long we're going to go ahead and get into the topic
now this topic is really one One that is heavily debated and could probably,
I don't know, this can maybe get somebody some negative comments, possibly.
Maybe some good comments. Thumbs up.
(07:44):
We want to hear your feedback. Also, you know, if you're enjoying an episode,
give us a comment, whether it's on YouTube, Apple podcast.
However, you know, reach out to us with an email.
You know, send us an email, something you want, something you want us to cover.
Let us know on that. Also, subscribe to the channels, like and share.
Yeah, we don't care guys get the word out there Anyway, we're gonna be talking
(08:10):
about Here's what here's the topic guys drumroll, please.
Faith and more or Hey that Sorry That is the question this is a heavily debated issue
(08:31):
topic faith and works or Faith that works and sometimes we get the both of these
confused I mean like there's like a lot of confusion going on here.
So we just want to look at the bible and try to Yes,
and and see a lot of the problem is You have a lot of false teachings going
(08:52):
around and it's not just that you're just pulling things out of the thin air
guys They have scripture and they were like,
oh they're using the bible Bible, but are they given a correct interpretation
of it? Are they reading them?
Yes. Are they presenting it correct? Are they interpreting it correctly?
Is it meeting the requirements? Are they letting it say what it's actually meaning?
(09:17):
Are they trying to say it's saying something else and meaning something else?
So we're going to try to just let the scripture speak for itself and see what we can come up with here.
Okay, we're going to start out. We're going to read Romans 3,
verse 28 is the first verse I'm going to start out with.
(09:39):
And me and Brianna's both got different verses here. I don't know her full take
on this and what all she's going to share.
She don't know what all I have, what all I'm going to share.
But Romans 3, verse 28, if you've got your Bibles, guys, you're more than welcome
to read along with us. we always want you guys to go back, double check it.
Something you have a misunderstanding on or misunderstood us on or you don't
(10:00):
agree with us on, kind of reach out to us and let us know.
And if we was out of order or out of context with the word of God, we will correct it.
But Romans chapter 3 verse 28 says, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith,
(10:21):
Without the deeds of the law. Now that's basically talking about.
That's basically talking about works. You're justified by faith.
Without the deeds of the law. Excuse me.
Basically again. It's without works.
But then we have the next verse. The next portion of scripture.
(10:42):
I want to read is in James chapter 2.
And it's verses 17 through 24.
I got lots of verses. So it's going to be a lot of reading. and you want to
get a pen and paper and write these verses down, you're more than welcome.
We're going to start reading James chapter 2, verse 17.
It says, Even so, faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.
(11:04):
It says, Yea, man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works.
Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
Thou believe that there is one God, you believe well. The devils also believed and trembled.
But will thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(11:25):
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, Abraham believed God,
and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.
And he was called the friend of God.
(11:47):
You see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Now, there was a person by the name of Martin Luther, and he gave these two scriptures.
And he said, if anybody could harmonize these two scriptures,
he said, you would prove me to be a fool.
And it doesn't take much work or much explanation to harmonize these scriptures.
(12:14):
You know, many people, we point to stuff like this, and there's other portions
of Scripture as well, that people
say, well, there's inconsistencies or contradictions into the Bible.
Guys, no, there is not. When you truly read it and study it through and just
let the Word speak for itself and take it in context, there is no contradictions,
(12:34):
there is no shortcomings,
there is no fallacies into it.
It's infallible, it's inerrant. it all works together.
And we're going to start out just by talking just a little bit about faith.
And before we really get too much into this, we're going to give the definition of what faith is.
(12:54):
Do you have the definition of what faith is, or do you want me to share that part?
I want to read James 2, 14 through 26, but you can go ahead and share what.
Okay, I'm going to share this definition, and then Brianna is going to read
that portion of Scripture again.
The definition, faith, is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
(13:14):
Faith is that which assures us that our hope is reality. Even though we cannot
see it, if we have faith, we are convinced that what we believe is real, true, and reliable.
The biblical object of faith, now listen to this.
The biblical object of faith is the person and work of Jesus Christ.
True faith has always been the identifying mark of the people of God. It's not just faith.
(13:39):
You know, people will say, oh, you just got to have faith, but they never say in what.
It's not a blind faith, guys. It's not a misled faith.
It's the object of our faith is the person and work of Jesus Christ.
And I will, I will read you a verse, and I'm going to let Brianna go from here before I take too long.
Romans 5 and 1 says, Therefore, being justified by faith, Listen,
(14:02):
you are justified by faith.
We have peace with God. But listen with the faith. You are justified by faith through Jesus Christ.
It says, Therefore, being justified by faith, We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So it's not blind faith. We're going to start out with that right there.
They're the object of our faith.
(14:23):
It's not blind. It's not misled or misguided, but it is in the person and the
work of Jesus Christ and through him, what he done up on the cross.
So that being said, Brianna, you can go from there.
I read James 2, 17 through 24.
I'm going to read 14 through 26. Okay. It says, What does it profit,
(14:48):
my brother, 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.
(15:09):
If it does not have works, it 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 in trouble. But do you want to know,
O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
(15:30):
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, things was made perfect. And the scripture was fulfilled,
which says Abraham believed God and it was accountable.
(15:50):
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.
Likewise was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received
the messengers and sent them out another way.
(16:10):
Whereas the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. Amen. So true.
So guys, here, this is the heavily debated topic. Is it faith and works?
Does it take both of them to save us? Or is it faith that works?
(16:32):
Basically explaining what that is.
True, genuine faith produces works.
It's something that's going to be accompanied. It's followed by works.
And just to just, we'll go ahead and say this. So you guys ain't wondering,
or we don't say it clear enough.
It is not faith and works. There is one thing, and I'm going to read a Bible
(16:52):
verse in just a second. we are saved through faith in Jesus Christ,
not our works. It's not faith and works.
It's faith, faith alone, by grace alone, but it's faith that works.
It's a genuine faith. A true faith will produce works in our lives.
(17:17):
It's not that the works can save us, but if you have true faith,
It's gonna produce works in your life in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9
says for by grace Listen at this for by grace He's are you saved through faith
and that not of yourselves that is the gift of God not of works least any man should boast.
(17:40):
Grace is unmerited favor. I,
Grace is something that you did not deserve.
So if it was something that would if we got grace by works, then you can no
longer call it grace because grace is something that you did not deserve.
So it would no longer be called grace for one. But it says we're by grace.
(18:02):
We are saved through faith and that not of ourselves.
It is the gift of God, not of works.
Least any man should boast. So it's not of works. It's not faith and works.
Guys, but it's faith that works. It's true faith that is going to produce works,
and that is the whole thing when we just read in Romans.
It says, therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.
(18:27):
That's all it truly takes, guys, to be saved is faith in the finished work of
Jesus Christ and what he did upon the cross, but if it is true, genuine faith,
it is going to be followed up, and works are going to proceed from that,
and that's all James James was saying, he said, when he says,
a man may say thou has faith and I have works.
(18:48):
He said, show me your faith without your works.
How are you going to display that faith? Then you're saying you have faith,
but you don't have works.
James said, I will show you my faith by my works.
Basically, my faith is active. It's producing something in my life.
It's not just a dead faith, but it's alive and an active faith that produces works.
(19:13):
James 2.26 says, For as the body without the spirit is dead,
so faith without works is dead also.
If we believe that God is truly God and that He has saved us through our faith
in Christ, why would we not obey Him?
Our deeds do earn our salvation, but what we do proves whether or not we really have saved ourselves.
(19:34):
So true. And you know, there's evidence that a person is alive.
The first thing like ENT or not ENT, what's the first responders?
Sorry, I'm thinking of ENT with Cohen.
First responders, first thing they'll check somebody for like laying out or unresponsive.
They put their fingers on their neck or their wrist and they check for a pulse.
If they see any movement in the body or anything, that's evidence that that
(19:57):
person is alive. They look for motion.
They look for something like some kind of activeness, something moving, something in your body.
Okay, so if faith is true, genuine faith, if faith is alive,
guys, there's going to be activity that is going to be following it.
It's not just going to be stagnant and still. That is a dead faith.
(20:18):
But genuine, live, active faith produces works.
It's not that. And let's make this clear. Just using faith in God naturally
leads a believer to participate in good works.
Yes. And let's make this clear, it is not to arm or keep.
Your salvation works is not going to earn your salvation or it is not going
(20:40):
to keep your salvation. We do not.
But this is basically evidence of your salvation.
I don't know if I could say that any simpler. That's about as simple as I could say it.
It's just it's evidence of your salvation. And also, I don't.
This is probably going to be a little bit of a lengthy episode.
We'll try not to be too long, but we just had a lot to cover and we wanted to share it.
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I'm going to read this little story. This was in my Berean school in the Bible.
This was a little story that was in there. It says, an old man used a small
boat with two oars, or that's paddles for those who don't know,
to help people cross a river.
One day, a passenger noticed the word faith on one of the oars,
and the word works on the other.
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The passenger asked, why have you carved a word on each oar?
Asked the curious writer i'll show you
replied the old man at first he rode only with
the oar of faith this caused the boat to go
in a circle then he rode only with the oar of works again the boat went in a
circle but only the other way however when the man rode with the two oars of
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faith and works the boat traveled straight ahead so it is in life said the wise
old man faith and works must pull together.
One without the other is useless.
And guys, that is about as plain and as simple as you can say it.
It is two sides of the same coin. They go hand in hand.
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If you truly say you have faith, then evidence of that faith is going to be through works.
You are going to step out and you are going to be bearing fruit.
You are going to be being a light. There's going to be evidence of that faith.
If you just have works without faith, that ain't going to get you nowhere either.
You can't earn salvation.
You can't earn or deserve your way into heaven as a gift from God.
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But if you truly have faith in what Jesus done, there will be works that will
flow from your life and evidence of it.
Galatians 3 and 11, it says that no one is justified by the
law and the sight of god is evident for the just
shall live by faith look i'm going to read my commentary
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real quick on my book it says your bible book and my bible i mean it is a book
but it's a bible bible book no one will earn his way into heaven by keeping
the ten commandments they were not given for that purpose the law is like a
mirror all it can do is reflect what we are in truth,
unclean, and desperately in need of help. Yeah, so true.
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Another thing, I think this was important to point out when Brianna was just
talking about the law, there was a work that was required to,
for salvation. But I want you guys to understand the work that was required,
we could not accomplish it.
The work that was required, what was needed to be done for salvation to be granted
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to all of mankind, we could not accomplish it. It was not in our means to do it.
The work that was required for salvation was only able to be accomplished by Jesus Christ.
Matthew 5 and 17 says, think not that I am come to destroy the law,
this is Jesus talking, or the prophets.
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I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the law. He lived a perfect, sinless,
blameless life here on this earth.
He took our punishment, our sin upon Him. He bore it all on the cross.
He rose again the third day and he is now seated at the right hand of the Father
making intercession for us.
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And it was only through him and the work that he did upon that cross.
That was the only work that was required for salvation.
And that work that was required, again, we could not accomplish it.
It was something we could not do within ourselves.
The work that was required for salvation was finished by Jesus.
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He actually said these exact words.
John 19 and 30 says, when Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, it is finished.
And you think about that, that's kind of weird for him to say he's hanging there onto a cross.
And this is what he said, it is finished.
And the Bible says he bowed his head, he gave up the ghost, meaning the work
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that was required to bring, to bridge that gap between God God and sinful man,
the work that was required to do that, Jesus Christ did it.
He finished it. He accomplished it. And there is no other work that needs to be done.
There's no other foundation that can be laid other than Jesus Christ and him
crucified. That is it, guys. It is faith alone.
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It is faith alone by grace alone. That is it.
Nothing else. And it was a work that we could not accomplish.
But Jesus Christ came. He accomplished it.
That's very true. You want to go from there? Yeah, sure.
Ephesians 2, 5 through 10 says,
Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ,
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by grace you have been saved, and raised us up together and made us set together
in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
that in the ages to come we might show So that exceeding riches of His grace
and His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves,
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it is the gift of God, not of works.
Lest anyone should boast, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus
for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Just as clearly as Paul said, we are saved by works, he immediately adds that
we are created in Christ to do good works.
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Amen. That God had long ago planned for us. Amen. That's so true.
Not saved by good works, but for good works. That's so true. That's a good point.
And let's see here. there.
Galatians 2 and 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ,
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even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith
of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
It was a once for all sacrifice of Christ that justifies sinners.
And that's something guys to remember. We begin by faith and we continue in faith.
Don't begin, and then we go off on something else. We've got to keep,
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oh, I've got to, you know, I believe Jehovah's Witnesses believe they've got
to share the gospel with so many people, and they've got to do all these things,
but we start by faith, we continue in faith, we end it by faith.
That is it. I mean, it's a faith thing.
And again, it's not blind faith or misguided faith, but it's faith in the work
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and person of Jesus Christ.
Galatians 2 and 21 says, I do not frustrate the grace of God,
for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead and vain.
Guys, if there was another way to get salvation, if salvation could have been
brought about by works, God would have been a very cruel God to send His Son,
Jesus Christ, to endure and suffer the things that He did and what He had to go through.
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If salvation, some other way, could have been brought about,
God would have been a very cruel God. But guys, this is the point.
There was no other way. No other way could salvation been presented to us but through Jesus Christ.
You can go from there if you want. Galatians 2.16 says, It says,
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No one that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.
Even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in
Christ and not by the works of the law.
For by the words of the law, no flesh shall be justified.
So true. Let me read this right here. You can find this on gotquestions.com.
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Misunderstanding the relationship of faith and works comes from not understanding
what the Bible teaches about salvation.
There are many errors in regards to faith and works.
One error is easy believism, the teaching that as long as a person prayed a
prayer or said, I believe in Jesus at some point in his life,
then he is saved no matter what.
So a person who as a child raised his hand in a church service is considered
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saved, even though he has never shown any desire to walk with God since.
And is in fact living in blatant sin.
This teaching, sometimes called decisional regeneration, is dangerous,
and deceptive. The idea that a profession of faith saves a person,
even if he lives like the devil afterwards, assumes a new category of believer
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called the carnal Christian.
We've all heard about the carnal Christian. We think that that's just a phase
we go through and, you know, it's okay to live in a lifestyle of sin,
not making a slip up and, oh, I've done this by accident, but you are living
a life of sin, continuing into it, and we just call it the carnal Christian.
Him this allows various ungodly lifestyles
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to be excused a man may be an
unrepentant adult or a liar or bank robber but
he's saved he's just carnal yet we can see in james chapter 2 an empty profession
of faith one that does not result in a life of obedience to christ is in reality
a dead faith that cannot save and guys we see that so much today there's there's
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there's no one in between.
We got those, the things they must maintain good works and, and salvation is
dependent upon them doing something on their end.
But guys, that is so that that is an error, but then it's also an error to say,
well, since it's by grace and it's nothing I can do, then I don't have to do good works.
No, you don't have to do anything, but if you truly have genuine faith,
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guys, there's going to be evidence.
There's going to be something in your life that is going to be different.
We're We're going to talk about the fruit in just a second.
But this idea of a carnal Christian, you can just live into a lifestyle of sin. Examine yourself.
Examine your faith. Is it really into the work and person of Jesus Christ?
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Is it a genuine faith? Is it a live and active faith?
Or is it just a head faith that's never went no farther than, oh, I believe.
I'm saved now. Or is it active, guys? Guys, is it a true act of faith?
We need to examine ourselves. Brianna, you can go from there if you want.
I ain't either.
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I know, guys, we've covered a lot, but this is just a really good topic and
one that I just really want to nail home and try to make it as plain as what we can.
It's kind of hard to understand the place and work thing, but hopefully we kind
of are explaining it where people can understand it. We're not theologians.
We're not scholars, guys.
(31:43):
We're just two people with a Bible.
True faith bears fruit. The Bible says in Matthew 7 and 16, You shall know them by their fruits.
Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Even so,
every good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree brings forth evil fruit.
A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
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Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits you shall
know them not everyone that saith unto me Lord Lord
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but listen what it
says but he that does the
will of my father which is in heaven many will say to me and that day Lord Lord
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have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils and
ending and in thy name done many wonderful works and then this is of Jesus saying this, and he says,
then I will confess unto them, I never knew you.
Depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
You know, it says there in verse 21, it says, not everyone that saith unto me,
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Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
It can't just be faith from the word of mouth. It can't just be a faith that is only in our head.
And oh yeah, I believe it, but guys, we're never truly showing examples of that faith.
We never have evidence of it. It's not just faith from a word of mouth.
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Matthew 15 and 8 says, this people draw nigh unto me with their mouth and honor me with their lips.
This is what their heart is far from me.
When you truly have, when you have truly put faith into the resurrected Savior,
that old heart begins to change. Everything has changed. You will become born again.
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Everything is changing. The way you think, the way you talk,
the way you act, everything about you has changed.
There should be evidence of that into our lives. This is something I want to point out here.
It talks about that a good tree cannot bring forth bad fruit,
and a bad tree cannot bring forth good fruit. and says you will know them by their fruits.
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Galatians 5, 22-24 says, but the fruit of the Spirit.
We are born, when a person becomes born again, we're born of the Spirit.
We are that new creature.
And no sooner than we are born again, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit.
And this is something that should be active in every born-again person's life.
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This is a non-negotiable thing. The fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness,
temperance against such. There is no law.
And they, listen to what it says, they that are Christ have crucified the flesh
with the affections and lust.
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This is something, these are fruits.
This should be evident in every one of our lives.
You know, many times we say, oh, those are things that's evidence of when a
person's been baptized and they're filled with the Holy Spirit.
Well, guys, we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit from the moment we accept Christ
as our Lord and Savior. We are indwelt with the Holy Spirit and we are a born
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again person and a new creature in Christ Jesus.
And these are the fruits that should be active. This is the evidence of a born-again
person, not just being filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit.
This right here is just the evidence. This is a non-negotiable evidence of every
born-again person that we should see in their lives at some point in some time.
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Just something to think about. Go ahead, Brianna.
Go ahead. You can share it. I'm pretty much done too.
Titus 3 and 5 says, Not by works of righteousness, which we have done,
but according to his mercy, he saved us through the washing of regeneration
and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Not by works.
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Amen. So truly, guys, the whole point of this is we don't, I don't want you
guys to feel that you have to,
or I don't want us to come across or make somebody feel like that we are saying
you have to do something to earn your salvation.
I hope we have been very clear and outspoken about that.
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As your salvation comes, the work that was required was completed by Jesus Christ.
And now we just have faith in what he done. We just trust in the work that he done.
We trust in him. You know, there's a person by the name of Ray Comfort,
and this is one of his famous things. He'll say, you trust in Jesus like you would a parachute.
And that is basically, guys, you are, I've never been skydiving,
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but once you make the Good job.
It's out of your hands. You just got to fully trust in the parachute to let you have that safe land.
And guys, that is the way it is with Jesus Christ and our salvation.
We just got to trust in him, guys, that what he done, it was enough,
it is enough, and it is going to see us through.
But if we are truly trusting in Jesus and we have truly placed our life in him,
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guys, they're all to be a difference.
It sickens me today when I look around and I see so many professing Christians
and people who are saying they have faith in God and they are walking with Him
and they have been born again, but their lifestyles look no different.
They talk no different. They're doing the same thing that the people who want
nothing to do with God, the same people who actually outright deny God and say
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they want nothing to do with Him. the Christian, the professing Christians look no different.
Guys, this is a problem. This is an error. I'm not trying to preach.
I'm sorry. I just kind of, I get a little carried away.
It is biblically inconsistent to say that someone has been saved, but has not changed.
Many people go through the outward motions of giving their lives to Christ,
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but no lifestyle change follows.
This This is not real salvation. It's dead faith.
But when you think about this, when you walk into a dark room and you flip on
a light switch, you expect light.
Right now, when we come back here to record this episode, I had to flip on that
light switch because the room was dark.
If the light wouldn't have come on, guys, guess what? I would have thought something's
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going on. Something's not right.
Well, how is it when we become saved, we were supposed to be illuminated.
We're something that light switch is supposed to be on and if we are seeing
something else something of darkness and,
Something's wrong. Something's not right. If no light appears,
you rightly assume something is wrong.
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It would be logically inconsistent to say that the light is on when the room is still pitch black.
Light naturally dispels darkness.
When a dark heart receives the light of salvation, it is illuminated.
Priorities change. Desires change. Outlooks change.
Life is seen clearly for the first time. If the darkness of sin continues,
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we can rightly assume no light ever came on.
And guys, my hope and prayer is that we would examine ourselves.
We would truly look over our lives and we would make for sure that our faith
is not a dead faith, that we are not just having a head knowledge.
It's not just faith, but it's just, oh yeah, I believe, but it's never went
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no farther Father, guys, that we have a genuine faith in the person and work of Jesus Christ,
and that we would remember that we are not saved by faith and works,
but we are supposed to fall into the category of faith that works.
If we have true faith, guys, if we have truly been born again,
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let's make for sure that there's evidence of it.
Let's not just live lives, and if you have truly even born again,
this shouldn't come as a task or a chore or something that you feel, oh man, look what I know.
It should be something, there's something on the inside of you,
a new desire to want to be different, to want to not walk the same way that
the old you used to walk or that your friend doing the same things that your friends are doing.
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There should be something inside you telling you to want to be different and to be different.
Just something to think about. so I apologize
for us going so long it was just a really good topic I enjoyed it I pray and
hope you guys enjoyed it and are encouraged by it and just dig into your word
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again if we said something wrong or something that you would like some more
clarity on to just kind of reach out to us.
Yeah if you have a question just let us know we may have to pray about it But
we will try to get you an answer that is found within scripture,
not something we're just pulling out of thin air.
(40:40):
But guys, we hope you are encouraged by this. Again, we're going to try to get it on Spotify.
But until then, you can find us on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and pretty much anywhere
else you listen to a podcast that you can find it.
We'll see you guys next week. Thank you for listening. One way, thanks by both ways.
Music.
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