@@peterubbels2385here’s Martin Luther’s answer to your question: “If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and sin boldly, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2. Peter 3:13), are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God’s glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins? Pray hard for you are quite a sinner.”
Short catholic answer: Salvation is by faith alone, but works are the fruit of faith. Ergo: faith that doesn't produce works is dead. Just as a tree that doesn't produce fruit is dead.
Some trees that can't fruit can still pollinate. Someone who may not believe can rationalize the world in such a way that their atheistic pains turn people TO God. Works without the faith can be fixed almost instantly, if He so desires. Psychedelia and near death experiences are very good at remediating the faith part, for starters, and we can choose to embrace one entire half of those possibilities!
@@herbertgray7080You are correct we don’t do good works to be saved we do it only to be an example of God’s love to others. Salvation is by faith alone
@@herbertgray7080To do the only perfect reparation for our sins. His Sacrifice merits our salvation and gives reparation for the dishonor we did to God by sinning, while also freeing (redeeming) us from sin. Also by taking our nature He builds a bridge between the human and the Divine so that we can partake on His Divinity. And by suffering the effects of our sins He makes it so that we can attain the glory of His perfection. This does not excuse us from the obligation of Loving God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves, but cleans us from the sin of not following these Commandents perfectly. Faith without good works is dead because good works are Love and Love makes all virtues to be alive. Without Love all virtues, including faith, are impotent to do anything at all.
But Christ also said 'by their fruits you shall know them. ' The fruits are the works that faith will lead you to. This is really important because Christ also said that 'not all who say to me 'Lord, Lord,' will enter heaven.' How will you know you are not one of them? By the fruits of your faith. One may come before the other, but both are very important.
@@thefunkslamdunk9224 But Jesus uses the word fruit for a reason. A good plant produces good fruit (a true Christian produces good fruit) and a bad plant produces bad fruit or no fruit at all (fake Christians or non-believers do not produce good works). The fruit is a product a good seed, the faith being the seed and the works being the fruit.
I, as an evangelical, wory for all of the victims of the modern gospel. The one that says “you have a God shaped hole in your heart so just say these worlds and God will fix your life, fix your marriage, save you and change you” It’s lacking in the essence of the gospel and it centered on the worldly problems, not the problems of the heart and of eternal salvation.
@@tobiasbourne9073 I’m saying that those who believe that simply saying a prayer if accepting Jesus into your heart aren’t saved if they don’t repent. If no one tells them about the law then they won’t know what they did wrong and won’t know what to repent from.
As my dad (a southern Baptist pastor) would say, “we don’t have a works based salvation we have a salvation that works.” Basically like someone else said here in the comments our works don’t save us however they are the evidence of our salvation. “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16-20
@@succathog5906 oh I agree 100% on that. In a spiritual context/sense we are called/commanded to be disciples who teach what Jesus & God have commanded so while some of us might not be called to be pastors or ministers we are called to disciples who make disciples so I do believe “knowing them by their fruits” does refer to non-pastors & ministers based of what the Great Commission says
I have to watch a health and safety thing for college I just muted and sped up. your content is better for my health than the college telling me to explore my sexuality.
Hey Zoomer, I am Catholic. I really like your videos. I would say that the things you said about baptism in this video is very similar to the Catholic Doctrines on Baptism. I did watch your previous video on baptism. I never really new any other tradition other than Catholicism and Baptist, because most of my friends are Baptist. It was nice to hear your views on this. I was wondering by your view on baptism becoming effective by faith would a baby who dies but is baptized be "saved". I could be misunderstanding you here.
Baptists and Catholics stand at opposite ends in terms of their traditions. 😄 If the Presbyterian/Reformed perspectives surprised you, delving into Lutheranism might pique your interest. Lutherans affirm the perpetual virginity of Mary, Baptismal regeneration, the concept of original sin, infant baptism, private confessions with a pastor, and the real physical presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. Moreover, Lutherans consider the history of the past 2000 years as their own, attributing the foundation of their church to Jesus in the first century rather than to Luther in the 16th century.
@@luke-i7yThat's heresy. Every human being enters the world in a state of original sin, which is a privation of sanctifying grace, the life of the soul that enables it to live and exist in the upper realms in the presence of God. If a baby dies without receiving baptism, they cannot enter heaven upon death. They go to a lower realm referred to in scripture as paradise or Abraham's Bossom. Why do you think the enemy is so eager to get women to murder their children in the womb? His aim is to drag human beings into eternal misery and ruin alongside him and the rest of his fallen angels, so why would he encourage abortion and human sacrifice if it meant those babies go straight to heaven?
I like ❤ how you present the truth of salvation by faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJ 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. Having been baptized as a baby and not getting great teaching thereafter till 33, I was relieved I was baptised again as I learned more about the Bible.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 See James 2:19: 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[g] He was even called the friend of God.[h] 2 Reading more of James, there are more examples of Works. It isn't works as in rituals or traditions but living out faith in our lives by Loving others and entrusting God with our lives entirely.
Salvation is by grace through faith, not of works that anyone should boast! Good works is the fruit of being saved. P.s. Thanks for the correction @affe100 👍
He will repay everyone according to his works: eternal life to those who seek glory, honour, and immortality through perseverance in good works, but wrath … to those who … obey wickedness.” Paul Romans 2
what does work mean to you? if you have faith, it would show in your works, in the way you live.... as the fruits of your faith ..... If you have no fruits/no works.... you have false faith
Im a baptist and love your videos ive learned so much about our brothers and sisters in the different denominations and I hope you keep doing what your doing! Personally ive always held the sacraments in a higher regard because my family actually went to a Lutheran church until I was around 8 years old and I will say in my church we think the sacraments are very important and especially baptism, so I just wanted to say that because there are some baptist churches that don't compromise on baptism and we don't just see it as a work but as an outward expression to God, and personally I believe God uses baptism to bring us into new life and that the only part up to us is to make the conscience decision to turn back to God. Again thats just my personal view on that but again love your videos man 🙏🏾 keep it up
@@p1nkfreud Those who have knowledge of the Gospel and choose to willfully sin constantly were not only never saved. They are not even Christian. True faith leads to Good works. Many people including yourself are championing Works over faith. Stop it bro. That is legit sending people to hell. There's a reason Christianity stands above all other religions and are completely different from all religions across the world. We are truly saved by the grace and Glory of God not of our works. Unlike every religion that enforces you to do certain things in order to attain Heaven, Nirvana, Genna etc. We can't live perfect lives or try to. It's all the grace of God Our faith leads to those Good works. The prime example of the thief on the cross whos lived a life of complete crime and murder yet was forgiven on the cross. bro you cannot make this up. *you're not only trusting in your works but yourself.* "i think believing in Jesus is not enough" cannot make that up man please repent and put you're entire faith in Jesus. That'll produce good works. Not because we have to but because we want to for the love of Jesus.
@@xHollow. My friend, we will all be judged by our own yardstick, no? Perhaps it is better then to say, that none who willfully sin are saved. After being baptized and accepting Christ as my savior, I admit I have willfully sinned. I am not alone in this, however. I like to think that because I repent regularly, and because I do TRY to stop sinning in earnest, I am still saved
Thank you for your video! I’m Catholic so hold to a different understanding of faith and works, but it’s good to hear an alternative viewpoint from a different faith tradition, so I can better understand alternative views.
@@SomeGuy-rn9cg Oh well, I'm not sure of my specific denomination. I know im a Protestant and I believe in the 5 solas (just like the rest of my church) but im not sure what exact denomination I belong to, Presbyterianism is starting to resonate with me too.May God guide you in your search for a good church, brother!
A marriage analogy in regard to non-baptism and salvation could be... a man who claims to be married but he has never worn his wedding ring and refuses to do so.
My advise to you is if it is your first reading the Bible you should start with the Gospel and then read the New Testament first or at least Paul letters. You also don't need to read all four gospels, i would probably read Mark (since is shorter) and John (since it is the "deepest and the most different one). Then you can read the Old Testament and then the rest of the New Testament. The books of wisdom (Salms, Proverbs etc) can be read whenever your want.
My personal advice you didn't ask for? If you get "bored" and start missing lines, just bookmark it and come back! Either switch to a separate book, or take a break but burnout will happen so it's best to have a plan for it.
Find it interesting how Protestants separate salvation and sanctification. If I’m already saved then I don’t need to be sanctified. If I’m not sanctified then I can’t enter heaven. We have to respond to his grace, so what we Catholics believe is ultimately our works are actually God’s because he doesn’t just want to be part of our lives, he wants to be our lives.
The question is what you mean by works; James 2:19: 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[g] He was even called the friend of God.[h] 2 The Epistle of James describes works and they are not ritual or tradition, but living out the Lord's commands to Love the Lord God with all of your heart, spirit, mind and body and to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Many see "works" and insert their own idea rather than read and understand God's definition from scripture itself.
The word Salvation is often used to just describe the grounds on which God lets us into heaven (justification) but it can also very well refer to sanctification and glorification, both of which are the inevitable results of justification. This is why people like to say "I have been saved, I'm being saved, and I will be saved"--that is, I have been saved from condemnation through faith, I am being saved from the sinful desires of my flesh through the Spirit, and I one day I will be saved from the pains of this age through the victory of the Lord and the resurrection of my body.
You should do a video explaining why Baptism has become something other than what it is depicted as being in Scripture. In Scripture we see only credobaptism given to adults, and although some verses say it is necessary for salvation, other verses indicate that it is a work more akin to "professing Jesus Christ" or joining the body of believers. How did it become something given to infants? How did it become something more than an expression of faith? How is it considered "not a work" when it is an act of individual will? These are questions that ought to be answered.
But they have been answered and refuted centuries ago. Maybe if people weren't so caught up in their false man-made traditions and clingig to and repping their little denominational gang/tribe there wouldn't be so many divisions and rampant doctrinal chaos among so-called Christians.
@@lukebrasting5108 pedobaptism is apparently a man-made tradition. Is that what you're saying? The Bible does not give an example of pedobaptism to follow, which means it comes from a tradition rather than from Scripture. This is the sort of thing that could use explaining - and not smug disregard.
On baptism. The tradition of water baptism, dunking someone in water, is a work and it doesn't save. It is simply a symbolic act to publicly declare our faith and to represent both Jesus's resurrection and us being baptized by the Holy Spirit. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is God washing away the guilt of our sin by using the blood of Christ. That is not the same thing as water baptism. Water baptism is to baptism of the Holy Spirit what a wedding is to a marriage. Weddings are a tradition to symbolically represent the binding of a man and woman, but the wedding isn't the marriage itself. Similarly, water baptism seeks to symbolically represent baptism of the Holy Spirit, but it isn't baptism by the Holy Spirit itself.
True, but Christ commanded that both must occur for anyone to enter the kingdom. I think it can lead people astray to contemplate separating them in this matter, as both are necessary for salvation.
@@andreichira7518 When Jesus said that in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven we have to be born of water and spirit, there are two main competing views of what this means and neither of them think this refers to the tradition of water baptism. The first is that "born of water" refers to physical birth while "born of spirit" refers to being spiritually born again, IE being saved. The second is that "born of water" refers to spiritual cleansing (which is one of the things water baptism symbolically represents) while "born of spirit" means essentially the very same thing just stated a different way.
@@LawlessNate Well you're neglecting the third view, which is the view that being born of water is by immersion, the same way St. John the Forerunner baptized in the Jordan and the method by which he baptized Jesus. The first view could not possibly be correct because Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born of water and the Holy Spirit in response to Nicodemus asking how a man could possibly be born again.
@@andreichira7518 Typically even those who believe that the tradition of water baptism is required for salvation often don't use this verse to try and support that view, not that there aren't those who try to do so. Also, I just stated two major views; I never said that both were legitimate. I myself hold to the second view. Keep in mind that if you're defining going out and performing a specific tradition as not being a work then you're opening the door to introduce works based theology because all of those physical actions are then somehow not works. The Bible quite often will take a word or concept and use it to mean different things in different contexts. Sometimes death means biological death whereas other times it manes spiritual death IE separation from God. Similarly, the Bible uses Baptism to refer both to the tradition of water dunking and also to the Holy Spirit working in us for our salvation. Context is necessary to determine what the Bible means when the Bible refers to baptism.
@@andreichira7518 Let me put it this way. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is salvation itself; those are two different ways to describe the very same thing. It's not that baptism (of the Holy Spirit) is necessary for salvation or comes after salvation, that IS salvation. By conflating water baptism with baptism of the Holy Spirit you'd be essentially suggesting that we participate and even cause our own salvation be performing this tradition.
@@GhostVII Amen, (GRACE means UNMERITED FREE GIFT. NO human effort or works can be involved in receiving or keeping salvation; there is Nothing a person can do to qualify for or earn any part of salvation.) Romans 11:6 (KJV), “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace....” (Trusting on ANY human effort or works means that person is not under grace, but is attempting to qualify for salvation by the law/commandment keeping/human effort, and is therefore NOT saved)Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV) - “For by GRACE are ye saved through faith; and that NOT of Water Baptism cannot be part of HOW a person is saved / born-again. 1 Corinthians 1:17 (KJV) - “For Christ sent me NOT to BAPTIZE, but to preach the gospel; not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of NO EFFECT.” God Bless
@christsavesreadromans1096 God tells us to rightly divide scripture in 2Tim2:15. James 2:24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” James is talking about Faith PLUS works are needed referring to the Jews in Tribulation in the last days and NOT referring to the "Church" James 1:1(Proves he is addressing the 12 Tribes of Israel) 1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. James5:3(timeline shows the last days tribulation) 3“Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the LAST DAYS.” keep the commandments PLUS faith in Jesus Christ in tribulation) 👇 Revelation 14:12 12“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” More Proof in Revelation 7:5-8(Listing all the 12 Tribes of Israel) 👇 5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. 8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. Your whole understanding of James are not referring to Church but the Jews. The Bride of Christ will not be going through Tribulation
"""a living, creative, active and powerful thing, this faith. Faith cannot help doing good works constantly. It doesn't stop to ask if good works ought to be done, but before anyone asks, it already has done them and continues to do them without ceasing. Anyone who does not do good works in this manner is an unbeliever… Thus, it is just as impossible to separate faith and works as it is to separate heat and light from fire!""" Dr. Martin Luther (1522)
Which means good works are required, as everyone who didn’t care for the least was sent to hell in Matthew 25:31-46. So the one who has faith alone, but refuses to repent or to do good has their faith amount to nothing.
@@yuenbee Again, Jesus sent everyone who didn’t care for the least to hell in Matthew 25:31-46. So if a christian claims to have faith, but doesn’t care for the least, then their “faith” will lead them to hell.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 Of course. The words of Scripture: "What use is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" True saving faith will bear the fruit of good works. That's why James wrote that the true believer is "justified" by works. We may be declared righteous before God by faith alone, but it is through works that we testify to the genuineness of that faith.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 Because if they did not do good works they did not have faith in Christ (He said that the ones who believe in Him are the ones who follow is commandments). BUT good works are not was justify us to God and thus is not what SAVES us. It is very simple to understand and it is clearly what is in the Bible.
Fr Mike’s video was so good. Very clear as it can be a confusing subject. I recommend any Sola Fide Protestants to watch it because you will learn what we Catholics actually believe.
RC and Protestants forgot the context in witch Sola Fide was formulated, Sola Fide is NOT a rejection of works, but it is the affirmation that good works proceed from a true believer as a evidence of his faith in the Lord Jesus - But without good works Faith is dead, thus, salvation is lost - Some RC than say "so this is just a semantic issue, you do believe in the necessity of Good works" yes, but here is the catch, what kind of works? the doctrine of Sola Fide is a rejection of what RC told us what those good works are, not a spontaneous works of faith, but a prescription, like pilgrimage, peanance, some RC sacraments, the rosary, indulgences and etc. If you do not adhere to this prescription of works, you are entirely lost Conclusion: Sola Fide is a rejection of RC dogmas and prescriptions of works, not the necessity of works in the Christian life.
The problem is the interpretation of Works that represent accretions, rituals and traditions that are empty and meaningless. James is full of explanation and examples of what works are. It's not contradicting Paul when one reads to understand than to quote mine. James 2:19: 19 You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God.[f] Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror. 20 How foolish! Can’t you see that faith without good deeds is useless? 21 Don’t you remember that our ancestor Abraham was shown to be right with God by his actions when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete. 23 And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.”[g] He was even called the friend of God.[h] Abraham didn't have the law, the only thing he had was sacrifice on an Altar. But God didn't call him friend because he conducted Altar sacrifices, he called him a friend for his Faith which was demonstrated by offering his Son. His sole heir whom God had promised to multiple his descendants through after decades of waiting.
Which would be fine if not for the fact that Sola fide has been twisted beyond comprehension in the ensuing centuries. It's no longer a rejection of the specific prescriptions of the Roman Catholics. It's has been twisted to mean nothing at all (or in the Calvinist heresy, that there is nothing you _could_ do because your salvation was predestined).
@@andreichira7518 Actually, although i am not a calvinist, you are strawmanning Calvinism, i sense you are a Shamounite that hate calvinists by a misunderstand of what they really believe in, just as protestants do with RC. Calvinists agree with the necessity of good works just like i said, but they believe that only the elect will actually perform those works and persevere in the Faith to the end. (yeah, i don't buy it, but it is not a rejection of works) Just to clarify, i do believe that what save is faith alone, works can't save you nor can earn you merity, but, if you do not have works you are just deceiving yourself, you are a church goer and not a Christian.
ive been researching this topic for whole day and suddenly this popped up in my subscriptions, thanks! currently halfway and this has cleared a lot of things, thanks again
Faith is trust. It’s not having works to prove to God your worthy. It’s time to place your faith alone in Jesus Christ and not complicated theology that backloads works into the gospel.
I agree. Good works are not only to show that we are Christians (as the city on the hill/lamp passage, which btw isn't an evangelical verse as many believe it is) but also to further the kingdom of God, to glorify God, and to make the image of Christ beautiful, also the acts and good works may decide whether we are a good Christian or not. (P.S. yes I am a Baptist and believe it is a public testament of our salvation rather than being a factor in saving us, however I do believe it is crucial that a Christian is Baptized. I believe rejecting to be Baptized is a form of being ashamed of Christ, which as Christ says He will be ashamed of us in front of our Father. I'm glad there are at least a few things we can agree on. Also did you make this in response to my last comment, because this was a point I explicitly made)
We are SAVED by Faith alone, but as Christians, we need to get baptized, turn from sin, do good works, and preach the Gospel. None of those things alone will allow you salvation, but if you have Faith, you will do these things, as Jesus Christ our Lord commands us.
I struggle to believe that the church is required to be saved. I have met a man who found the lord then went and lived alone in the woods for 3 years and grew his relationship with the lord. Indoctrination is thick in the world today and is present everywhere including church I thought the church was a place of communion and a place to exchange vows, praise the lord, find strength and support to try and be someone who bears fruit worth presenting to the world I am still going to try out some if not all of my local churches and see how it goes, it is nice to be around like minded people sometimes
The church is not strictly a building but fellowshipping in the family of Christ. There is a saying that wherever Christians plant a knee in prayer together, there is a church. If your local institutional congregations are comprised by the world, start a home church. Just a study and fellowship group.
Fellowship is important but not necessary. I don’t attend church but I am a devout believer. My political opinions vary drastically from most “church people” who I view as bigots and people Christ would be ashamed to represent, so I don’t seek to commune with “church folks”
@@p1nkfreud Brother, fellowship absolutely is necessary in that it is a vital part of the Christian life. God doesn't just redeem individuals, he redeems a "chosen family, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession." Don't allow your political opinions to separate you from the body of Christ. If you have truly repented and believed in Jesus, being baptized in his name, then you are part of God's kingdom, and the kingdom of heaven is a kingdom at war. Don't neglect your fellow soldiers in the battle for the sake of political opinions. Please find a local church gathering of people who love the Lord and their neighbor, with ministers who preach the word of the gospel faithfully. It is God's good will for you to be united with your brothers and sisters in Christ.
@@p1nkfreud Hebrews 10:24 Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25 And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. 26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. Also do not carry hate in your heart for your brothers in Christ or you will have murdered them in your heart. James 4:11 11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.[d] If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor? James 5:9 Don’t grumble about each other, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. For look-the Judge is standing at the door! I'll pray they are accepting and patient for you as I pray you are of them.
Key factor works.😂 You need works to be saved according to this video. The truth is salvation is a free gift of God you did not earn. (YOU DID NOT EARN)
The problem with this view is that it assumes good works are a given result of faith. It presumes that it’s impossible for someone to accept that Christ is Lord, and still do wrong or live apart from good works. Under these presumptions, someone who has faith doesn’t need to worry about good works at all because they believe they’ll just happen naturally anyway. Also, the interpretation of James is extremely contrived and a poor attempt at mental gymnastics. When you actually look into what the line says in context of Christianity, it’s clear that it means salvation. For example, a few lines earlier in James 2:21 talks about how Abraham was justified by works when he almost sacrificed Isaac. It’s absurd to assume he was just showing other people how awesome he was by sacrificing his son to God. It’s clear that he was justifying himself to God, demonstrating that he was worthy of His grace by showing that he was willing to sacrifice his only son to him. When you actually read James 2:24 in the correct context, you see that it’s not a manual on how to outwardly appear saved to people around you, that’s comparable to the public praying hypocrites. It’s also not explaining how you can find other good Christians, as it’s clear that the passage refers to justification to God through prior context. If you believe in the Bible, and don’t read it uncharitably to reinforce your confirmation bias, you understand that “sola fide” is not only not found anywhere in there but directly contradicted.
Paul explicitly says in Romans that if Abraham was justified by works he would have the glory, but not before God. And then goes on to say that it is Abraham’s faith that justified him. In order for Paul and James to not contradict, either Paul or James has to be talking about justification in a sense that isn’t before God. When I read James and see him talking about our works being profitable to ourselves and our brethren, it seems like he is talking about justification before man, which is incredibly important as it makes our faith attractive to others and will influence more people to be open to the gospel. However, justification before man doesn’t save us, justification before God does. And if Paul was talking about justification before God when he describes Abraham being explicitly justified by faith and not works, then that means we are justified before God through faith alone. Hope this helps
@@Laugicalthere is no contradiction in the Catholic position, where we believe that faith AND works are both necessary parts of salvation. Your argument is essentially “I believe that salvation is by faith alone. Since there is an apparent contradiction between James and Paul, it MUST mean that James isn’t talking about salvation, therefore my position can be correct”. You’re essentially building your interpretation of the Bible off of what you already believe, instead of vice versa. You also make a fallacious extrapolation when you suggest that when Abraham is saved by faith it means faith “alone”. Once again, Catholics believe in the necessity of faith for salvation, but according to this mode of interpretation, one could argue that you are saved by the sacrament of communion alone, since Jesus says “whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life”. Clearly, that’s not the case, and “alone” isn’t mentioned both in cases of salvation through faith and communion. Edit: Before any one accuses Catholics of pelagianism, the idea that you can save yourself with works (which Catholics anathematized at the council of Carthage), I’m not suggesting that doing the right amount of works will save you if you have faith. I’m saying that you need to strive for actualizing your faith through works, and that works aren’t inherent to faith, and that they’re not for justifying yourself to other people, but rather that works can help justify you and your faith to God if you actualize them with his grace.
@@rafdaguy6103 The Catholic position is false and quite frankly ridiculous. God knows our hearts, you cannot be a Christian and not bear some fruit, so works are the result of faith not a complement to them. The bible clearly lays out justification by faith alone over 100 times in the new testament, what James is saying is that you can't claim you are a Christian if you don't show it with your works.
@@powermauler very bold assertions with very little presented evidence. And no, that’s not what James is saying, I literally explained in my first comment why that’s an absurd and contrived interpretation.
I'm loving your channel and it's helped me loads in learning about different theologys in Christianity. I'm a pretty new Christian, baptised baptist, leaning towards Catholisism. It seems to me that the chief thing that saves is love for God, which requires faith and is evidenced in works. But loving God is something you do, ergo, a 'work'. Maybe I'm missing something, but a work to me is something you do, or is done. If so, it seems that you must have more than faith alone, faith with nothing else, not even love. If you're justifying the phrase by changing the meaning of the word work, then I think most people would actually agree with how you're saved. At the very least, is it something to hate one another for and cause so much discord in what is supposed to be one unified body in Christ? I pray that everyone can come together with one mind and spirit to give glory to God. I know this world needs it.
Great explanation. I recently had a bit of an existential crisis studying what the scripture and church history really taught about justification. I ultimately came to the conclusion that the Catholics were wrong about this. They had alternative explanations for Paul's letters, but I found rest in the gospels. Jesus clearly demonstrated that He offers salvation freely to anyone who approaches God through Him in faith.
It depends entirely on who you believe is doing the work. If you believe God is the one doing the work, then salvation is ABSOLUTELY by works; and if you believe God is the one baptizing you into his body the church, then Baptism saves you. You are saved not by your faith in God alone; but by your faith in him and his work he is actively doing in you. Belief in God alone is not enough for salvation; by that logic even Satan would be saved. I'm not fond of pointing fingers at different groups and saying who is and isn't saved, but this has raised a valid question in my mind about whether some Baptist groups can be considered christians. If the best litmus test we have for christian legitimacy is the Nicene Creed, then they're jumping through some serious hoops when they say they believe in "One Baptism FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS". At the minimum you have to believe it to mean something totally different from what the people who wrote the creed believed.
I just want to tell you zoomer what you said about baptism how it’s not a work is 100% accurate; as a Catholic that’s what we believe, it’s a gift from God that he gave us for us to use something Baptist and evangelicals can’t get through their heads. I pray that the Lord will help them understand these things.
@@Austin-kt7ky naw, baptism of the water saves. is required for salvation. But that theology asserts the Catholic stance that the fate of those outside the church is known to God alone.
@@eltonsstuff My point of contention with the idea that baptism is required for salvation is that it seems to determine eternal damnation for those who didn't have physical proximity to physical matter, regardless of their confession of faith or repentance of sin. I'm not advocating for neglecting the practice of baptism, far from it, but what I'm getting at is that being rescued from damnation is fundamentally a gift from God and not a result of our actions. (Ephesians 2:8, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God) Anybody can claim to be a follower of Christ, get baptized, and fall away. In that case, the fate of one inside the church is also known to God alone, even if they were baptized. A truly repentant man will be compelled with urgency to be baptized, but one would not feel compelled to do so out of genuine faithfulness unless they had already been justified by God, renewed by the Holy Spirit, and cleansed by the blood of Christ. That's how I understand it, but God teaches me new things when I pray for clarity. I only hope to read his word correctly and submit to it in truth.
In my life I done good works, but wasn’t saved. I grew up in the church but never trusted Christ back then. That’s why I personally believe sola fide. Now my life has changed however. Sins I thought I would never stop, I stopped. Even my friends noticed.
So many problems by simply not defining terms ... when you speak of "works", you seem to mean something different than I mean. I use that term work for the investment of energy, thus like in physics. And faith is to hold to Christ, hold that he is true and his teachings are true. Thus the question can be translated so everyone understands what it is about. Which of these two options is correct? a: One is saved by trusting (in) Christ. b: One is saved by trusting (in) Christ and acting on it. Now, some say action is the fruit of faith/the trust (in) Christ. Now, they say those fruits come automatically and this part the Catholic Church disagrees with to my knowledge. Now again: What do people mean by automatically? Do they mean without the investment of energy? For that seems to go contra all observation. Do they mean without a need to decide for an action before doing it? For a tree gets its fruits with energy investment but without a concious or emotional decision for it. But here too: A christian has to still make decisions for good and against evil on an everyday-basis. In the end the solution as I see it and where I see the simplest unification of all relevant verses is that in the first step you have Christ as Lord ... and it is not that acts will be formed "automatically" from that but the will to do good and to refrain from evil. This will is what can be observed in Christians, for it to bear fruit one needs to invest energy: first mentally or emotional so one makes a decision for good or against evil and then physically so one acts on it. As long as one has the will to serve God, a will that let's one hate evil (sin) and love good, one has saving faith. One needs to invest energy so one does not lose this faith, because then one would betray ones will/the holy spirit. Whether one loses salvation by losing the faith one once had (in quality and not quantity, that means all faith in Christ and all will to honor and love him) may be another question...
I have a question that is not exactly in line with your video but I think it is important nonetheless: There are sayings that events in the Bible have come from other events from other books/legends/people in history BEFORE the Bible was even written/recorded/passed down (you get my drift). I'll list one example for each, not to prove my point, but for you to see what I am getting at and need help understanding. For example, Noah's ark and the flood could be seen in the epic of Gilgamesh, which was written before the Bible. A guy in the epic constructed a boat because one of the god's of his told him to, and there was a huge flood that wiped out all living things. There are other events in the Bible that people, scholars, historians claim have happened in other works from before the bible. They claim the Bible blatantly copied them. Also, they claim that there is no CONCRETE evidence supporting Jesus was a real person. They say that his doings in the Bible stem from the doings of other heroes/legends/people that have just been compiled into one person, Jesus. What do you have to say about this? I am not trying to argue with you. I am an Orthodox Christian who is struggling with his faith, and struggling to believe. The lies, deception, politics in the Church and it's history, and the mystery of the actual events and truth of the Bible are confusing me. I am stuck at a crossroad. I want to be closer to God, I want to be saved, to feel His love, but as I said, I am struggling just like a deer staring into a pair of headlights. If you can, Redeemed Zoomer, or anyone really, please help me.
Ok I went through a period like you where I doubted my faith cuz I heard things like that. However, luckily those "facts" you mention are COMPLETE made-up reddit myths that even any respectable atheist scholar knows isn't true. The ENTIRE historical scholarly community knows Jesus existed. The "Jesus mythicism" which says Jesus was a myth based on other myths is popular on the atheist internet but has been debunked so many time. There are resources for literally ALL those things you mentioned on the youtube channel InspiringPhilosophy, I could not recommend it more highly. God bless you!
VIDEO SUGGESTION I would love to see a video of how you interpret genesis 1, I know u believe on evolution but how do you reconcile that with the genesis creation account
Something just occurred to me. When I hear Catholic priests discussing common problems they encounter in the confessional (without going into specifics for obvious reasons), one of the problems they report is scrupulosity, or the obsessive over-confessing of things that may not even be that serious, which usually happens because the penitent isn't certain that their confession and penance is truly sufficient. The deeper underlying problem here is a nagging doubt in the mercy of God. Martin Luther rather famously suffered this, and it led him to his reformation breakthrough. Catholic priests usually chalk it up to a personal flaw, but I wonder if it might not be an outflow from a more systemic flaw. Maybe not with the Church or the Sacrament as the Church absolutely teaches divine mercy and forgiveness of sins, but with catechesis about these things.
Love ya Zoomer but Why do I feel more like a Baptist every time I watch a video here 😂 “and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.” John 10:28-29 KJV
I’m a Baptist Seminarian and pastor and one thing I’ve learned from watching his videos is that he isn’t very knowledgeable on the Baptist tradition yet he claims that everything that is low church must be Baptist and if it’s Baptist it must be wrong. It’s the Baptist boogeyman.
Interesting, because ive always gone to non-denominational churches and babtist but it never sat right with me that "once saved always saved". So i dont believe in that because it would seem odd to just be complacent. So what would i be considered if i don't believe in once saved always saved but i am more in line with non-denominational churches?
It's a theological difference but not detrimental to the faith. When people say once saved always saved they mean that if someone has faith they will continue to have faith always and never fall away. The people that call themselves Christian at one point and then fall away were never Christian's at all. That's my view as of now but I'm exploring the concept because maybe it's wrong and you can fall away. Keep striving to learn more!
@@wyattc4644 What you just described is the perseverance of the saints. "Once saved, always saved" is the idea that you can fall away from the faith and die apart from Christ and yet still get into heaven on the grounds that you used to have faith.
My question to those who don't believe in faith alone is simply if someone accepts Jesus on their death bed are they still sent to hell? I've had some people try to justify it by saying that faith is the work but that just sounds like goofy semantics to me and still boils down to faith being all that is needed.
Take it from the perspective of a psychedelic lover; when your mind is outright CONVINCED it is dying, you will make realizations and admissions nobody in their sober mind would conjure. It almost always reflects 1:1 with the teachings of christianity, self gratifications become meaningless and generational blessings become the main focus. So if someone is ACTUALLY dying, and they make some of these realizations, are we supposed to relish in their suffering and poke fun at them? Or is if best to generally acknowledge that people do change, especially nearing the end of this journey, and let the big guy do all the finer sifting?
Yes, people who accept Jesus on their death bed are saved. The bible gives us an example of this, being that one of the men who was being crucified next to Jesus accepted Christ, and the bible says he was saved.
*DO YOU HAVE A MINUTE FOR GOD? READ THIS!* Hi there, you are loved by Jesus Christ and he also died for you so that whoever believes in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. ✝️☺️❤️ *Romans 10:9-10 - Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.* 🌎🌸 You are amazing, I ask you today to give your life to God, or just even to open a Bible. Have a nice day! 👇 If you love Jesus ☺️
You will never in the Bible find scripture stating that works directly contribute to salvation, but you can find passages that directly state that salvation is only by faith. Salvation is by faith; it is absolutely not by works. Lacking good works is a symptom of the disease rather than the disease itself. The disease is not having genuine faith. From genuine faith will come good works. Lacking good works means that the faith in question is likely not genuine. The lack of salvation isn't from the lack of good works but rather from the lack of genuine faith. That's the point being made in passages like James chapter 2 that often get misquoted without context to support works based theology. This is a huge issue, mind you. A different gospel is therefore a false gospel that doesn't save. If someone actually understands the ins and outs of official Roman Catholic theology and believes it then they're not saved, as working for your salvation, even in part, is to give up God's grace. After all, if you work for something then what you receive is a wage rather than a gift. God's grace can only be received as a gift. Everyone, by their works, deserves death as a result of our sin. To work for your salvation, even in part, is to accept responsibility for your sin. It's only by completely trusting in, by having faith in, Jesus and by His self sacrifice on the cross for the payment of our sin that we can be saved. You can either trust in Jesus's sacrifice as complete payment for your sin or you can instead try in vain to work for your own salvation, but you can't do both.
@@christsavesreadromans1096 Your source for that being the Roman Catholic church itself. I care what God teaches via His word, the Bible, and what God Himself teaches via His word is not the same as what the collection of human beings that call themselves the Roman Catholic church teach. Do you worship God or do you worship the man made traditions and teachings of the Roman Catholic church? Putting your faith in God Himself and His sacrifice on the cross is the one and only source of salvation. Putting your faith in man made teachings and traditions, be it Roman Catholicism, Islam, modern Judaism, Buddhism, etc, will not save you. Just as a pious Muslim might have genuine faith, but that faith is misplaced and so they will die for their sin, a pious Roman Catholic that properly understand official Roman Catholic theology will face the same fate. The only difference is that Roman Catholicism tries to disguise itself as Christianity whereas Islam doesn't. If God Himself is your highest authority then His word the Bible should therefore be as well. If the Bible is your highest authority when it comes to theology then you'd have absolutely no reason to believe any uniquely Roman Catholic theology as all of it contradicts God Himself is His word, the Bible.
@@LawlessNate What God teaches in His word is that everyone who doesn’t care for the least will be sentenced to hell on judgement day when all the nations are gathered before Him (Matthew 25:31-46). And not a single thing you’ve said changes that simple truth expressed in scripture.
@@LawlessNate God’s word also teaches that the church is the pillar of the truth (1 Timothy 3:15); so of course I’d listen to the church teaching on things, as it is truthful.
I am Catholic so: In order for us to have a saving faith it must have works. If we don’t have works then we’ll be cut off ( and we’ll be like the goats on the left of Jesus. No works = no faith. Good works + no faith = Heresy of Pelagianism. The equation must be: I have faith and have been saved by baptism + because of this I must work = Final Salvation (I have lived out a life like that of Christ’s) If I’m missing works then my faith is empty and dead. Faith is a double sided coin. Because I have been saved I should not sin, and I should work and live out my faith.
If baptism is a promise from God, and if we should accept it rather than reject it, and if God can save someone without baptism, that doesn't explain why infant baptism is necessary. Rather, it seems to bolster the Baptist belief that baptism should be a personal decision. I don't believe infants are not mentally capable of acceptance or rejection of God. In fact, it seems to me that predestination negates the need for infant baptism as well. My understanding of the rationale behind infant baptism is that it's necessary to wash away original sin and keep the baby from going to Hell. @Non-Baptists pls explain
Water baptism is not like 'taking your socks off' to Baptists. True baptism is baptism in the Holy Spirit and this can happen before, at, or after water baptism per Acts.
Yea I believe the big difference between Protestants and Catholics on this is a difference in how we view justification. Protestants and Catholics are on the same page when it comes to initial justification. Where we differ is Protestants view it as a one time event and then you cannot loose that salvation. Catholics on the other hand view justification as a process. Similar to his marriage analogy, once you are married you need to grow together in love. If you cheat on your spouse, abuse or stop loving then you have abandoned them (committed mortal sin) and must be reconciled before continuing the marriage. Non of the works after in themselves save you, but they increase your justification and without them you will die like the plant.
John the Baptizer even told us that he only baptized with water while Christ would baptize in the spirit. The water baptism is only a symbol of that spiritual baptism. Has no power in itself but someone who DOES trust in the lord will want to be baptized. On Faith and Works so many people are getting hung up on "works" without even knowing what "works" means. James describes works at length, I challenge anyone to come back after reading and describe a tradition or ritual James stated was required to be saved. The entire epistle is teaching how our ACTIONS demonstrate our faith. Anyone can claim to have faith, even Demons know God exists, the question is; Do you LIVE in a way that demonstrates you believe?
there is a work in salvation. the perfect work of Christ. not mine. not yours. only Christ's. But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses [good works] are like filthy rags. Isaiah 64:6
"Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire." - Matthew 7, 19 "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven." - Matthew 7,21
In Manichaeism, good deeds allow one to reach the afterlife. Even the worst godless blasphemer can enter paradise if his good deeds far exceeds his foul deeds. There are three destinations for the deceased. In the Manichean scriptures, the fate of the soul leaving the body is compared to a ship entering a port. The first possible destination is Heaven. Just like a ship full of cargo, the soul that is burdened by it’s good deeds is allowed entry. The second possible destination is reincarnation. Just like a ship half-full, it may or may not be allowed to dock. He is sent back, he is given another chance. The third one is Hell. Those whose foul deeds far exceed their good deeds are repulsed, just like how pirate ships are refused to dock.
Would it be more accurate to the reformed view to say sola fide is justification by faith alone not salvation is by faith alone? WCF makes a distinction of justification and sanctification and sanctification include other means of grace like the sacraments.
You misunderstand the idea of "once saved, always saved" in this video. It's not that a confession of faith means full assurance of salvation even if one walks away, but rather that if one "walks away" from the faith then they never truly had it to begin with.
“But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” Romans 3:21-28 NASB1995
I have a question unrelated to this subject. What is your opinion on the Carlist from Spain and the Cristeros from Mexico or just people who fought and died for the Faith?
I need help. I have a question. It’s related to the topic of the video. It’s a hypothetical question, but it is important to me. Faith alone saves. Obviously, it means you believe in God, and accept Jesus as payment for your sins. A “good” Christian would do their best to not sin. Is there a tipping point where that faith and ‘trying’ is not good enough? The real question I have is below. _____________ If the Bible said “wearing red shirts is bad and you really shouldn’t do that, cause it’s a sin”. Maybe even Jesus said “wearing red shirts is bad”. However, the world is crazy. This are misunderstood and mistranslated. The Church is divided into two denominations, Blue and Red. Blue believes you shouldn’t wear a red shirt, as it is a sin; no one in Blue Denomination wears red shirts. Red, on the other hand, says that people are just ‘not understanding’ what the Bible meant, and wearing red shirts is NOT a sin; there are many, not all, people in Red Denomination, who wear red shirts. Now, again, Denomination Blue is ultimately correct. The Bible /does/ say that wearing red shirts is a sin. There’s three people: 1. Blue person who never wore red + had faith (and what that entails). 2. Red person who never wore red shirts but believed it wasn’t a sin + had faith (and all that entails). 3. Red person who DID wear red shirts and believed it wasn’t a sin + had faith (and all that entails). This person only wore red shirts because they wholeheartedly believed that it was not a sin. The questions: • Which one(s) goes to heaven? • Maybe God “allowed” the division of denominations because He wanted Red Denomination to reach out to non-Christians who wore red shirts. This made red shirt wearers find God. Could this happen? Could God do this? A Bible verse/passage that comes to mind when I ask this is 1 Corinthians 8. Which seemed to say that you can wear red shirts (eat ‘unclean’ food) as long as you do it for glory of God (hence why I asked if wearing red shirts to bring more people to God could be a thing), but do not wear red (eat unclean food) in front of weaker Blue Denomination believers so that they do not stumble in their faith. It is not a one-to-one perfect comparison, because the hypothetical says red shirts is 100% a sin, while most Christians believe there is no ‘unclean foods’ in the sense that is presented in the chapter I referenced.
Baptism, The Eucharist and Worship are all acts of Christians. In being baptised you are professing Christ, in taking the Eucharist you are declaring Christ and in Worshipping you are submitting to Christ. If you are doing these you are claiming to be a Christian, if you aren't doing these then you aren't acting like a Christian. Christian morality is founded and derived from Christian metaphysics and worship. You can't divorce "morality" from "metaphysics" and "worship" and still be acting like a Christian. But the comment above is very true aswell, for someone to be saved they must believe in their hearts and confess Christ and His resurrection with their mouth in order to be saved, and works will follow that.
Why would anyone do that?!?!? As Paul said, if Christianity isn't true then we are the most pitiful people on the planet. Why deny yourself pleasures and sacrifice your desires to help people you hate if God didn't command you to? Do you hate yourself??? That's crazy
I'm in that situation right now. Most people assume that I am. I'm unconvinced of the actual existence, but the results of others' belief are too good to ignore. The underlying values of the faith produced the greatest nation in the world. Whether true or not, it's a huge net positive.
this is a hard one, but not for salvation itself, rather if it is the symbols or the acts that carries relevance. Now, lets postulate that salvation is within your actions, and is not given. It is a hard axiom, but the only one that permits discussion. In Brazil, we have stories about people, especially indians, being baptized as they are dying, through they own free will, for their newfound faith within the boundaries of death. Now, if they are saved or not is a hard question and I don`t think it belongs to us to decide, but rather, if you were the priest, would you done otherwise? It is a hard question that can be argued either way. Despite the heavy handed argument, baptism itself is no guarantee of salvation. Within some of those of orthodox faith, baptism and confirmation are bunched up as the same ritual at an early age, just enough so you can know somewhat what this thing means. So baptism, for most christian (that follow this rule, in general) is a confirmation rather than a salvation guarantee. But then, faith or acts? I`m inclined to think acts first and foremost. An actless faith is within the realm of imagination, and as such, is nothing more than fantasy. Faith is not fantasy, it is a statement and as such, should be transcribed within your actions. It is not necessary to sacrifice all one believes in the name of faith, but it is paramount that one doesn`t betray it trough one`s actions. Consider that God has the knowledge of everything that happens in your heart. He would not judge you for the despair or helplessness, but rather for the actions you take within your capacity. And He knows exactly what your conditions are. There is no such thing as a free salvation pass. It is a judgement of what could you do and didn't. If a baptism is given within a few moments before death, if it is sincere, it saves. Rather, if you were just baptized as a child, it is your acts within this compromise that matter. But salvation is not an artificial thing, it is organic as it gets, and no ritual guarantee it, but God will does it.
God is unlimited, so is His Grace. If you believe in the Death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and that act is the only remission of sins, you are SAVED. FAITH is a gift from God Eph. 2:8