Hard Questions
Can People Really Change? - Hard Questions
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Some people teach that Jesus' gift of salvation is powerful enough to save our souls but impotent to change our lives. In other words, salvation is a one-way ticket to heaven.
But is this what the Bible teaches? Can people change as a result of saving faith?
Consider these passages:
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." 2Corinthians 5:17.
"But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:20-24
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." James 2:14-17
Does salvation make us perfect? No. We are still a work in progress. But Scripture is clear; by God's grace of salvation, we are a new creation.
So, can Christian's change? Not only can they, but saving faith ensures it.
Reflect: Read James 2:14-26. What is the point of verses 15-16? What does verse 19 tell us about real belief in God? Why does James say that faith without works is dead? Is James telling us we earn our salvation?
Respond: How have you coasted in your faith? How can you reignite your faith in action?
Please share your comments below. I'd also love to know what your questions are so I can answer them in the weeks ahead.
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Thanks for the teaching
Faith and works work together, if the faith by itself is dead same way works works alone without faith is dead.
That is why faith is the action, Works is the the doing.
Is this the right way to figure out what faith and works are?
That is why faith is the action, Works is the the doing.
Is this the right way to figure out what faith and works are?
It's interesting this topic is what our Wednesday night Bible Study is currently going through. Enjoyed reading this.