Are We Saved by faith Alone

The question has come up, are we saved by faith alone, or are works also required? First look at the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-25). This is how a Christian is identified. It also says we live by and with the Spirit. In Jn 14:21 Jesus says if we love him we will obey him. Back up to v20, Father in Jesus, Jesus in us. Back up to V15-16. We get the benefit of the Spirit. This leads back to the fruit, which we will bare because the Spirit abides in us. Jesus never separates love from service, nor should we.

Can you loose salvation, I certainly think by deliberate choice you can. We are warned the only unforgivable sin is to blaspheme the Holy Spirit. What does that mean? I think one of the best answers is found in James 1:13. If you say the Holy Spirit (eg God) is evil, does evil, you blaspheme. Words and actions are equivalent, I think, to making a statement because actions speak louder than words. Otherwise why would James say faith without works is dead. It is true. If you believe, if you "love" God, then by the very definition of love you will take action. Your actions are the workings of your heart. If your actions are not hidden from men, how you anyone think your heart is not hidden from God?

We are told in Jn 10:27 that if you know Jesus, you'll hear and listen to him. Jesus says when we are facing him there will be some who call his name but he will say he never knew them and it will be because they never served him because they never served others. Jn 13:33-34 says we'll be recognized by the love we show one another. LOVE IS A VERB! Jn 14:21. Jn 14:12 says if we believe, we will do what he says. 2 Cor 5:17 - we are a new creation. The old man is dead, we are born again. Halaluja! We can't worry about being doers, because if we really do believe, we will bear fruit unless our natural man comes back.

Remember when Jesus washed Peter's feet? Peter objected, but Jesus said do it or else. Peter then overcompensated by saying wash me fully. Jesus then said Peter didn't need to be washed all over, just the dirt on his feet. When we walk with Jesus we get dirt on us because we walk in the world. We're warned to be in but not of the world. Anyway, Eph 2:8-9 states we're saved by faith rather than works. Eph 2:10 goes on to state our very purpose in life, AND THIS IS THE ANSWER TO THE GREAT QUESTION: WHY???, Eph 2:10 says, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Yes, we're saved by faith, but we exist for service. Does this mean a Christian can't sin? Not at all. It simply means it is our very nature to want to be more Christlike, to grow and mature, to run the good race, to share the Good News. Jesus promises us salvation if we believe (put our faith and trust and hope) in him. Jn 3:16. He also promises the Holy Spirit. He tells us we can't hide our goodness, we can't hide him. Jesus is the light of the world. You can hide from the light, but you can't hide the light itself. Ah, great question. Glad you asked. :)