Journal of Faith: Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling Philippians 2:12

Last post dealt with the Faith side of the faith vs works discussion. For those who don't understand this discussion, there are some who believe that you have to act a certain way to be saved while others think that is their faith in Jesus that justifies them rather than doing good. The most extreme of the faith argument is that our behavior no longer matters. One of the scriptures that team faith quotes as their argument is the Ephesians 2:8-9 scripture from the previous post. This scripture states that salvation is the gift of God through Jesus. The works side of the argument lifts up James 2 and this is what we are going to deal with in this post. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [f]your works, and I will show you my faith by [g]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [h]dead? 21 Was not Abra...

It has been years since I have written anything here, but I am so glad to be here today. As I was on a prayer call, the LORD showed me something to help me better understand the faith vs works concept in scripture. There are two scriptures about faith vs. works that seem to be opposites, but in actually go together perfectly. First is Ephesians 2:8-9 and it says: New International Version 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. This scripture reminds us that we can not save ourselves but that is our faith in the savior, Jesus, the gift who lived, died, and rose again to pay the cost for our sin debt. When I share this with people there is almost always the question of "good people" who don't recognize Jesus. What if someone follows the 10 commandments, but doesn't believe that Jesus is LORD? The answer is simple and sad. John 14:5-...