For it says "John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Also FFRF says:
- Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith . . . not of works."
- Romans 3:20,28 "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight."
- Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ."
vs.
- James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."
- Matthew 19:16-21 "And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he [Jesus] said unto him . . . keep the commandments. . . . The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven."
The common defense here is that "we are saved by faith and works." But Paul said "not of works."
So does that mean that faith is all that is required or not?
< STRONG No. John 3:36 says (not 3:16) to also obey Him. (Biblical)
Joh 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
< STRONG No. In many other places, it says to obey Jesus' commandments. (Biblical)
Luk 6:46 "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?
Joh 14:15 "If you love me, you will keep my commandments.
In John 14, it clearly shows the connection of love and obedience.
Joh 14:21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
Joh 14:23 Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
Joh 14:24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.
Joh 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love.
>> But John 3:16 (ignoring 3:36) says that belief in Jesus saves the person.
So where does obedience come in if John 3:16 is to be interpreted on its own (by itself)?
< STRONG If it says to believe in Jesus, that is, believe that He is the begotten Son of God, then you should obey Him just as how you obey God.
That's part of what "believing in Jesus means." If you love God and obey Him, then you should do likewise to His son, if you believe Jesus is God's Son.
< There are 4 different types of works addressed in the Scriptures.
Salvation involves works of obedience to the commands of Jesus Christ (James 2:14ff.; Philippians 2:12), but it cannot be obtained by works of the Mosaic Law (Romans 3:28; 4:2ff.) or by boastful works of human merit (Ephesians 2:9). There is no contradiction in the Bible on this point.
- http://www.ukapologetics.net/biblecontra.htm
< Jesus said that those who heard His words but don't obey Him are like foolish men.
So on a practical sense, it is foolish to believe in Jesus and not obey His commandments.
Mat 7:24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Mat 7:25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.
Mat 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it."
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