1. James 2:14-26 – “faith without works is dead”
This passage explains that faith alone cannot save a person if it is not accompanied by good works. True faith will naturally lead to good deeds.
2. Matthew 7:21-23 – “not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven”
This passage emphasizes that it is not enough to simply call oneself a Christian or even to do good works in Jesus’ name. Only those who do the will of God will enter heaven.
3. Ephesians 2:8-10 – “saved by grace…for good works”
While salvation is indeed a gift of God’s grace, this passage makes it clear that Christians are also created for good works, which are the natural result of being saved.
4. Galatians 5:19-21 – “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control”
These attributes are the result of the Holy Spirit living in the lives of believers. A lack of these fruits can indicate a lack of genuine faith.
5. Romans 12:21 – “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
This verse encourages Christians to actively do good and resist evil. It suggests that faith and grace do not exempt Christians from the responsibility to do good and promote righteousness.
Overall, the Bible consistently teaches that faith and good works are intertwined, and that one cannot exist without the other. True faith will always produce good deeds, and salvation is not merely a matter of saying the right words or having a certain belief system, it involves a fundamental transformation of the heart and a commitment to doing good works in the name of God.
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