Originally posted by @ghost-of-a-duke
An interesting perspective, but I am still minded of Paul telling us that genuine salvation 'inevitably' results in a life of good works. 'Inevitably' is a powerful word to me and I struggle to see how a Christian could not do the inevitable and still be among the saved. - Say for example it was inevitable that after eating a peanut, Stephen would g ...[text shortened]... y deny him, since they are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good deed.'
Titus 1:16
I am not a supporter of not doing good works nor am an in supporter of the idea that a Christian can lose their salvation. The life eternal is just that, spiritual rebirth into eternal life cannot be reversed there is none or IMO insufficient scripture to support this. If one is born into a family one cannot be unborn from that family.
Nevertheless questions remain:
- how does someone know they are saved?
- what happens if they sin?
- what happens if they don’t do good works?
- what are good works, is there a list?
- are these works of equal credit if they are to be accumulated unto salvation?
- how many of which good works should l do?
I don’t have the answers but I cannot accept that you have to earn salvation, it is not supported in scripture. Once or if, one accepts this then there must be another answer to the works question.
There is the only one other solution I can think of and it will be controversial; those who do not live the life, do not have the life. They are NOT born again, they are NOT saved. I’m not sure about this but I can’t find another solution other than a
sonhousian™ one.
This would mean that I am not saved because I don’t do good works, at least not many. Or do I though...maybe I’ve done enough. It’s impossible to know.