QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON FAITH AND WORKS

QUESTIONS:
Gud day.....may the Lord continue to bless your ministry.....
Plz i need your enlightment on this bible verse.... 1CORINTHIANS3:13-15 " each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

2ndly..... Is Paul contradicting James on the issue of JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH??

Thanks
-E.A

ANSWERS:

Glad to hear from you brother Emmanuel. On 1 Corinthians 3:13-15, what it means is that Christians' works on earth in the vineyard of God shall be tested and rewarded. If any worker of God falls and fails, he uses his own hands to destroys his own work; if after he had led many to God, he joined the prosperity preachers, runs after worldly care or his actions or behaviors misled people, all his previous labor in the kingdom of God is ruined, even if at the end he repents, God will forgive him but he may not have enough time to start over again. He will be saved since he repents but no reward.

Apostles Paul and James said the same thing, no contradiction. Paul said we are saved by faith, not by works, James said faith without adding work is dead. Paul said we can't continue in sin and expect the grace of God to continue.

Why many are confused about this and many are misinterpreting it is lack of spiritual understanding or personal motive using to interpret God's word.

The foundation of Christian life is faith in Christ, that to be justified on Christ's account, not by our work. After we are saved, what next? Are we to continue in sin by faith and claiming justification and grace in Jesus Christ while we continue in sins? God forbids. What Apostle James says is that the first thing you need is faith in Jesus Christ to be justified, thereafter you need to add something to your faith, because faith alone cannot survive, saying you need to add work to your salvation. This Paul even made more clearer, he said, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12.

When we come to Jesus with the burdens of our sins, we are saved from sins, our justification is by faith in Christ, " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

What happened after we are saved? Should we continue in sin and keep on claiming justification by faith? No, We are saved and justified by faith, but we are not saved to continue in sin; we are saved by faith to live righteous. If anyone claims to be saved and continues in sin, then from what was he saved? Is salvation in Christ not to be free from the bondage of sin? So if we continue in sin, then we are not yet saved. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. Paul mentioned work different times after faith of salvation. We are saved for good righteous work, not for sinful works.

So, Paul and James said the same thing by the Spirit of God: Faith for salvation, and to remain saved, we must be fruitful in godly works.

If you will like to rededicate your life to Jesus so as to experience the supernatural grace of God, please click the link https://www.facebook.com/notes/revelation-of-truth-evangelical-ministries-rtem/how-to-be-saved-and-start-a-new-life-in-jesus/270674586372252

You can also contact us on email or phone for prayer, counsel or if you need biblical enlightenment on personal issues:
Revelation of Truth Evangelical Ministries, (RTEM) Nigeria
Our Email: rtemoutreaches@yahoo.com
Our Tel: (+234) (0)803 924 9751, (0)705 937 3351, (0)802 578 7942.
Our Facebook page, you can like for daily article on your wall, please like and then click on the "liked" and add to "interest list"http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revelation-of-Truth-Evangelical-Ministries-RTEM/244086502364394

You can also contact us on email or phone for prayer, counsel or if you need biblical enlightenment on personal issues:
This message is from Revelation of Truth Evangelical Ministries, RTEM
Our Email: rtemoutreaches@yahoo.com
Our Tel: (+234) (0)803 924 9751, (0)705 937 3351, (0)802 578 7942.

Our Facebook page, you can like our page for daily article on your wall, please click on this link and "like", then click on the "liked" and add to "interest list" http://www.facebook.com/pages/Revelation-of-Truth-Evangelical-Ministries-RTEM/244086502364394

If you want to read other Christian articles and Bible Studies on several other topics from this ministry, you can please click on this link and see several topics. http://www./468590419840054/files/ You can join to receive new topic