Are We Saved by Faith Alone?

Dr. John Bergsma, author of "Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls", reflects on the mass readings for August 7, 2020.

Jer 31:1-7
Jer 31:10, 11-12AB,13
LK 7:16
MT 15:21-28

[ifhollick]

Beautiful, Dr Bergsma! Not by faith alone, but by our conduct, by our imitation of our Christ! Help us, Jesus!

[INRIVivatChristusRex]

Thank you Dr. John Bergsma. God bless🙏🏻

[bobbyrice]

First, any time a PHD figure head claims scriptural understanding im reminded of how similar they sound to the very well educated pharisees in Jesus Day. They are well dress, intelligent, but blind to the nature and humility of who Jesus is and what he calls us to be in humility.

Philippians 2:7
7Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;*
and found human in appearance,
8he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.*

You can know you are saved if you have placed faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 10:9–11 says, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord, ’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’” The only requirement for salvation is faith in the work of Jesus’ death and resurrection (John 6:29). Nothing and no one else can save, not even our own good works (Acts 4:12; Ephesians 2:1–10). Once a person is saved by placing faith in Jesus, then he or she can be assured of salvation (John 10:28). This is the promise of God.

To have faith in Jesus means to trust Him. We place our faith in Jesus when we recognize that we are separated from God and cannot resolve that problem ourselves, when we understand that God has provided the payment for our sins through Jesus’ death, and when we turn to Him in repentance and belief. Faith in Jesus is not simply intellectual assent to the facts of His existence, His deity, His death on the cross, or His bodily resurrection. Rather, faith in Jesus is a heart-level trust that He is who He says He is and that He has accomplished what He says He has accomplished. It is belief that salvation is by God’s grace; it is reliance on the risen Lord for that salvation.

And Faith alone is exampled even in James 2:24. You see that a person is justified by what they DO and not by Faith alone.

this is a classic Catholic trap that enslaves the reader in an incomplete picture of Context. If you back up a little bit and read before hand....verse 14
What good is it, my brothers, if someone "says" he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?

the implication is someone who CLAIMS faith without the appearance of validation by works. Meaning works ALWAYS result from Faith. Faith is KEY. But if someone claims faith without works then their faith isn't real. Works are NOT parallel. You do not have faith then force your self to do works. no. Jesus Brings works from you that he prepared. Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good works that God has prepared in advance, that we should live in them.

God Brings forth Love, kindness, compassion, patience, etc. from the true believer. the true believer need not worry about acting like that on their own. It is the true gift of Salvation that brings about these gifts. Jesus Does the work for those who have faith in him. It's not on you.

focus on Jesus. the rest falls in place.

[Ronny]

Great exegesis as I've never considered the Gospel passage of Matthew 16.24-27 as a proof against the heresy of faith alone (protestant sola fides vs. Catholic understanding supported by James 2.19 and Matthew 16.24-27!).

On another topic, was there a specific verse or passage in Romans 8 that Dr. Bergsma was referring to (see 9:30).

[randolphguerrero]

Amen!
Another scriptural homerun Dr. B.
God's blessings upon you and yours.
I keep you in prayer. 🙏

[robpacleb]

Thank you again Dr. Bergsma - the background and context on Assyria, and the way you explained it, was most helpful. We are so blessed to receive these daily reflections!

[jsam]

The very definition of grace shows that salvation is free in and of itself. Grace translates to the Greek word CHARIS which means "unmeritted favor." This is why Paul says in ephesians "for by grace you have been saved (past tense) through faith and NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is a gift of God. Not of works so that no one may boast." This is also why in John's gospel (the one actually written to save the lost; see john 21:30-31) he gives the sole criteria to be saved which is to believe. This is also why Paul tells the church of Rome the difference between grace and works in Romans 11:7 "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Believe the gospel performed on your behalf (the death, burial and resurrection) and recieve eternal life today. Jesus died to pay the penalty for your sin which is death. If he already payed your debt then there is only one place to go.

[robertnieten]

The free gift of salvation can't be earned by " works", but even a free gift must be recieved. The word " recieve", in the new testaments original Greek, means " to take hold of".
We " take hold of" the free gift of salvation by obedience to the gospel plan of salvation spoken by Peter in Acts 2:38.
Saving faith is faith demonstrated by obedience. Repentance is act of obedience that we must choose to do in order to be saved after we believe.

[DarkAngel-cjsx]

As James said faith without works is useless

[alfreciljuarez]

FAITH ALONE MEAN THERE IS NO OTHER WAY BUT BY FAITH, THAT FAITH IS NOT ALONE. THAT FAITH INCLUDES BELIEVING ALL THAT IS IN THE GOSPEL.

[alfreciljuarez]

Ephesians 2:8-9
[8]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.
Am i wrong to understand that this verses are telling that man was saved through FAITH? That salvation from sin is a gift and not a reward not of works.
If i am wrong please explain to me these verses.

[tcov]

Christians are commanded to love God above all and with all AND to love neighbour as you love yourself. To love is to take action and any act of love toward God or neighbour is a good work.

[johns]

We are saved by Grace to perform good works. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for GOOD WORKs, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

[SuperIliad]

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s works.... " (1 Peter 17)

[BibleBasicsForSalvation]

By faith we are saved from our former sins, so that our walk in righteousness thereafter won’t be in vain.

[barbwire]

1 John 5:13 says we can know we are saved. So, where is the list of good works that will assure me I am saved? 1 Corinthians 15: 1-4 says we are saved by believing in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is a free gift from God, and if by grace, then there should be no strings attached. If I have to perform works to maintain my salvation, then it is not salvation; it is probation. Again, where is the list of good works that will finally get me paroled, so that I am assured I have eternal life, as promised in 1 John 5:13.

[kevinramsey]

You said we are not saved simply by believing you just made God out to be a liar you don't believe the record of God 1john 5

[heidiaraneta]

Faith entails a lot of sacrifices in order to have salvation..we need to work on it, we need to follow God's will and His will is not that easy to do. So faith is nothing if not put into works ..God bless this channel and God bless us all🙏❤️😊✌️

[G.B.P.]

Yet, you have Scott Hann saying that it is faith alone what saves us.

[randolphguerrero]

It is amazing how the critics in the comments section have such limited understanding of Scripture related to their faith alone proposition.
Don't let the ignorance of the critics burden you Dr. B.
"Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9