Is Salvation by Faith + Works?

The Catholic Church, Orthodox Church and Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that salvation comes through faith and works, works being any acts or good deeds that may help to earn our salvation. The Protestant Reformation held that salvation is by grace and faith alone, and that good deeds are simply a sign of true salvation not a means of achieving it. However, there are some Protestants who believe that the act of water baptism is required for salvation. And it seems many Christians aren't sure what they believe on this issue and why.

If salvation is by faith alone, a denomination cannot claim to have the only true way of salvation. So it seems this issue has serious ramifications. It seems that works based salvation may be used by a denomination as a basis for controlling people. Has this been shown by history? It seems the New Covenant was meant to replace the "religiosity" of the Old Covenant with a personal "relationship" with God (Jer. 31.33-34). On the other hand, it seems that many denominations have simply created a whole new set of laws and rituals to replace the Jewish ones. Is it possible to be partially free or partially a slave? (Gal 5.1)


Which view do you hold and why? Is it important to make the distinction between faith and works? If so, why? What is your opinion?

Seeing God - Year Bible #08

As we study through the Bible we come to Leviticus, which deals mostly with the issue of holiness. Many will begin fasting for 40 days for Lent beginning February 25th in a desire for more holiness. What exactly is holiness and what is its purpose? Jesus took the lid off the holiness in His first publicly recorded sermon. He said “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5.8) Firstly, Jesus revealed that holiness is a way to blessedness, which basically means happiness. Who doesn’t want to be happy? Secondly, He revealed that holiness has more to do with a clean heart than clean hands, an important point as we begin Leviticus. And thirdly, He revealed that holiness leads to seeing God. People who have seen God working greatly in their lives seem to have understood this.

The Apostle Paul saw God work mightily in his life. He said “…we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Ephesians 1.4) William Wilberforce, who was an instrument God used to end slavery in England, plus many other things, said “There is no shortcut to holiness; it must be the business of our whole lives.” Charles Spurgeon, who also saw God working greatly in his life, said "If I had my choice of all the blessings I can conceive of I would choose perfect conformity to the Lord Jesus, or, in one word, holiness."

"The Taste of Freedom" - Bible in a Year #06

In this study we’ll look at Israel’s first taste of freedom as a nation. There are three major themes: First, there is testing in the desert, then there are the tablets of stone that will be given by God and then there is the tabernacle of God’s presence which is to be built. The 10 Commandments were a foundation of Israel as a nation. Interestingly, they were also a part of the foundation of the USA as a nation.

"A Spiritual Showdown" - Bible in a Year #05

(For audio in English with Russian translation please see my audio page at this link) As we study through the book of Exodus, we come upon a famous spiritual showdown. This showdown was between Israel’s God, as represented by Moses, and Egypt’s many gods, as represented by Pharaoh and his sorcerers. The theme poses some questions, such as “Is there real magic and, if so, where is the power from?” “What are the differences between God’s miracles and the sorcerers’ magic?” And “Is there any real proof of evil and the demonic?” This lesson will address each of these questions.