He is absolutely preaching a false gospel of works.
It is really only a matter of whether one's religion slips them in the front door or back door.
Much, if not most of the new testament is instruction on how a beleiver SHOULD live. If works are the automatic result of believing, then the NT would be a pamphlet, not a theological exposition on what a believer is to do and not to do.
Silvertusk wrote:Though he does say this:
10) We are saved by grace through faith alone. No one can work or do enough good works to earn his salvation (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="
http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/Ephesians%202.8-9" target="_blank" data-reference="Ephesians 2.8-9" data-version="nasb95">Ephesians 2:8-9</a>).
11) While we are saved by grace through faith alone, believers who have genuine faith will do the works and will of God or else they are not truly saved and they are deceiving themselves (<a class="lbsBibleRef" href="
http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/James%201.22" target="_blank" data-reference="James 1.22" data-version="nasb95">James 1:22</a>; <a class="lbsBibleRef" href="
http://biblia.com/bible/nasb95/James%202.17" target="_blank" data-reference="James 2.17" data-version="nasb95">James 2:17</a>).
Which seems contradictory - but I suppose if you are not doing any good works then you are not really grateful for your salvation.
you are wise to recognize the contradiction. It is religious double speak and the work of the enemy.
I would say at some point every day, I am not as grateful as I should be for my salvation. If we really, at any given moment, grasped our salvation, we would simply be overwhelmed and fall on our face in praise. But, I admit, that is not my spiritual posture most of the time.
If people think that works are required to be saved, then who are they looking at to measure salvation? Themselves. They are not looking at the finished work of Jesus. They are looking at their own performance. Therefore, their faith, at least at that moment, is in their actions and behavior and not in the message of Christ. (John 5:24)
Byblos wrote:The good works we do are not of our own, they are the good works already prepared for us from before the foundation of the world.
No one is denying that, only what role they play in whether or not one is saved. It is certainly impossible for a non-believer to produce said works. It is possible for a believer to not walk in the good works prepared for them.
True works are born out of our identity, "In Christ." As one gains confidence of their identity, they are fixing their eyes on Christ. Our identity is not based on our efforts, our committment, courage or bravery. It is based on knowing in our heart that we have been bought with a price and made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. This is how we transform our minds. If you are looking at your own performance, then your mind is still conformed to the world. This is the religious performance model, and no matter how it is packaged, it has no spiritual life in it.
If a person beleives that they must produce works to 'verify' their salvation, then their focus is already off of Christ and on themself. This leads to a person joining themself to a relgious system that provides them with a check list of things to do. As they fulfill the check list, they become self-righteousness. That person is no longer simply trusting that Christ saved them. But, instead they are trusting that their performance is evidence that they are saved. Now, most won't admit to this, but it is the reality of the situation. They will try to craft their argument or shift the focus. "Are you saying that people can live anyway they want to??" Which once again puts the focus on the person's behavior and not on Christ. Silver wisely recognized this as a contradiction.
