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Is believing/faith a work ?

jaybo said:
Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— not the result of works, so that no one may boast."
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Ephesians 2:8-10 [NKJV] 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. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

FRUIT, not ROOT.
 
atpollard said:
Ephesians 2:8-10 [NKJV] 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. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

FRUIT, not ROOT.
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I don't understand the point you're trying to make. We are not saved by works! It is entirely God's doing! IOW, God can't be bribed into saving us. Once we are saved we are expected to love others (including our enemies), doing what we can for them as God inspires us.
 
jaybo said:
I don't understand the point you're trying to make. We are not saved by works! It is entirely God's doing! IOW, God can't be bribed into saving us. Once we are saved we are expected to love others (including our enemies), doing what we can for them as God inspires us.
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Ephesians 2:8-9 talk about HOW God saves us and makes a special point that it is "not of works". The very next verse, Ephesians 2:10 then immediately is all about works and they are not optional ... they are GOOD WORKS, God prepared them in advance, and we are to WALK IN THEM (an ongoing thing from that point forward).

We have a joke about gardening: "Green side up."
The most important thing to remember when planting a flower or shrub is to plant the green side up. If you plant the leaves underground and the roots in the air, then the plant will quickly die.

Salvation and WORKS are similar. If you confuse works with the ROOTS (the part that keeps salvation alive), then you will quickly die. WORKS are not the ROOTS of salvation. However, Jesus also said that a tree that bears no fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. WORKS are the FRUIT of our salvation. It is our salvation that grows the fruit (works). It is Jesus that keeps our salvation alive (roots).

So WORKS are the FRUIT of Salvation and not the ROOT that brings Salvation.
Like gardening it is important to remember: "Green side up." [Keep your WORKS as the FRUIT and do not confuse them with the ROOT, Jesus Christ].

So when it comes to Works, remember: FRUIT, not ROOT!
 
atpollard said:
So WORKS are the FRUIT of Salvation and not the ROOT that brings Salvation.
Like gardening it is important to remember: "Green side up." [Keep your WORKS as the FRUIT and do not confuse them with the ROOT, Jesus Christ].
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Agreed.
God causes us to believe, our belief causes us to do works. Our works are actuated by the Spirit (Isaiah 26:12; Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 2:13)
 
brightfame52 said:
You probably dont understand that some verbs are in a class called action verbs, do a study on verbs it can expand your understanding.
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Perhaps I did, I looked it up and behold this is what I found on the web:
"To believe' is a state verb, not an action verb. It cannot be continuous. You believe (or you don't believe) somebody or something. "I don't believe you" is correct."
Now if you can produce an authoritative greek grammar text from 2000 years ago that classifies the Greek word as an action verb, you might have an argument.
 
Believer of the Word said:
Perhaps I did, I looked it up and behold this is what I found on the web:
"To believe' is a state verb, not an action verb. It cannot be continuous. You believe (or you don't believe) somebody or something. "I don't believe you" is correct."
Now if you can produce an authoritative greek grammar text from 2000 years ago that classifies the Greek word as an action verb, you might have an argument.
Click to expand...
To believe is an action verb, its following a command to do something. Acts 16:31


And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

In the greek the word believe is a verb:

www.blueletterbible.org

Acts 16 :: King James Version (KJV)

Acts 16 - Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father [was] a Greek:
www.blueletterbible.org www.blueletterbible.org

Definition of "Verb"
A word or phrase denoting an action. In the Greek language, the verb usually communicates FIVE pieces of information:

Also its an imperative:
Definition of "Imperative"
Corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15) is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.

So if you condition your salvation on an action you performed, such as believing, you are promoting salvation by your works.
 
brightfame52 said:
To believe is an action verb, its following a command to do something. Acts 16:31


And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

In the greek the word believe is a verb:

www.blueletterbible.org

Acts 16 :: King James Version (KJV)

Acts 16 - Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father [was] a Greek:
www.blueletterbible.org www.blueletterbible.org

Definition of "Verb"
A word or phrase denoting an action. In the Greek language, the verb usually communicates FIVE pieces of information:

Also its an imperative:
Definition of "Imperative"
Corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15) is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.

So if you condition your salvation on an action you performed, such as believing, you are promoting salvation by your works.
Click to expand...
It is a work of the heart, not physical work.

You believe in Calvinism, do you not?
.
 
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brightfame52 said:
To believe is an action verb, its following a command to do something. Acts 16:31


And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

In the greek the word believe is a verb:

www.blueletterbible.org

Acts 16 :: King James Version (KJV)

Acts 16 - Then came he to Derbe and Lystra: and, behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timotheus, the son of a certain woman, which was a Jewess, and believed; but his father [was] a Greek:
www.blueletterbible.org www.blueletterbible.org

Definition of "Verb"
A word or phrase denoting an action. In the Greek language, the verb usually communicates FIVE pieces of information:

Also its an imperative:
Definition of "Imperative"
Corresponds to the English imperative, and expresses a command to the hearer to perform a certain action by the order and authority of the one commanding. Thus, Jesus' phrase, "Repent ye, and believe the gospel" (Mk.1:15) is not at all an "invitation," but an absolute command requiring full obedience on the part of all hearers.

So if you condition your salvation on an action you performed, such as believing, you are promoting salvation by your works.
Click to expand...
There are different classes of verbs, look it up, some verbs describe a "state". The word "believe" is NOT an action verb, it is a state verb. Research it further and you will see that I am right. Believing is not an act, it is a state, you either believe something or you do not. Action is a physical thing. What physical thing do you do to believe?
 
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Believer of the Word said:
There are different classes of verbs, look it up, some verbs describe a "state". The word "believe" is NOT an action verb, it is a state verb. Research it further and you will see that I am right. Believing is not an act, it is a state, you either believe something or you do not. Action is a physical thing. What physical thing do you do to believe?
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Its sad you are not able to acknowledge such a evident Truth friend, may God have mercy on you.
 
brightfame52 said:
Its sad you are not able to acknowledge such a evident Truth friend, may God have mercy on you.
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The physical verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
Let’s run to the corner and back.
I hear the train coming.
Call me when you’re finished with class.


Stative verbs can be recognized because they express a state rather than an action. They typically relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements. The best way to think about stative verbs is that they are verbs that describe things that are not actions.
The stative verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.

The doctor disagrees with your analysis.
John doubts the doctor’s opinion.
I believe the doctor is right.
She wanted another opinion.

English Grammar Rules - Verbs

The award-winning grammar and spell checker that corrects all types of English grammar and spelling mistakes. Start proofreading your texts now.
www.gingersoftware.com www.gingersoftware.com
.
 
Cooper said:
The physical verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.
Let’s run to the corner and back.
I hear the train coming.
Call me when you’re finished with class.


Stative verbs can be recognized because they express a state rather than an action. They typically relate to thoughts, emotions, relationships, senses, states of being, and measurements. The best way to think about stative verbs is that they are verbs that describe things that are not actions.
The stative verb examples in the following sentences are in bold for easy identification.

The doctor disagrees with your analysis.
John doubts the doctor’s opinion.
I believe the doctor is right.
She wanted another opinion.

English Grammar Rules - Verbs

The award-winning grammar and spell checker that corrects all types of English grammar and spelling mistakes. Start proofreading your texts now.
www.gingersoftware.com www.gingersoftware.com
.
Click to expand...
To believe in scripture is an action verb, If you condition your salvation before God on your believing, then congrats, you promote salvation by works.
 
brightfame52 said:
To believe in scripture is an action verb, If you condition your salvation before God on your believing, then congrats, you promote salvation by works.
Click to expand...
You need static verbs. No action required.
The doctor disagrees with your analysis.
John doubts the doctor’s opinion.
I believe the doctor is right.
She wanted another opinion.
.
 
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