Repentance and Works

[cosmicutopia]

If salvation is not by works and a spiritually dead person can make no progess towards his faith, then how are we to interpret passages that describe God's calls for repentance? If believing is a good thing, and the spiritually dead can do no good thing, how is this possible?

If someone says they made the choice to become a Christian, is that a lie?

 

[montanaviking]

If salvation is not by works and a spiritually dead person can make no progess towards his faith, then how are we to interpret passages that describe God's calls for repentance? If believing is a good thing, and the spiritually dead can do no good thing, how is this possible?

If someone says they made the choice to become a Christian, is that a lie?

I do not believe so, but there are others on this board that will disagree with me. The answer I think is found in Acts chapter 2. This is the beginning of the preaching of the Gospel after the ascension of Christ. The first sermon on repentence. In verse 21 it says "whosoever shall CALL upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." It's pretty self explanitory here. Calling is something we do.

Verse 37 says "Now when they heard this they were pricked in their hearts." The bible also states that in order for men to come to Christ they must be drawn by God. You see the message is given and God tugs at the persons heart and the person must respond.
verse 37 further points out that after being pricked they asked "What shall we DO?" They realized they had to do something. Peter then did not say, "you don't have to do anything." Rather to the contrary he said. "Repent ye and be baptized every one of you."
He gave them the way. They had to "repent."

Doing something in order to recieve forgiveness of sin is not new. In the OT the people had to sacrafice animals. It was something they did. It did not mean they "earned" their salvation. Believing is not "earning." It is a simple act of acknowlegement that we do not deserve salvation for we are sinners and we acknowelge that salvation is a "gift of God and not of works lest anyone should boast."

 

[ivdavid]

It is a simple act of acknowlegement that we do not deserve salvation for we are sinners and we acknowelge that salvation is a "gift of God and not of works lest anyone should boast."

Could you also define the terms "Salvation" and "sinners" used here. I know it seems obvious but I've found different people believe different things about them - just trying to ensure all the readers here are on the same page. Thank you.

 

[Drew]

If salvation is not by works...

Well, I would certainly question this premise and post material that I suggest shows that Paul, at least, thinks that final salvation is indeed based on "works":

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.†7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

How is this not a clear expression of the notion that eternal life is granted based on how one has actually lived?

 

[childeye]

Well, I would certainly question this premise and post material that I suggest shows that Paul, at least, thinks that final salvation is indeed based on "works":

God “will repay each person according to what they have done.†7 To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

How is this not a clear expression of the notion that eternal life is granted based on how one has actually lived?

This is a good question. For to be righteous is to do righteous works. Love and morality are expressed in the propsperity of the community as a whole. When Paul says we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, I believe he is refering to works of the law.