Faith
and Works
Salvation in Christianity is not based on faith alone!
By:
Shahid B. Waheed
The
Importance of Righteous Deeds
Christians’
claims that salvation is solely based on the faith alone in Christianity.
Christians do not seem to realize that faith and works are independent and both
are equally important. The difference is that, whereas the faith in the
foundation, good conduct forms the pillar and walls. Thus, the edifice of
Islaam is built on faith and good conduct. Whereas Christians’ chose to
disregard this, despite the Bible talks about works. [See: abounding in good works (1 Cor. 9:8; Eph. 2:10; Col. 1:10), being constantly aware of the fact that they will
be judged by their deeds [Mt. 16:27; Rom. 2:6; 1 Cor. 5:10; 1 Pet.
1:17] It must be interesting
to point out that Christians claim that they are saved by faith
only (Chrisitnas like to quote John 3:16 and/or Ephesians 2:8-9) is incorrect. These
verses talks about faith is an
important part of the salvation process, but neither passage says Christians
are saved by faith alone. Now as the last resort if Christians may decide to
throw Romans 10:10 in support of their claim then, this question begs for
an answer that, Would it be right to use this verse to teach
"confession only?"
Readers must note that This myth of faith alone began
in 1517, when Martin Luther exposed the mistakes of the Catholic church and it
started the Protestant epic. The basic doctrine of this Christian reformer was
the salvation by faith. At this point is interesting to note that for 15
centuries, Christians don't have any report about this doctrine in any
teachings of Christian theologians, especially at those that are commonly
called "the Church fathers".
The fact that the
first Christians, who knew about the letter to the Romans, didn't render in the
same way the Paul's doctrine and we don't have any report of debates in the
writings of the first Christians, it seems that they had cleared Paul's idea.
But after 15 centuries, suddenly it arose the dispute on how Christians’
have to understand the Paul's words.
The questions that begs for
answers are:
·
Why Jesus did not
promulgate this doctrine?
·
Why Peter and other
disciples who were before Paul did not teach this doctrine?
·
Why Paul taught this
doctrine only to the Romans? If he was speaking about the key of the salvation,
the most important knowledge, He dedicated only few Chapters in all his
writings, why?
Bible
teaches: “Every word may be established in the mouth or 2 or 3 witnesses"
see Matthew 18:16 II Corinthians 13:1 Hebrew 10:28.” Jesus is reported to have said this to the Hebrew. One should
keep this in mind that every word uttered by Jesus, with the clear subject and
with the sharp context sharp; obviously it will have more value then somebody
else’s words having no authority.
We read in II Peter 003:014
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye
may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. 003:015 And account
that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother
Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 003:016
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are
some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable
wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
This is a clear warning by
Peter, on the topic of “coming of the lord” in which, Peter is saying to
the believers to be diligent, without spot and blameless, unfortunately Peter
didn't elaborate that what are the problems with the Paul's letters, but it is
interesting to take note that if you misunderstand those writings you could
lose your salvation.
In conclusion, the
facts presented above from the New Testament are evidence that Christians’
claim is not true. Also their faith is in contrast to Old Testament’s teachings
with its entirety. It is also obvious that Christian missionary use deception
to win converts while misrepresenting the truth about their own man-made
religion.