Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

For those of us who hold to the promise made by Him who is ever faithful, salvation is the road to life again, and we understand that life is more than our family, our jobs, our hobbies, our friends, and the pursuit of happiness. This life is indeed a test and how we perform against the great Tempter, our own desires, and those things we both hold dear and important in life. For those of us who eagerly await Him and search the scriptures for life we appreciate what Paul says, "…when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ." (Ephesians 3:4-5) which has been revealed to His holy apostles.

Many people feel that faith alone will find the way to salvation and that works will not separate us from heaven. But James 2:19 says, "You believe that God is one. You do well, the demons also believe, and shudder." So we can understand that just belief alone in God will not be the total package.

Also, since "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17) we can understand that our faith is built by nothing less than diligent study to find what our God has told us concerning life on this great planet. "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of God."(2 Timothy 2:15) which is to say, study His word to understand, and that takes effort by cracking open the good book, not osmosis!

Jesus says in John 6:29, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." So faith is a "work of God", and there is no doubt that faith is a requirement to be a child of God as He tells us in Galatians 3:26 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ."

So, to find our answer to "Are we saved by works?" we turn to,

Ephesians 2:8-10: For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves, it is the gift

of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created for

good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Well, as we can see, we could all work the good works until the cows come home and we would all be found standing in the cold as we will not reach heaven without the grace of God. But please note that He does not say, "So then, works are not necessary for your salvation, just sit back and take a free ride on the Reading." He does say, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works." (verse 10)! When Naaman was told to dip himself in the river Jordan seven times to be cleansed of his leprosy, how many of us would believe he would have been cleansed if he said, "I believe, therefore I am clean." For a fact, since the cleansing was not according to his think-so, he was ready to live with his leprosy rather than dip and be clean! Finally his servant convinced him it was better to do the things asked and he did dip seven times and was clean (2 Kings 5:1-14).

Jesus says,

Matthew 7:21 & 24 21 "Not everyone who says to me 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven;

but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to the

wise man who built his house upon the rock."

Who will enter the kingdom of heaven? Those that believe and call out "Lord, Lord."? Or those that "does the will" of the Father?

There is no doubt, it is the doer! The one who works the good works, created in Christ. And so there we have our answer. Our good works will help open the gates of heaven for us.

Saul, who was persecuting the Christians while on the road to Damascus was approached by Jesus and was told to go into Damascus and there he would be told what he "must do" (Acts 9:8). And, interestingly enough, he did go and saw a man called Ananias who told him, "And now why do you delay, Arise, and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on His name." (Acts 22:16)

So, will the work of baptism save you? "And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you-not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience-through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 3:21). You be the judge!

The book of James says it well,

James 1:22 "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."

James 2:17-18 & 24 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well

say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my

faith by my works."

24 You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.

So we can see that works perfects our faith, because faith without works is dead. Faith is certainly a part of salvation's road just as much as the works that God asks us to do. Nothing we could do upon this earth could purchase life everlasting as it is worth more than all the so called riches of this earth. But we must recognize that we show our love to God by hearing His word and acting upon it with a cheerful heart!

James 4:5-8 Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit

which He has made to dwell in us"? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "God is opposed to

the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee

from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify

your hearts, you double minded.