Many say obedience and/or works are the fruit of salvation.
No they are not. They are the fruit of faith, and without them one cannot be saved , for their faith is shown to be dead." Dead faith, is NO faith!
This is one reason why the issues are so convoluted in the church. While it is true, we can say, in a certain context, obedience is the fruit of salvation, if it is explained in a biblical framework.
But obedience must be explained as a moral imperative and not just some "natural law" or automatic religious happening. So that people assume, "All I have to do is believe, and obedience will somehow magically appear."
Faith and works are two seperate factors that truly work together. The whole book of James was written with this in mind.
Millions of people "believe" the gospel who will never enter heaven. Why? Because they did not "believe" there was any requirement to obey the law. Their faith was non-faith, dead.
And their reasoning goes like this, "I am 'saved' by faith, and obedience is a natural fruit of faith apart from the law. Not so. While there are truly some natural law elements in faith and love, the moral law imperative must be equally explained and shown to be a necessity for "salvation."
This is the part denied, ignored, and/or abandon by many if not most pastors and theologians.
True bible faith can be explained in this way. I believe Jesus is my righteousness, my Substitute, and Surety before the Father. Thus I am a member of God's family. And within this same explanation we can add, "And as a member of God's family I chose to obey the law of the Father as a moral imperative which identifies me as a member of God's kingdom."
This second statement must be clearly enforced and explained, and at a bare minimum, it must be implied when explaining bible faith. For to be in rebellion against the Father's law, is to say one is not a member of God's household.
But this is not explained, and in fact, it is implied that no such obedience is even necessary. Not in the beginning, not in the present, and not in the future.
God is responsible to "cause" you or "make" you obey if and when you believe and accept the gospel. Obedience is not your obligation, but God's. This is apostate Protestantism and sad to say, much of modern Adventism.
When SDA pastors and teachers present this false doctrine, is it any wonder the spirituality of the church is constantly downward, and not upward?
A final point here. It is just as important to know what the Holy Spirit will not do, as it is to know what He will do. And to attribute to the Holy Spirit much of what is nothing short of Spiritualism is now presented as "righteousness by faith."
What we have left is neither "righteousness" nor is it "faith". It is nothing short of human conclusions inspired by the devil-- if it feels right then it is right for you.
The following ,insightful D' Aubigne quote gets to the heart of the matter .It describes what biblical faith really is and how a wrong conception of faith has led to a perverted gospel.
Merle D Aubigne Faith, according to St. Paul, is the means by which the whole being of the believer -- his understanding, heart, and will – enter into possession of the salvation purchased for him by the incarnation and death of the Son of God. Jesus Christ is apprehended by faith and from that hour becomes all things to man and in man. He communicates a divine life to our human nature; and man thus renewed, and freed from the chains of sin and self, feels new affections and performs new works. P53
This practical view of faith was gradually forgotten. Soon it became, what it still is to many persons, a simple act of the understanding, a mere submission to a superior authority.
From this first error there necessarily proceeded a second. Faith being thus stripped of its practical character, it was impossible to say that it alone had power to save: ..... In place of that Christian unity which comprises in a single principle justification and works, grace and the law, doctrine and duty, succeeded that melancholy duality which regards religion and morality as two entirely distinct things -- that fatal error, which, which, by separating things that cannot live unless united}, and by putting the soul on one side and the body on the other, is the cause of spiritual death. ..." History of the Reformation of the Sixteenth Century, Vol. 1
Here are some others' thoughts
Charles Spurgeon It is a faith which produces works which saves us; the works do not save us; but a faith which does not produce works is a faith that will only deceive, and cannot lead us into heaven.:-- Charles Spurgeon "Fruitless Faith"
John Wessel "St. Paul and St. James," says Wessel, "preach different but not contrary doctrines. Both maintain that 'the just shall live by faith;' but by a faith working by charity. ….
E.G.White The faith that justifies always produces first true repentance, and then good works, which are the fruit of that faith. There is no saving faith that does not produce good fruit. …… {OHC 52.5}
Many people think obedience and faith are opposites. But how can that be true? The word faith and faithful come from the same linguistic root. By faith God's people are faithful!
FAITH reveals itself in faithful action.
By faith -- "Noah moved with fear and prepared an ark....
By faith -- "Abraham OBEYED and went out not knowing where he was going. . .
By faith ---"Moses refused to be son of Pharaoh's daughter CHOOSING to endure trouble with the people of God... giving up the pleasures of sin. .
By faith --- "Moses kept the passover. . .
How about BY FAITH WE KEEP THE SABBATH DAY HOLY UNTO THE LORD FOR THE SIMPLE REASON THAT HE ASKED US TO SPEND THAT DAY WITH HIM. If faith led Moses to risk and loose such great earthly advantages, should faith not lead us to obey God even if it means losing all earthly advantages. EVEN IF IT DOES NOT FEEL GOOD.
Hebrews 11 records many who, because their faith led them to obey God's commands were placed in opposition to earthly commands that would require them to disobey God. As a result they were tortured, stoned, sawn asunder, wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. Were they at times tempted to "listen" to the wrong voices? To take the easy road?-- but FAITH kept them strong in obedience to their Lord and Master--because they KNEW God and His will-- even if all the impressions were urging against God's will.
But now the question:
Where does this faith come from? How is it that faith brings obedience?
Could it be that salvation begets faith, and faith begets obedience. Thus it is also true that the fruit of salvation is obedience?
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 15:6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast [them] into the fire, and they are burned.
"Christ Himself calls our attention to the growth of the vegetable world as an illustration of the agency of His Spirit in sustaining spiritual life. The sap of the vine, ascending from the root, is diffused to the branches, sustaining growth and producing blossoms and fruit. So the life-giving power of the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Saviour, pervades the soul, renews the motives and affections, and brings even the thoughts into obedience to the will of God, enabling the receiver to bear the precious fruit of holy deeds. {AA 284.1}
"If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in the heart, our feelings, our thoughts, our actions, will be in harmony with the will of God. The sanctified heart is in harmony with the precepts of God's law. {AA 563.1}
"There are many who, though striving to obey God's commandments, have little peace or joy. This lack in their experience is the result of a failure to exercise faith.
"The Lord would have all His sons and daughters happy, peaceful, and obedient. Through the exercise of faith the believer comes into possession of these blessings. Through faith, every deficiency of character may be supplied, every defilement cleansed, every fault corrected, every excellence developed. {AA 563.2}
"Prayer is heaven's ordained means of success in the conflict with sin and the development of Christian character. The divine influences that come in answer to the prayer of faith will accomplish in the soul of the suppliant all for which he pleads.
There is a necessity to define faith in contrast to works and visa versa. But also a necessity to explain the parallel as well, just as you do. The bible is repleat with parallel and contrast on many subjects. The covenants are a prime example.
"Faith alone" has a limited use and application and was formulated by the reformers for a specific purpose. Namely, to show that Christ alone merited our salvation and justification,(pardon) was solely by what Jesus did for us in the context of merit.
So, it was explained as "Faith alone, Christ alone, and grace alone."
They understood that this formula does not fit sanctification. Yet today, many would claim sanctification is by "faith alone." If the reformation use of the phrase "faith alone" is imposed on this meaning, it is pure antinomianism. It would mean there is no human factor in the equation for sanctification. Or, at most, the human factor is simply "faith".
"Righteousness by faith alone" in the historical Protestant equation is this. Jesus alone standing in God's presence is "our righteousness" in which we play no part. It is imputed righteousness. It is complete and flawless. And by accepting Jesus, we unite ourselves to Him, and God accepts as "righteous" for Jesus sake alone. It is not my obedience to the law but His alone. It is not sanctification, but justification.
Now, if we use the phrase "faith alone" in much of modern Adventism, this is what it is supposed to mean.
My faith in Jesus inspires me, impowers me, helps me and by this faith, I obey the law. And this is called "righteousness by faith alone."
Faith in this context is the motivating power for me to obey the law. Does faith do this? Yes. But it is not "faith alone" as formulated and used in historical Protestantism. "Faith" in the above modern context of sanctification is a generic use of faith that is far more comprehensive than formulated by the reformers to oppose Rome.
Is it accurate to use "faith" in this modern context? Yes. But unless there is a definitive explantion of what it means in contrast to how it was used historically it can only create more ongoing confusion. And this confusion is interpreted and applied in sanctification in this way, "I don't obey the law, Jesus gets in me and obeys the law for me."
This convoluted statement is nothing but "Spiritualism" where the identity of the believer is lost in some mystical non-definable understanding of the unity of Christ and the believer. So, "I give myself to Jesus, and Jesus does it all." Morris Venden style.
While "faith alone" unites me to Jesus and "Jesus alone" stands in God's presence as "my righteousness", this is not a sanctification concept. But it is a motivational concept. And it is a moral influence concept. But all the motivational factors in sanctification are not limited to "faith alone" in the imputed righteousness of Christ.
"Obey and live, disobey and die" remain intact as important for bible motivation to "be saved." We see "the gospel" does not liberate man from the law in this context. We are all obligated to the law as a rule of life. In the epistle to the Hebrews it is pointed out what the single-hearted purpose that should characterize the Christian's race for eternal life: "Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." (Hebrews 12:1, 2). Our eternal life is dependent on present and ongoing obedience.
Strive to enter in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many go that route; because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leads unto life, and few there are that find it." These roads are distinct, separate, in opposite directions. One leads to eternal life, the other to eternal death. One walks in obedience to God's will and commands, the other conforms to the world.
Even if we claim obedience to the law is not a pre-condition for salvation, we must clearly state obedience to the law is a post condition to remain saved and enter heaven. Thus, as you know, the law has a place in salvation, even if it does not give salvation. God never gave man the option to define what parts of that law are "salvational" and what is not. It is pure presumption by those who claim some part of the law (doing good to others) is salvational and some part (honoring God on His Holy Day) is not. Jesus clearly said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word the proceedeth out of the mouth of God."
Unsanctified men presume to define what is salvational and what is not. Let the bible speak for itself.
