Originally Posted by
dberrie2000
Not of faith either--but by God's grace. How does that somehow cancel and cover the fact faith is necessary for salvation--and not dead faith:
James 2:20--King James Version (KJV)
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
One could make the point that the wire conduit that connects to the light is not what illuminates it--but that does not mean the illumination will take place without the conduit.
As the scriptures teach--grace p***es through faith for salvation--just as electricity p***es through the conduit for illumination:
Ephesians 2:8 --For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
As the scriptures also teach--all are judged in accordance with what one does with the gifts--and that for the joy of thy lord--or outer darkness:
Matthew 25:14-30----King James Version (KJV)
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Some points here:
1) It was His servants the Lord gave the gifts to--not the other way around.
2) All were judged according to what they did with the gifts.
3) The ones who magnified their gifts received the joy of thy lord--the ones who did not--outer darkness.