Topic: Works, faith, salvation

[Anastasia1]

What is a very short summary/synopsis of how our salvation relates to faith and works?

[Gorazd]

What is a very short summary/synopsis of how our salvation relates to faith and works?

Short Q&A here:
http://oca.org/questions/teaching/faith-and-works

[Asteriktos]

"James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ..." (James 1:1)

To be the servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ means to be one who does the will of God.  However, this is a servanthood out of love rather than necessity. Thus Jesus said: "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me" (John 14:21). And rather than being lowly robots following God's will, Paul could instead say that we were "labourers together with God" (1 Cor. 3:9) and “workers together with him“ (2 Cor. 6:1). We are to be "the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart" (Eph. 6:6). Our service to Him is always a "labour of love" (1 Thes. 1:3; Heb. 6:10).

[Anastasia1]

Are we saved by faith that results in works or are we saved by faith plus works?

[Asteriktos]

Salvation is a process, and faith and works are both part of that process. We aren't saved by works if by that we mean we do enough work or good enough work to merit salvation. Salvation is always a gift of God. On the other hand, doing works does contribute to moving us further along, and we will be judged by our works. (Rev. 20:12; 22:12; etc.) I prefer to think of it as salvation through cooperation rather than salvation through faith or works. It is our whole person that is saved, through all our activity (works, faith, intellectual affirmation, love and other virtues, etc.)

[Father Peter]

We are saved by God. There is nothing we can do apart from God that has any value. If we make faith a work then it is of no value.

Faith is a trust in God though we know we deserve nothing but condemnation.

When the Prodigal Son set off home it was with faith and hope in his Father, but his faith in his Father did not save him, nor even did his setting off back to his Father, though that put him in the right place. But he was saved by his Father's love which renewed in him the sonship he had lost.

There is no true faith or works without love of God, and true love of God seeks no reward, not even salvation. Love of God seeks only God, and this is salvation.

[Anastasia1]

So ultimately we are saved by grace, and our love of God is our acceptance in a way, which results in faith and works?

[Father Peter]

Everything is of grace and of God. Faith is trust in a person not acceptance of propositions.

[Anastasia1]

Everything is of grace and of God. Faith is trust in a person not acceptance of propositions.

There is nothing we do to accept salvation?  Why are not all people saved then?

[Father Peter]

We must respond to God's grace and God's love. That response is love and trust.

[Anastasia1]

We must respond to God's grace and God's love. That response is love and trust.

What does it mean for me if I really struggle with this and sometimes don't feel like I love God very often but also know I cannot just live without God?

Why doesn't everyone respond to God's grace and love?

[Father Peter]

People have been given free will so that they can respond to God. Some choose to respond in a way that leads away from God. This is the nature of a free choice.