If being saved has nothing to do with doing good works, then what is the point of Christianity?
The point of being saved is that without being saved you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven,
Blackrook . You must be born again. Jesus said, You must be born again. I would like to ask you to watch the video of the former Catholic explaining the Doctrine of the Roman Church vs. the Doctrine of Jesus Christ and what happened to him upon becoming a born again believer. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If one could get to heaven by good works I would think there is no Catholic here more qualified than you for truly you have done many good things by what you have written about concerning your job, etc. My hearts desire is to see you receive Christ because I know this is the way to eternal life. I'm not guessing about this, Black Rook. This is something that I know.
On the difference between good works and Christianity?
Here is the example I'd like to give you:
The Good Works Believer - who believes their works will get them to heaven:
You are a businessman and have hired a servant to clean your mansion, attend to your paperwork in your office and keep your garden. Your job requires that you be away much of the time. Your hired servant does the work required 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and goes home each day promptly at 2 p.m. and takes off the other 2 days a week attending to their own projects, hobbies, interests.
You pay your servant the same pay every week and the servant is faithful in their job. One day you ask for her hand in marriage. She says no. You decide to sell your house and move away you find a different servant because this servant isn't prepared to leave the city she lives in. She is staying on with her friends, family and will find "another job."
Next scenario:
The Born again Believer who believes that by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and keeping his commandments they shall enter heaven:
You are a business man and have hired a servant to clean your mansion, attend to your paperwork in your office and keep your garden.
Your job requires that you be away much of the time. Your hired servant does the work required 8 hours a day, 5 days a week and goes home each day promptly at 2 p.m. and takes off the other 2 days a week attending to their own projects, hobbies, interests.
You pay your servant the same pay every week and the servant is faithful in their job. One day you ask for her hand in marriage. She says yes. She moves into your home and works continually - taking only one day off to spend entirely with you, does more efficient work then ever before and would be seriously offended if you offered her a pay check. Now everything you own is hers. You tell her that you desire to sell your home and move to another city. She agrees without any objections and goes wherever you desire to go. Now her labor is out of love and it is continual. There is no effort and everything she does for you is a joy including handling your complaint department and defending your good name! It's all a joy!
That is the life I have and that is the life the LORD wants every believer to have, Black Rook. It's a life where in Him, we live, we move and we have our being. It is the abundant life that Christ desires to give to every believer which is why he told the woman at the well the water he offered her - she would never thirst again.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8,9
We believe by Faith. Read Hebrews Chapter 11.
So she now has half his shit instead of working hourly for minimum wage? Would she have married him if he wasn't rich? Bible stories are so vague I harly know what the message is or what's the point or moral of your story?
Always wrap up with "the moral of the story".
And don't you see the hidden message in this story? Feed me ***** and don't complain.
No, I do not see that at all, Sealybobo. The story / analogy was for Black Rook who was asking a question concerning works and being born again.
For you, this story shows the love of the Father for those who have lost their way and need to return to Him:
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.
Luke 15:11-32
King James Version (KJV)
