Hi Sofa,
When I asked what Ephesians 2:8-9 is telling us, you tell me, "I believe it means that all the good works you do are, alone, not enough alone to get your ticket to heaven punched. You must also have faith. I've always had faith. I've not always had belief. That will be an impossible concept to a snake handler but it is what it is. I'm as comfortable as a human can be that my place in heaven is assured but I back up my faith with good deeds."
You are partially right; that good works will not get you into heaven. This passage in Ephesians confirms that. We are saved by grace through faith -- plus nothing else.
However, once saved, we do need to show the fruit of our salvation. Keep in mind that the fruit of our salvation does not in any way earn us salvation -- but, it shows that we are trying to be true Christ Followers after we are saved. Yes, James 2:17 tells us, "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself."
So, if we have salvation but do not follow this up by showing the fruit of our salvation -- our salvation is dead. Yet, we still have salvation. But, at the Bema Seat Judgment -- we will come up empty in the rewards department.
The passage in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 makes it clear what happens to a person who is saved, but has no fruit to show for his salvation, "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it. For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."
After our salvation is assured, i.e., we are born again -- Jesus tells us to Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, Teach Them (Matthew 28:19-20). Then He tells us in Acts 1:8 and in Mark 16:15 to be His witnesses to all the world. This is the fruit He wants to see from us -- bringing the Gospel of Salvation to all the unsaved souls. He wants as many as possible to be saved. After all, He died on the cross to offer them salvation. So, when we fail to share His Gospel with folks who need to hear it -- we are not doing the "works" He wants from us.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
