Does faith without work enough to please God? Please explain for me Romans 10:9-10.
Answer:
Rom 10:8-9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
It is important to look at all scripture on any given topic before coming to a conclusion. All evidence must be explored to get the “whole council of God.”
Just looking at Romans 10 we do not see that those two verses are saying faith without works.
1) The Word is near ….in my heart.---This is in line with:
a. 2Ti 2:15 Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.
God’s Word can only be near and in your heart if you are studying it and obeying it. True “faith” requires an accurate knowledge of God’s Word and it requires effort on the part of the believer.
2) “even in my mouth”, “the word of faith which we preach.” This is in harmony with Jesus’ words about our duty to preach and elsewhere in the Word.
a. Luk 9:60 But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.
b. Rom 10:15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
c. Consider Paul’s advice to Timothy: 2Ti 4:2-5 to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach. (3) For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires. (4) They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths. (5) But you must be clear-headed about everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry.
d. Act 8:4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.
So we see that if the Word of God is really in our heart it will cause us to proclaim it—profess it. Faith and Works go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.
Hebrews chapter 11 shows the power of faith. You cannot have faith to yourself—it must be shared, it must cause you to do something.
Heb 11:4-6
(4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
(5) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
(6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Jas 2:17-20 In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead. (18) But someone may say, "You have faith, and I have actions." Show me your faith without any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions. (19) You believe that there is one God. That's fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear. (20) Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless?
Rom 10:8-9 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; (9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
It is important to look at all scripture on any given topic before coming to a conclusion. All evidence must be explored to get the “whole council of God.”
Just looking at Romans 10 we do not see that those two verses are saying faith without works.
1) The Word is near ….in my heart.---This is in line with:
a. 2Ti 2:15 Earnestly seek to commend yourself to God as a servant who, because of his straightforward dealing with the word of truth, has no reason to feel any shame.
God’s Word can only be near and in your heart if you are studying it and obeying it. True “faith” requires an accurate knowledge of God’s Word and it requires effort on the part of the believer.
2) “even in my mouth”, “the word of faith which we preach.” This is in harmony with Jesus’ words about our duty to preach and elsewhere in the Word.
a. Luk 9:60 But he said unto him, Leave the dead to bury their own dead; but go thou and publish abroad the kingdom of God.
b. Rom 10:15 and how shall they preach, except they be sent? even as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that bring glad tidings of good things!
c. Consider Paul’s advice to Timothy: 2Ti 4:2-5 to proclaim the message. Be ready to do this whether or not the time is convenient. Refute, warn, and encourage with the utmost patience when you teach. (3) For the time will come when people will not tolerate healthy doctrine, but with itching ears will surround themselves with teachers who cater to their people's own desires. (4) They will refuse to listen to the truth and will turn to myths. (5) But you must be clear-headed about everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of an evangelist. Devote yourself completely to your ministry.
d. Act 8:4 Now those who were scattered went from place to place preaching the word.
So we see that if the Word of God is really in our heart it will cause us to proclaim it—profess it. Faith and Works go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other.
Hebrews chapter 11 shows the power of faith. You cannot have faith to yourself—it must be shared, it must cause you to do something.
Heb 11:4-6
(4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
(5) By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
(6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Jas 2:17-20 In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead. (18) But someone may say, "You have faith, and I have actions." Show me your faith without any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions. (19) You believe that there is one God. That's fine! Even the demons believe that and tremble with fear. (20) Do you want proof, you foolish person, that faith without actions is worthless?