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Why do so many shamelessly contradict Him?
The act of believing in Jesus Christ is MOST
CERTAINLY a work.
Jesus Christ HIMSELF told the men to do this
work:
John 6
28 ¶ Then said they unto him, What shall we do,
that we might work the works of God?
29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is
the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
The men inquired: " What shall WE DO... WE
MIGHT WORK."
Christ replied: The work that God wanted them
to do is: 'that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.'
They were interested in WORKING the WORKS
(PLURAL) of God, i.e. the WORKS that God requires of His children. [His
children are those elect whom God has effectually called out of their native
state of sin and condemnation to grace and salvation)
Christ points them to the FIRST and CHIEF
works God requires of them. Christ said, 'First things first... believe on Him
whom God has sent.'
Please don't contradict Christ and speak
blasphemous words that believing in Christ is not a work!
The Lord God said, "This is my beloved Son: hear him.'
So, the popular slogan 'justification by faith alone through grace alone' - as commonly understood - is an oxymoron.
Justification is not by faith, i.e. man's
work of believing in Christ Jesus.
Justification is by the faith of Christ, i.e.
Christ's faithfulness in discharging His work of redemption.
Apostle Paul states it so plainly in Romans:
The righteousness needed for the justification
of a condemned criminal is the righteousness provided by God Himself through
His Son Jesus Christ. It is stated as plain as noon day sun here:
Romans 3:
21 But now the righteousness of God without
the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by
faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no
difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!
1John 3:23
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
Believing in the name of Jesus Christ is obedience to God's commandment; it is a work God commands His children to do.
