It is sort of like old saying, "Put your money where your mouth is." It is one thing to say that we believe something, and another to conduct ourselves in such a manner as to demonstrate our belief. I have a friend who is a pilot. I may say, "I believe that he is an excellent pilot." But my refusal to fly with him indicates that I do not really believe that. My actions disprove my statement. In respect to salvation and saving faith, our actions after we have been saved proves or disproves our faith.

If we have kind of faith which will save us (not just intellectual assent), that faith will produce repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living. So then we ask, "Are these (repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living) works?" The answer is, no they are not works. Now I would be first to agree that these four items could be perverted into works. One might say, "I want to go to heaven (or maybe avoid hell) so I will do those things which he has taught that I need to do." He might say "I'm sorry for sins I've committed."; he might confess that Jesus is Christ; he may permit himself to be baptized; and he may go through all "acts" of being a Christian (faithful living). He is then trying to work his way to heaven. Real salvation is different.

When one has real saving faith that Jesus is Christ Son of living God, and gives his life to Him, a transformation takes place. He becomes truly remorseful of his sinful nature and strives to eradicate sin from his life. He is happy and please to proclaim Jesus as his Lord and Savior. He willingly submits himself to watery grave of baptism so his sins can be washed away. And he strives to live a life which is pleasing to God by committing himself to daily prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with his brothers and sisters in Christ. These then are not works, but manifestation of saving faith in his life.

There are several other Scriptures in Bible that discus subject of works. Again, these seem to indicate that works are important to salvation. Here are some examples: ". . . each one's work will become clear; for Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. If anyone's work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:13-15); "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in work of Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:58); and "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) See also: Ephesians 2:10, Colossians 1:9-10, 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4; 5:12- 13, Titus 1:16; 3:8; 3:14, and James 1:25.

Do these Scriptures teach that we must "work" our way to heaven. Again, answer is no. If we are truly saved, and have abiding faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, these works are a natural result of our desire to please Him. Because we are a child of God, saved by His grace through our faith in Him and His Son, we want to do works mentioned here. And really it is more than just a "want to", it is a deep burning desire which cannot be extinguished.

I hope that I have given my readers a better understanding of subjects of faith, works, and salvation and how three work perfectly together. We are saved by faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and faithful living; but these produce in us and through us good works for kingdom of God. May God bless you as you continue in His good work.

All scriptures quoted are from New King James Version unless otherwise noted

Now here is final chapter to whole saga. After Satan is permanently taken out for good, old earth and old heaven will pass away and a new heaven and new earth will be given to God's people. Here is verse.

"AND I SAW A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH, for first heaven and first earth had passed away. Then I, John, saw holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for former things have passed away. Then He who sat on throne said, "Behold, I will make all things new."

And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. I will give fountain of water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be His God and he shall be My son. But cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters and all liars shall have their part in lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is second death." (Revelations 21:1-8)

"But I saw no temple in it, for Lord God Almighty and Lamb are its temple. And city had no need of sun or of moon to shine on it, for glory of God illuminated it, and Lamb its light. And nations of those who are saved shall walk in light, and kings of earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (and there shall be no night there). And they shall bring glory and honor of nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in Lamb's Book of Life." (Revelations 21:22-27)

"And there shall be no more curse, but throne of God and of Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him. They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads; and there shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of sun, for Lord God gives light. And they shall reign forever and ever." (Revelations 22:3-5)

The above verse also tells us that both Jesus and God Father will dwell and live with us in this paradise and we will all have direct access to both of Them! We will no longer have need of a Jewish Temple because God and Jesus will now be temple. We will be able to worship Them direct.