Saving faith and good works are separate but related elements of salvation. The Pharisees you mentioned did not exercise saving faith or manifest good works.

Faith and feelings are also separate but related elements of salvation. Feelings like gratitude and appreciation are some of the fruits of faith, the icing on the cake.

Which comes first - saving faith or good works, saving faith or fine feelings?

HP 123
The children of God may rejoice in all things and at all times. When troubles and difficulties come, believing in the wise providence of God, you may rejoice. You need not wait for a happy flight of feeling, but by faith you may lay hold of the promises and lift up a hymn of thanksgiving to God. {HP 123.2}

NL 38
If we are faithful in doing our part, in cooperating with Him, God will work through us [to do] the good pleasure of His will. But God cannot work through us if we make no effort. If we gain eternal life, we must work, and work earnestly. . . . Let us not be deceived by the oft-repeated assertion, "All you have to do is to believe." Faith and works are two oars which we must use equally if we [would] press our way up the stream against the current of unbelief. "Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." The Christian is a man of thought and practice. His faith fixes its roots firmly in Christ. By faith and good works he keeps his spirituality strong and healthy, and his spiritual strength increases as he strives to work the works of God. {NL 38.2}

You seem to be equating appreciation and gratitude with "happy feelings". Did you know that the Spirit of Prophesy says to look at the cross of Christ and not be moved is sin?

Here the Spirit of Prophesy points out what faith entails:

quote:

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"You may say you believe in Jesus, when you have an appreciation of the cost of salvation. You may make this claim, when you feel tha Jesus died for you on the cruel cross of Calvary, when you have an intelligent understanding faith that His death makes it possible for you to cease from sin, and to perfect a righteous character through the grace of God bestowed upon you as the purchase of Christ's blood." (RH 1/24/88)

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From this we see that faith involves appreciating the cost of salvation, feeling that Jesus died for us, and an intelligent understanding that by His death we may overcome sin. It's interesting that two our of three of these involve the emotions.

Emotions come from the mind. As the mind beholds the beauty of the love of God, of His character revealed in Christ, it is moved. This being moved is an essential part of faith. It is not "happy feeling" but an appreciation of the great love of God revealed at the cross.

Take a look at how EGW explains how we are saved:

[quote]How, then, are we to be saved? "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness," so the Son of man has been lifted up, and everyone who has been deceived and bitten by the serpent may look and live. "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. The light shining from the cross reveals the love of God. His love is drawing us to Himself. If we do not resist this drawing, we shall be led to the foot of the cross in repentance for the sins that have crucified the Saviour. Then the Spirit of God through faith produces a new life in the soul. (DA 175, 176).

It is the love of God revealed at the cross which leads one to salvation when that love is perceived and responded to.

Old Tom: It is the love of God revealed at the cross which leads one to salvation when that love is perceived and responded to.

MM: Amen! Perceived and received - I like it.

Tom: Good! So we're in agreement that faith involves apreciating and responding to the love of God revealed at the cross?

You say "involves" and I say "the fruit of" - close enough, eh?

No, because by "involves" I mean that it's an integral part of it. Fruit would mean something which comes as a result of the faith.

I'm saying that faith in and of itself includes appreciation and gratitude. This is something different than good works, which would be the fruit of faith.

Okay. Thank you for the clarification. I guess we're not in agreement.

I'm still not clear as to what you think faith is. Is it correct to say that you think that faith is taking God at His word, and nothing more than that? Do you not see in the quote regarding how we are saved that faith has to do with seeing and appreciateing Christ's sacrifice on our behalf?

I'll be away from the computer until the 5th of September. Happy studying.