[cheekopekman]

That's a tricky question. If you die tonight, will you find yourself in heaven or hell? Sometimes a guaranteed place in heaven is offered in response to a 30-second 'sinner's prayer' repeated after the evangelist, without mentioning deeds of repentance towards God or reception of the Holy Spirit. You're now saved and have a guaranteed ticket to heaven. Is the gospel just a 'freebie' ticket for heaven, an insurance policy for the next world, offering an escape from hell rather than a liberation from sin?

Theologically, concerning the apparently conflicting positions of Paul and James with regard to the question of whether man is justified by faith or works, the two sides of the debate aren't that far apart, though the difference is still there. Ali is sure as hell Paul is telling us to discard the law since we're already safe and secure for eternity, and implying this gives us licence to be disobedient and continue sinning.

The fact of the matter is, Paul emphasizes the importance of perseverance in the Christian life. Holiness is as necessary as forgiveness, sanctification as essential as justification. Believers must never be complacent or satisfied, but to press on towards the prize of their high calling. In our faith, it's just as impossible to separate faith and work as it is to separate heat and light from fire. People like Ali are trying to separate faith from work.

No item of Christian belief can be considered in isolation. Different doctrines tend to be interconnected, each affecting a number of others or being affected by them.

I was asked that question before I was converted to be a Christian lah!  Like many people I also ignored that question and shouted at that Christian "siao lang ah" mad fellow lah! But later on my way out of the church I almost got run over by a bus lah!