Quote Originally Posted by PHart View Post
Lol, no I'm not the only one who understands James. There are others right here in this thread who understand. But we are definitely in the minority. The church has been overtaken by this severe misunderstanding of Paul's faith vs. works teaching.
That is what I'm saying. What I'm resisting is the church's misguided understanding that it is not necessary to have these works in order to be saved on the day of judgment, that dead faith also saves, which is in complete and utter contradiction to what James said and a contradiction which no one seems to want to explain.
No one is making a legalistic argument for the necessity for works. God is just. He judges according to what you've been given, and your ability to act on it. The thief can't even move his arms or legs, why would God expect him to suddenly have works to accompany his faith???? The problem I see is people using the thief on the cross as an excuse to do nothing with what their arms and legs and mouth can do.....and still think they have a faith that will save them.
It's all summed up in the fruit of the Spirit.
In regard to the fundamental character that God expects people who have faith in him goes, no, it's not different for each person. We're all saved in order to be conformed to the image of Christ. Not anybody's else's image. It's about character. Not legalistic works.
Whatever it is that God expected their saving faith to produce in them at that time is what he will be looking for to confirm the presence of that saving faith. God is just. He does not expect a baby to walk like a man, but only to crawl as a baby would.
