Not By Works
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"Faith without works is dead" does not mean that faith is dead until it produces works and then it becomes a living faith (which would be like saying that a tree is dead until it produces fruit and then it becomes a living tree). James is simply saying faith that is not accompanied by evidential works demonstrates that it's dead. If someone merely says-claims they have faith but lack resulting evidential works, then they have an empty profession of faith/dead faith (James 2:14) and not authentic faith.
In James 2:26, the comparison of the human spirit and faith converges around their modes of operation. The spirit (Greek pneuma) may also be translated "breath." As a breathless body exhibits no indication of life, so fruitless faith exhibits no indication of life. The source of the life in faith is not works; rather, life in faith is the source of works. (Ephesians 2:5-10)
In James 2:26, the comparison of the human spirit and faith converges around their modes of operation. The spirit (Greek pneuma) may also be translated "breath." As a breathless body exhibits no indication of life, so fruitless faith exhibits no indication of life. The source of the life in faith is not works; rather, life in faith is the source of works. (Ephesians 2:5-10)
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John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. Did these many people in Matthew 7:22-23 truly believe in the Son or did they trust in their works for salvation? Which is the will of the Father? Jesus NEVER knew them which means they were NEVER saved.
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In James 2:21, notice that James does not say that Abraham's work of offering up Isaac resulted in God's accounting Abraham as righteous. The accounting of Abraham's faith as righteousness was made in Genesis 15:6, many years before his work of offering up Isaac recorded in Genesis 22.
The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. This is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was shown to be righteous.
Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified (accounted as righteous) by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say, "Abraham believed God and it (faith, not works) was accounted to him for righteousness.
The work of Abraham did not have some kind of intrinsic merit to account him as righteous, but it showed or manifested the genuineness of his faith. This is the "sense" in which Abraham was "justified by works." He was shown to be righteous.
Romans 4:2 - For if Abraham was justified (accounted as righteous) by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say, "Abraham believed God and it (faith, not works) was accounted to him for righteousness.
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Faith is root of salvation and works are the fruit. No fruit at all demonstrates there is no root. So works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of authentic faith, but not the essence of faith and not the means by which we obtain salvation. All genuine believers are fruitful, yet not all are equally fruitful.
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I already proved to you that 'sanctified' in Hebrews 10:29 doesn't mean a saved person back in post #19 - https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/that-hebrews-10v26-thread.189675/#post-4132251 and in post #318 - https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/apostasy-101.189485/page-16 but you have your agenda and just don't have ears to hear. 
Are you saying that a person (upon initially placing their faith in Jesus Christ for salvation) remain lost UNTIL later, AFTER they produce works and are saved by BOTH faith AND works? A living faith results in producing works, yet we are still saved through faith and not by works.
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This is because their belief was never firmly rooted and established from the start. Shallow, temporary belief that has no root, produces no fruit and withers away does not represent saving belief. See post #133,857 - https://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/not-by-works.146296/page-6693
Are you condemning all OSAS believers? When pressed by OSAS believers, it usually doesn't take long before those in the NOSAS camp resort to wrongly judging and even condemning OSAS believers, as demonstrated below.
lightbearer said: OSAS is a doctrine of satan. And all who follow and teach it are of Satan and His legion.
Do you prefer a much harder path to God? Is that what bothers you? Salvation by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9) sounds too easy? It also sounds like you are flirting with type 2 works salvation. It's no wonder my red flag remains up when dealing with those in the NOSAS camp.
When pressed by OSAS believers, it usually doesn't take long before those in the NOSAS camp resort to wrongly judging and even condemning OSAS believers, as demonstrated below. lightbearer said: OSAS is a doctrine of satan. And all who follow and teach it are of Satan and His legion.
Do you prefer a much harder path to God? Is that what bothers you? Salvation by grace through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9) sounds too easy? It also sounds like you are flirting with type 2 works salvation. It's no wonder my red flag remains up when dealing with those in the NOSAS camp.
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