If you think I'm saying works save you totally misunderstand my point. Let's look at the example of Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac that James' speaks of, as I think it highlights that James wasn't addressing the merit of works at all. In fact, no such sacrifice ever happened. God intervened and prevented Abraham from carrying it out. So it's not the value of the performance, but Abraham's willingness that is in fact demonstration of his faith and thus justifies him. In the same way, if our "faith" is such that we are unwilling to do what God asks of us then we cannot actually say to have faith. Abraham wasn't justified by the deed but by the fact that his deeds were complete, they were in line with his faith.
Are you saying part of works is our part of insuring SALVATION? If so, then that IS A FALSE GOSPEL, and I am prepared to show you why, and I hope you do not mind, or get offended. You apparently do not KNOW, that SALVATION took place before we were even BORN, and we Received it that Moment Saving Faith from the HOLY SPIRIT came into our heart. Before any deeds took place, because SALVATION is solely of the Human Spirit. Yes I know that there are verse that talk about the saving of the body, BUT THAT IS A REFERENCE TO SANCTIFICATION, and should NEVER be Confused with SALVATION of the Human Spirit.
John 3:6 (HCSB)
6 Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit. 🡸 Notice, Born Again has NOTHING to do with the BODY, is only effects the Human Spirit. HE immerses our Human Spirit to into the Spiritual Body of CHRIST, 1 Cor. 12:13, and puts GOD's LOVE IN OUR HEARTS, Rom. 5:5. With GOD's LOVE in us, we can never return to the old way of life, we are a NEW CREATION:
2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
What you have been thinking about the body learning to walk like CHRIST, is actually SANCTIFICATION. It takes a LIFETIME, and we will not be perfect until the Resurrection. Trying to merge SALVATION and SANCTIFICATION is impossible, and LEADS to a multiple of ERRORS in translation.
When DID GOD SAVE US?
2 Timothy 1:9 (HCSB)
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
The VERY MOMENT HE PLANNED OUR SALVATION, just before HE wrote our NAMES IN THE BOOK OF LIFE.
When DID WE RECEIVE SALVATION?
When we first wanted JESUS CHRIST TO BE OUR LORD AND MASTER, Rom. 10:9-10, BEFORE ANY DEEDS could be ACCOMPLISHED.
Ephesians 1:11-14 (HCSB)
11 We have also received an inheritance in Him, predestined according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will,
12 so that we who had already put our hope in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.
13 When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. 🡸 Long before your first deed, you received SALVATION, everything after that is part of SANCTIFICATION.
14 He is the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession, to the praise of His glory.
Galatians 2:16 (HCSB)
16 know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.
Romans 5:1 (NASB)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
................PAST TENSE ⮵
Romans 5:8-10 (NASB)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Does that make sense to you? I hope and pray? You see, I used to be just like you. Thought Salvation was just Part of Sanctification.
I was a Lutheran, and thought that my infant Baptism was part of what saved me. HOWEVER, after Three Attempts at SUICIDE the last week of 1977, I KNEW I WAS ON THE WRONG ROAD, headed to the DESTRUCTION OF HADES/HELL. I broke down and cried when the CONVICTION CAME AT ME WAVE, AFTER WAVE, AND like a Baby wept great sobbing TEARS, begging HIM TO FORGIVE ME for my whole Lifestyle, over and over again, for over 2 hours. When I RECEIVED HIM, the HOLY SPIRIT GAVE ME A PRAYER, because the Church I was in NEVER taught Born Again. I PRAYED, and MEANT IT WITH MY WHOLE HEART (Human Spirit): "Lord Forgive Me, Lord Forgive Me! If you have a purpose for my life, You are going to have to come into to it, and run it. I can't do it, I am making a total mess of it." I meant that prayer with my whole being, and no one in my Church ever prayed like that. IT WAS A TOTAL SURRENDER TO HIM, AND I WOULD NEVER TAKE IT BACK THE CONTROL, EVER!
OH, YES, HE REALLY DID TAKE CONTROL OF MY LIFE!
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