James 2:14-26, A verse by verse study
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Correct, because those who believe in Jesus as LORD will typically obey His command to love everyone = manifest the fruit of the HS.
No one achieves moral perfection in this life, but no one who lacks divine love will reap eternal life with God (GL 6:7-8). Thus, a person who claims to be godly but who is behaving in an ungodly (unloving, untruthful) manner may be in one of the following categories:
a. a normally loving person observed during a rare moment when he/she acted uncharacteristically (PHP 3:12-16),
b. an immature Believer, who is making progress–you should have known him/her a year ago! (1CR 3:1-3, EPH 4:11-15)
c. a truthseeker who has not yet learned the correct interpretation of God’s Word (1CR 6:9-11, EPH 5:8-9), or
d. a pseudo-Christian (MT 7:21), who may affirm morality while rejecting its divine rationale. (This might be the case of devils who "believe".)
Paul listed some sins he implied genuine Christians would not typically commit (in 1CR 6:9-10), saying: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Apparently, although a new Christian might commit such sins occasionally, it is inconceivable (because antithetical to NT teaching) that a mature Christian would commit them so typically that the person could be classified as an adulterer, for example. Atheists or devils might try to practice the “Golden Rule”, but the key issue for them on judgment day will be explaining what good reason they had for rejecting God rather than glorifying Him as the One who determines what is good/golden.
No one achieves moral perfection in this life, but no one who lacks divine love will reap eternal life with God (GL 6:7-8). Thus, a person who claims to be godly but who is behaving in an ungodly (unloving, untruthful) manner may be in one of the following categories:
a. a normally loving person observed during a rare moment when he/she acted uncharacteristically (PHP 3:12-16),
b. an immature Believer, who is making progress–you should have known him/her a year ago! (1CR 3:1-3, EPH 4:11-15)
c. a truthseeker who has not yet learned the correct interpretation of God’s Word (1CR 6:9-11, EPH 5:8-9), or
d. a pseudo-Christian (MT 7:21), who may affirm morality while rejecting its divine rationale. (This might be the case of devils who "believe".)
Paul listed some sins he implied genuine Christians would not typically commit (in 1CR 6:9-10), saying: “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived, neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Apparently, although a new Christian might commit such sins occasionally, it is inconceivable (because antithetical to NT teaching) that a mature Christian would commit them so typically that the person could be classified as an adulterer, for example. Atheists or devils might try to practice the “Golden Rule”, but the key issue for them on judgment day will be explaining what good reason they had for rejecting God rather than glorifying Him as the One who determines what is good/golden.
First of all, I agree very clearly that we are not save by faith alone. Even Paul never says that. James says very clearly that we are not saved by a faith that is alone.
Paul clearly says it is faith and not works that saves us. James says that a true faith will work and this combination is what brings salvation.
Paul clearly says it is faith and not works that saves us. James says that a true faith will work and this combination is what brings salvation.
Thank you so much for your kindness to me. But please believe what Jesus said in Mark 16:16-“ He that believes AND is baptized shall be saved.” It must be in that order, because putting baptism AFTER SALVATION changes what Jesus said. Also, the Holy Spirit guided Peter to write, “ …baptism does now save us….” 1 Peter 3:21. There are so many scriptures that teach baptism is necessary to salvation: baptism is for the forgiveness of sins, Acts 2:38; baptism washes away sins, Acts 22:16; all of the conversions you read about in the book of Acts are saved the same way—believe and be baptized—Acts 8:12-13, the Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8, Saul of Tarsus Acts 22, Cornelius, Acts 10, Lydia and the jailer, Acts 16. The Corinthians Acts 18:8. Please, I beg you, read each of these conversions and see how each one believed and was baptized—just as Jesus taught when He was on earth.
Also, in 1 Corinthians 1:13, Paul is condemning divisions and He gives 2 requirements, two things necessary for anyone to call themselves by the name of a man. Verse 13- 1) that man would have to have been CRUCIFIED for you and 2) you would have to be BAPTIZED into His name. Paul says I was not crucified for you, you were not baptized into my name, therefore do not call yourselves after me. Neither was Apollos and neither was Cephas. Do not call yourselves after men. Think of the Lutherans. They call themselves after Martin Luther, but Luther was not “crucified” for them and they were not baptized into his name. How can you call yourself a “Christian” named after Christ, a follower of Christ if you have not been baptized into His name—just as Peter said to do in Acts 2:38? We are baptized into Christ ( Romans 6:3) and therefore we can wear His name. This alone makes baptism necessary to be a Christian.
When do you come into contact with the blood of Christ? We know it cleanses us from our sins but when? At the point of faith? When we repent? When we confess? If it’s at the point if faith, then the devils in James 2 must be saved, because they believe in Jesus so much they TREMBLE! Where do you find the blood of Jesus? In His death! He shed His blood in His DEATH. Go back to Romans 6. “As many as were BAPTIZED into Christ Jesus were baptized into His DEATH.” Verse 3.and 4. That’s where we reach the blood of Jesus; where we come into contact with His blood; that’s where “His blood cleanses us of all our sins.” 1 John 1:7 That’s why we go down into the waters of baptism an “old man” Romans 6: 5-6, and come up a new creature to walk in “newness of life.” Verse 3 &4.
Please be aware, the doctrine that baptism does not save is a lie of Satan; just like he told Eve in the garden that she would die if she ate the fruit— Satan said she would NOT die. He always says the opposite of what God says. Do not be deceived like Eve. Gid has told you in the Bible that baptism saves—-now who are you going to believe? God or man? You have the same choice Eve had.
Well, since there are obviously different kinds of works —some good and some bad— what kind of works do you think he is talking about in Ephesians 2? He has already said they were not the kind of works that anyone could “BOAST ABOUT” in verse 9. What woujd YOU call those kinds of works? He’s not talking about keeping the old works of the Jewish law like Paul does in Galations. And he makes a contrast in verse 10 of those kinds of works (BOASTFUL) with GOOD WORKS, thus proving my point that there are different kinds of works and not all of them are bad. And you want to argue about calling them boastful works? Is that all you’ve got?
Luke 17:10 says that when we have done all those things that God has commanded, we have only done what was our DUTY to do. He says we are still unprofitable servants. We cannot boast about doing any “work of God (John 6:28-29) that He has commanded.
Let’s see, He has commanded the work called “faith” so we cannot boast about that; John 6:27-29 He has commanded “repentance” in Acts 17:30 so we cannot “boast” about that. He has commanded “confession in Matt. 10;32, so we cannot “boast” about that; He has commanded “baptism” Acts 2:38 and Acts 10:48 so we cannot “boast” about that. None of the “ Works of God “ that He has commanded can be called “boastful works according to Luke 17. If you call them that, then you are wrong and contradicting the Bible. It is our DUTY to obey each and every one of them, and then we are still “unprofitable servants.” I’ve given you not just one but at least 4 and that would go for any other commands God has given us.
Let’s see, He has commanded the work called “faith” so we cannot boast about that; John 6:27-29 He has commanded “repentance” in Acts 17:30 so we cannot “boast” about that. He has commanded “confession in Matt. 10;32, so we cannot “boast” about that; He has commanded “baptism” Acts 2:38 and Acts 10:48 so we cannot “boast” about that. None of the “ Works of God “ that He has commanded can be called “boastful works according to Luke 17. If you call them that, then you are wrong and contradicting the Bible. It is our DUTY to obey each and every one of them, and then we are still “unprofitable servants.” I’ve given you not just one but at least 4 and that would go for any other commands God has given us.
Are you talking about Eph. 2? When you say that Paul says it’s faith and not works that saves us? If so, then two things you should consider: 1) Paul does not say “faith alone”.saves. Just as James does not say “works” alone saves us in James 2 when he says we are justified (saved) by works and not faith only. There is not just ONE thing that saves you—that is his point—whether it is faith or works. Paul says we are justified by faith —NOT FAITH ALONE—big difference! AndcJames says in James 2 we are justified by works. That seems to be a contradiction, doesn’t it? What if the doctor tells you you must have a cast on your broken leg if you want it to heal. Then he tells you that you need to not walk with that broken keg fir 6 weeks if you want it to heal. Are you going to argue with tge doctor and say but you said all I had to do was put a cast on for it to heal! You see what you have done? You have added something to what the doctor actually said. He didn’t say that was all you needed to do. Exactly the same with Ephesians 2. Paul did not say that faith us the ONLY thing that saves you. He just says it saves you but James also says works of God save you. So what is the logical thing to do? PUT FAITH AND WORKS TOGETHER, just like James tells you to do in James 2:22. It takes BOTH FAITH AND WORKS to save you. If this is not true then we have a contradiction in God’s word— and that I refuse to believe ; especially when there is a plausible explanation and he even tells us that in verse 22. The reason why men will not accept this teaching is because it destroys their “faith only” doctrine. James has already destroyed that with verse 24– NOT BY FAITH ONLY. That’s why I know without a doubt that we are not saved by faith only and neither is Ephesians 2 teaching that we are.
2) the second thing is the kind of works Paul is talking about in Eph2 are not the same kind of works James is talking about in James 2. You are comparing apples to oranges. Even in Eph. 2 Paul talks about the “good works” we were created to do. Who is going to say that the works in James 2 are “boastful” works that are talked about in Eph. 2. Absolutely not the same kinds of works. This makes a huge difference in understanding the two scriptures. Obviously, the works talked about in James 2 are GOOD works—not the kind Paul us warning against in Eph. 2.
2) the second thing is the kind of works Paul is talking about in Eph2 are not the same kind of works James is talking about in James 2. You are comparing apples to oranges. Even in Eph. 2 Paul talks about the “good works” we were created to do. Who is going to say that the works in James 2 are “boastful” works that are talked about in Eph. 2. Absolutely not the same kinds of works. This makes a huge difference in understanding the two scriptures. Obviously, the works talked about in James 2 are GOOD works—not the kind Paul us warning against in Eph. 2.
Ephesians 2:9
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
the works we cannot boast of are the ones we have not done at all.for example, the work that only God Himself - not your or i - has done, that He alone accomplished, without our help, in fact, despite what we did and do:
Ephesians 1:7
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
"boastful works" is an utterly unscriptural, completely human term devised as a clever way to attempt to thwart His grace, an humanist end-run denying the power of God.
and unfortunately that's all it seems you've got.
friend, there is much more than that.
lay down your self, and seek Him
and unfortunately that's all it seems you've got.
friend, there is much more than that.
lay down your self, and seek Him
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