Been looking over a literal translation of Galatians today.......it becomes all too obvious that Paul is raking over the coals those that....
a. Peddle saved by faith, but finished off by works or the flesh (either law or self effort)
b. And the Galatian assemblies that had so SOON been deceived by the false teachers that were peddling that crap
He calls them FOOLISH and BEWITCHED........
O Foolish Galatians! WHO entranced you ALL...........
This (thing) only I am desiring to learn from you all: Did you all receive the SPIRIT out from the works of the law or out from hearing of faith?
In this MANNER you all ARE FOOLISH ones; [When YOU ALL] made a beginning BY SPIRIT, you all are NOW being perfected by flesh.
NOTICE GALATIANS 2:16
Yet, [first we] knew that a man in not being justified out from works of law. [A man is NOT BEING JUSTIFIED] unless through faith OF Christ JESUS. INDEED, we ourselves believe INTO CHRIST JESUS in order that we might be JUSTIFIED out from faith of CHRIST and NOT for the works of the law, because ALL FLESH will not be justified out from works of law.
NOTE.....THE works of LAW and FLESH are ONE and the SAME............
IT is faith alone that JUSTIFIES a MAN before GOD.....and NOTE>......FAITH OF or FROM CHRIST <----of or from indicate SOURCE..............
JAMES out of CONTEXT WILL never = a man justified before GOD by works.....the works JUSTIFY our CLAIM of faith BEFORE MEN and are for the BENEFIT OF MEN
SHOW ME YOUR FAITH!!!!
As David said
Psalms 143:1-2
An Earnest Appeal for Guidance and Deliverance
A Psalm of David.
1 Hear my prayer, O Lord,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
2 Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous.
Though we do no one who is righteous and he took our judgement upon himself.
And as a result.
Romans 5:1
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Romans 5:17
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
Titus 3:4-5
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
And as a result
2 Timothy 2:22
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
Yes folks, those of us who believe we are saved by faith and not of works persue righteousness and good works.
Those works set before us.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.