Justified/Saved by Faith & Faith Alone

interesting

What is dead was once alive. James employed "dead" for a reason.

This word does not equate to genuine, it just does not.

We should not be changing the meaning of words to make them fit our dogma.

This is a well known fact about Augustine I have read his work. Have you?

The jews believed in jesus and believed in the gospel. Yet they added works of the law and said you must do these works to be saved also.

did this so called belief save them? What was their faith in?

there is most certainly mere faith. We call that mentall agreement, I can believe something yet not trust it. We do it all the time.

Did James say their faith was once alive? Did he say they ever had faith?

I could care less what Augustine said

I care what james said. Do you?

I am leary whenever I hear someone is completely sold out for God and understand how amazing the Gift of their Salvation is but doesn't have a Testimony, never invited anyone to Church or Bible Study, never introduced Christ to anyone, never prayed for someone in need they didn't know, and so forth.

I mean, just how Awesome is this God you serve who you won't share to others?

Chances are for you to be Saved, someone had to Testify, Preach the Gospel, somehow introduced you to God.

And you can't return the favor?

You aint Saved!

Saved people cannot keep their Saviour a secret!

This concept did not exist in ancient times, this is a modern day construct.

The context is the entire book of John. Whatever Jesus said would keep someone from death. Jesus expects obedience. I don’t see someone can be a non-disciple disciple of Jesus and expect to actually be a real Christian.

John 8
51Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”

John 14
23Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.

John 15
10If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.

Not easy to see that difference between the sole reason for salvation, and the response to that gift.

Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

No it's not, the letter to the Romans was written to counter and explain the error of Jesus plus the law. The difference between the true gospel and the hybrid gospel, Jesus plus the law. That the Christian Jews in Rome were spreading through the church in Rome.

The letter to the Galatians was identical to the letter to the Romans, same problem.

You have the cart before the horse. Here read what John is really saying in John's gospel.

John 3:15
So that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.

John 3:18
The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

John 3:36
The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

John 6:47
Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes has eternal life.

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies.

Obedience to the gospel above is the response to that free gift of salvation. By grace first and through faith and that is the gift, it's has nothing to do with your works.

Negative. Same Greek word.

When you translate from Greek (belief) into Latin (faith), then translate the Latin into English, you get faith.

Why do you think it's YOUR JOB to "Judge anybody".

Seems like it's YOUR relationship that your problem.

So what's YOUR definition of "DEAD FAITH"??? WHat did James mean??

The primary meaning of, "pistis", in the first century was trust.

John 11:25
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one who believes in Me will live, even if he dies".

Modern understandings of faith depend heavily on Augustine of Hippo, who defines it (De trin. 13.2.5) as fides quae and fides qua, belief in the body of Christian doctrine and the faith which takes place in the heart and mind of the believer. (www.classics.ox.ac.uk)

First century Jewish and Gentile Christians understood, 'pistis,' as trusting in Jesus, believing in Jesus.

Traditional Christianity follows Augustine's meaning of 'pistis', i.e., faith.

A non-living faith, a non-responsive faith.

A faith that held the idea that God had chosen His favorite people.

The law was God's will for the Jews.

The New Testament never states that Gentiles are under the law, not once. Rather, there are numerous verses that state that, Gentiles are not under the law.

Romans 3:28
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Romans 4:15
For the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation.

Romans 6:14
For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

so in other words. According to what you say here

you better be perfect. If you have disobeyed even once, you have not obeyed the word.

why do you water down Gods word and then look in the mirror and think you are righteous?

it does not matter

I can believe a person can walk me across the Niagara falls because I have seen them do it before.

It does not mean I trust him..

when push comes to shove, If I have faith. I will go. If not. I will say no thank you.

in both cases you believe. only in the first case do you actually have faith.