Not by works, not by "only believe", and not by faith alone either
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What a genuine believer means by faith in Christ "alone," faith that "trusts in Christ alone for salvation" (Ephesians 2:8,9) and what James means by an empty profession of faith/dead faith (James 2:14) that remains "alone" (barren of works) is not the same message.
Again, the word "alone" in regards to salvation through faith "in Christ alone" conveys the message that Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not on the merits of our works.
It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony.*
So what kind of faith is "that?" (James 2:14). Empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" (barren of works). *In James 2:14, we read of one who says-claims he has faith but has no works (to back up his claim). This is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" He is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. *Please listen closely - *James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!
In James 2:15-16, the example of a "work" that James gives is: "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" To give a brother or sister these things needed for the body would certainly be a "good work/work of faith" yet to neglect such a brother or sister and not give them the things needed for the body is to break the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) as found written in the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18).
In Matthew 22:37-40, we read: Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Please tell me, which good works/works of faith could a Christian do which are completely detached from these two great commandments which are found in the law of Moses? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Are there any genuine good works that we do as Christians which fall outside of loving God and our neighbor as ourself?
*When it comes to the moral aspect of the law, you cannot dissect good works/works of faith from the law, so the not saved by "these" works (works of the law) but saved by "those" works (good works/works of faith) argument is bogus.
Works of faith are still works and we are saved through faith, not works. Paul made is clear that we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:9); not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us.. (Titus 3:5); He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works.. (2 Timothy 1:9).
Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.
Again, the word "alone" in regards to salvation through faith "in Christ alone" conveys the message that Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not on the merits of our works.
It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not by the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 3:24; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies is never alone (solitary, unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine (James 2:14-24). *Perfect Harmony.*
So what kind of faith is "that?" (James 2:14). Empty profession of faith/dead faith that remains "alone" (barren of works). *In James 2:14, we read of one who says-claims he has faith but has no works (to back up his claim). This is not genuine faith, but a bare profession of faith. So when James asks, "Can that faith save him?" He is saying nothing against genuine faith, but only against an empty profession of faith/dead faith. *Please listen closely - *James does not teach that we are saved "by" works. His concern is to show the reality of the faith professed by the individual (James 2:18) and demonstrate that the faith claimed (James 2:14) by the individual is genuine. Simple!
In James 2:15-16, the example of a "work" that James gives is: "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" To give a brother or sister these things needed for the body would certainly be a "good work/work of faith" yet to neglect such a brother or sister and not give them the things needed for the body is to break the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39) as found written in the law of Moses (Leviticus 19:18).
In Matthew 22:37-40, we read: Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Please tell me, which good works/works of faith could a Christian do which are completely detached from these two great commandments which are found in the law of Moses? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). Are there any genuine good works that we do as Christians which fall outside of loving God and our neighbor as ourself?
*When it comes to the moral aspect of the law, you cannot dissect good works/works of faith from the law, so the not saved by "these" works (works of the law) but saved by "those" works (good works/works of faith) argument is bogus.
Works of faith are still works and we are saved through faith, not works. Paul made is clear that we are not saved by works (Ephesians 2:9); not by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us.. (Titus 3:5); He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works.. (2 Timothy 1:9).
Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.
Brother, with all due respect, you're fighting a lost cause here for a couple of reasons. First, they must exclude "faith alone" ("Sola fide") from the other "solas" in order to assault this biblical doctrine. There is a reason for the other four solas and they all go hand in hand along with a more in-depth explanation than what is on the surface.
Secondly, to attack "faith alone" is to miss the point, perhaps purposefully, of all that "believer" means and entails via Scripture.
"Believer" is not the straw man these erect in accusatory tone, as if it were a person who merely has made mental assent to facts without any Gospel transformation in their lives. Note 2 Corinthians 3:18ff.
None of us, as falsely accused, hold to their view of "believer" of which they attack.
Secondly, to attack "faith alone" is to miss the point, perhaps purposefully, of all that "believer" means and entails via Scripture.
"Believer" is not the straw man these erect in accusatory tone, as if it were a person who merely has made mental assent to facts without any Gospel transformation in their lives. Note 2 Corinthians 3:18ff.
None of us, as falsely accused, hold to their view of "believer" of which they attack.
Amen! The gospel is the "good news" of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) and is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who BELIEVES.. (Romans 1:16). The gospel is not a set of rituals to perform, a code of laws to be obeyed or a check list of good works to accomplish as a prerequisite for salvation.
The gospel simply sets forth Christ crucified, buried and risen as the Savior of those who believe/trust in His finished work of redemption as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. Works-salvationists pervert the gospel by "adding" works to it and rendering Christ an IN-sufficient Savior.
1 Corinthians 1:21 - For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
The gospel simply sets forth Christ crucified, buried and risen as the Savior of those who believe/trust in His finished work of redemption as the ALL-sufficient means of their salvation. Works-salvationists pervert the gospel by "adding" works to it and rendering Christ an IN-sufficient Savior.
1 Corinthians 1:21 - For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.
Yeah, sorry about the group of words but I lost the original because site knocked me off. Before I tried to send post, I saved what I wrote on a program that is not compatible with the one on this site.
I just didn't care to take the time to fix it.
To sum everything I wrote up;
Works of the law, good works, and just believing with no works of any kind result in no salvation.
A corresponding work to your faith in Christ, justifies the person unto salvation.
That's the simple version of it.
I just didn't care to take the time to fix it.
To sum everything I wrote up;
Works of the law, good works, and just believing with no works of any kind result in no salvation.
A corresponding work to your faith in Christ, justifies the person unto salvation.
That's the simple version of it.
And that is a separate issue. There are two biblical conditions which must be met in order to receive the gift of eternal life: (1) repentance toward God and (2) faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21).
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
What we were dealing with was the attempt by some to make salvation as complicated as possible. God does not make things complicated.
Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
What we were dealing with was the attempt by some to make salvation as complicated as possible. God does not make things complicated.
Sometimes you surprise me.
Speak2me was quoting Jesus, so did Jesus Get it wrong?
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What Jesus was saying is, 'repent from doubting the good news and believe.'
The unsaved or heathen are not told to repent of their sins BEFORE they are born again, because it won't do them any good until after they are born again. And not only that, but we are forgiven because of our faith in Jesus, not because of repenting of former sins. Judas did that and look where that got him.
And repentance from dead works does not cause faith to come, hearing the gospel causes faith to come.
If you are talking about repenting from dead works, where is it written that "repentance causes faith"?
Speak2me was quoting Jesus, so did Jesus Get it wrong?
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
What Jesus was saying is, 'repent from doubting the good news and believe.'
The unsaved or heathen are not told to repent of their sins BEFORE they are born again, because it won't do them any good until after they are born again. And not only that, but we are forgiven because of our faith in Jesus, not because of repenting of former sins. Judas did that and look where that got him.
And repentance from dead works does not cause faith to come, hearing the gospel causes faith to come.
If you are talking about repenting from dead works, where is it written that "repentance causes faith"?
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well since you did not understand what I was commenting on I will give you slack.
His point was repentance does not sit still, it requires action. Jesus did not say repent ye and do all these works. He said repent and trust me.
Faith works, No faith does n0t (mere belief)
Repent leads to faith, that my friend is the work of God (john 6) not your work. It does not require action, it requires a change of thinking, a change of heart, and a humility which says yes Lord. I want that, because I can;t.
the Gift is Jesus sent to mankind with the Word of God, and the rest of the Gospel.
When you read a novel do you grab one sentance and argue the rest is irrelavant? one verse theology distorts the context. Life is a gift from God, anything Good is a gift from God, to say its a gift is not wrong, to say a gift nullifies everything else is wrong. How would you reconcile this with your theology?
romans 2:5-11 "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,indignation and wrath, 9Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
10But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11For there is no respect of persons with God.
v16 "In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
let me ask doesnt this say to each person will be judged according to thier deeds?
those who continue patiently doing Good and seeking ..are Given eternal Life?
and those who continue on in disobedience, wrath, indignation tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that does evil rather than Good?????
the reason i do not bank on a single verse is because theres thousands More that Make 1 Message. one scripture doesnt nullify another, they all reconcile so we dont then say look "no condemnation in Christ" the end nothing else applies.....Id rather Learn From Gods Word than deny what it plainly says. i think people probably Know by Now, om not a gog believer where everything gets erased besides the word grace. that delusion never Held water with me.
(you can never be morally upright in Gods eyes apart from Christ. for all have sinned, and fall short)
thats exactly a summary of the gog no one can do right before God.....look how opposite it is though
titus 2:11-15 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
you guys with this gog totally misunderstand what Grace is. the message " no one can ever be upright before God, grace means you arent rewuired to obey God...its impossible" that is not from, nor ever will be from the Gospel. Jesus came to make us obedient and pauls letters are all for that very purpose.
Romans 15:18 "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Grace is not what jp has taught you guys, it is the thing that allows us and teaches us TO live upright Godly Lives in this present world while we wait for Jesus return. its not a guilt free liscence to sin without consequence, its not a means to say " well no one can do right by God" that message is not in the Bible. what you are quor=ting there is paul explaining why Jesus came because all were sinners and unable, Now though you have to look to the " New creation, not who you were, you used to be a sinner incapable of pleasing God, but Jesus changed you you are now a child of God a child of righteousness and truth. thats pauls message with saying " you are a new creation created in Christ TO DO THE GOOD WORKS PREPARED IN ADVANCE"
yes im sorry to disagree but yes through Jesus Christ we can live a pleasing and upright Life in Gods Sight its the purpose of Jesus coming to call sinners to repentance and righteousness, not to excuse us to go on free of Guilt for our sins. gog has grace backwards
