"Work out your own salvation ..."

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

wanderer6059

Senior Member
Oct 27, 2013
1,282
57
48
#81
[FONT=&quot]17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.[/FONT]
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#83
Do you? He alone is worthy of honor.
Yes, I do, and I respect all people who obey his commandments.

[9] Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
[10] love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:9-10 RSV
 
F

FreeNChrist

Guest
#85
Yes, I do, and I respect all people who obey his commandments.

[9] Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good;
[10] love one another with brotherly affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:9-10 RSV
Amazing. Truly amazing. :rolleyes:
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#86
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Ok, but what are these works that one has to have faith to do? Do we have to have faith to feed the poor?
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#88
For I say, through the grace given unto me, Romans 12:3

Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

Rom_5:5  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

All of grace. The Power of God working within us.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#89
Obedience is to believe what saith the Lord and then act.

Disobedience is unbelief.
 

wanderer6059

Senior Member
Oct 27, 2013
1,282
57
48
#90
Ok, but what are these works that one has to have faith to do? Do we have to have faith to feed the poor?
James speaks of works done in obedience to the gospel, and as the proper and necessary effects and fruits of sound believing in Christ Jesus.
 

stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#92
Certainly you know some people who obey the commandments.
Something is written on our hearts when born from above, true? Theres a word again...grace. I hope you don't think I'm picking on you. Its not my goal.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#93
Something is written on our hearts when born from above, true? Theres a word again...grace. I hope you don't think I'm picking on you. Its not my goal.
It is good that the Lord should forgive us of our sins, and it is good that we should repent of those sins. It seems rather simple.
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,069
13,082
113
58
#96
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my 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. 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. So James is discussing the proof of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18), not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3).

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
In James 2:19, nobody is questioning the fact that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God" but they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation. Their trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,687
3,545
113
#98
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. 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. So James is discussing the proof of faith (says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18), not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3).

In James 2:19, nobody is questioning the fact that the demons believe "mental assent" that "there is one God" but they do not believe/entrust their spiritual well being to Christ; have faith/reliance upon Christ for salvation. Their trust and reliance is in Satan, as demonstrated by their rebellion in heaven and continuous evil works.
James is telling his audience, the twelve tribes scattered abroad, that works plus faith justify them.

James 2:24, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Are you and I justified by faith alone or by works also?
 

mailmandan

Senior Member
Apr 7, 2014
25,069
13,082
113
58
#99
James is telling his audience, the twelve tribes scattered abroad, that works plus faith justify them.

James 2:24, Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Are you and I justified by faith alone or by works also?
The harmony of Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:24 is seen in the differing ways that Paul and James use the term "justified." Paul, when he uses the term, refers to the legal (judicial) act of God by which He accounts the sinner as righteous (Romans 3:24-28; 4:2-6; 5:1). James, however is using the term to describe those who would prove the genuineness of their faith by the works that they do.

Man is saved through faith and not works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is vindicated, substantiated, evidenced by works (James 2:14-24). 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.*
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
16,687
3,545
113
The harmony of Romans 4:2-3 and James 2:24 is seen in the differing ways that Paul and James use the term "justified." Paul, when he uses the term, refers to the legal (judicial) act of God by which He accounts the sinner as righteous (Romans 3:24-28; 4:2-6; 5:1). James, however is using the term to describe those who would prove the genuineness of their faith by the works that they do.

Man is saved through faith and not works (Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is vindicated, substantiated, evidenced by works (James 2:14-24). 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.*
Who is the man in James justified before? Does man really justify himself before God by his works?

In order to make them mesh, you have to change what justified means. I don't want to do that. I want to allow the Scripture to be as honest to me as possible.