Are we justified by our works as James states?
Is it possible that James is written to the twelve tribes during the time of Jacob’s trouble?
“Are we justified by our works as James states?”
thats not James point James is teaching us about true faith versus words.
james is explaining that Abraham was told this up front
because he believed what God said to him
“And he brought him forth abroad, and said,
Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
And
he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”
Genesis 15:5-6 KJV
James point simply is that was calling Abraham righteous beforehand and then
his faith was tested when was told to offer Isaac he obeyed and then God said this to him
“And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, and said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.”
Genesis 22:1-2, 10-12, 15-18 KJV
this is James point regarding faith
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that
faith without works is dead? Was not
Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?( that’s what God said to Abraham because you did this )
seeth thou
how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ( he’s saying faith isn’t complete unless you actually act in faith )
And
the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. ( he was called righteous first because he believed and then Tested just like we are )
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and
not by faith only.”
James 2:20-24 KJV
He’s making clear faith is not to just say I believe now in saved th end we still have to obey God that’s what faith is for
James Point is clear now huh ? Faith leads to doing the works or rather ing the deeds God has called us to do
after we believe and are accepted
were justified because we accept the gospel and we are proven as we hear and grow and follow the gospel which we claim we believe
James point is
faith doesn’t lead us to never do anything ,or become opposed to doing good works or even taking responsibility formoir deeds
it
always leads to us obeying what God is telling us like Abraham did that is faith it isn’t just to say “I believe or I love everyone I’m righteous “
It’s to act like we believe and act in love towards others
Hes correcting the idea that “ if I have faith there’s no work to do “ Paul taught it also just takes him a chaoter to say what James teaches in a couple sentences
james is also teaching salvation by faith he’s just making it clear what faith is and isn’t
at his example as he leads in there consoder what point he’s making about faith
“
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and
have not works?
can faith save him?
If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and
one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Even
so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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.”
James 2:14-18 KJV
gos isn’t interested in lip service but people who will hear and believe him and walk the walk
a James is not writing to anyone but the church and the subject is the gospel and salvation by faith he’s just teaching it clearer and more abruptly than Paul
James is talking about this part
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: For
we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
Ephesians 2:8, 10 KJV
James is for mature Christian’s who e gotten past the “ I’m not able and capable and I’m not expected to do anything , faith means I don’t need to do anything he said to do “ part James is teaching what will make a believer grow and change and repent and live upright lives because th ta what grace does teaches us to become zealous of good works not opposed to them
We put Paul and James together and have a strong effective word that saves us