Faith only - per James - is not genuine because claims to have faith but has no works demonstrates that this is not genuine faith but an empty profession of faith. Where is the evidence of this claim that can be seen? Works are the demonstrative evidence that one has genuine faith and is saved. Good works are the fruit, by product and demonstrative evidence of genuine faith, but not the essence of genuine faith and not the means of our salvation. Faith is the root and works are the fruit of salvation. No fruit demonstrates that there is no root.
I see that you avoided answering my question so I will ask you again. Is obeying righteousness/the truth/doing good accomplished from a lost condition or a saved condition? Is this produced by a living faith or a dead faith?
Nobody said that one is saved while they continue to practice sin and not righteousness (1 John 3:10). Children of God practice righteousness and not sin BECAUSE they are a child of God, not to become a child of God. Children of the devil practice sin and not righteousness BECAUSE they are a child of the devil, not to become a child of the devil. John did not mention a third camp that consists of children of God who continue to practice sin and NOT righteousness.
Salvation is not possible until one FIRST believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, THEN he becomes righteous - his FAITH is ACCOUNTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Romans 4:5). Then working righteousness is the fruit of salvation.
That's not what Peter said. A lost person does not work righteousness but unrighteousness. One must be saved through faith FIRST then one works righteousness from a righteous heart. [/COLOR]Peter prefaced his message with a frank admission. He previously believed that God's favor was limited to the nation of Israel. Now he realized that God did not respect a man's person because of his nationality. Working righteousness is the result of an already existing faith. We are not saved by works of righteousness (Titus 3:5), but works in connection with salvation are always the result of, not the condition of, receiving salvation. These verses are giving a description of a believer (Christian), not a prerequisite to become saved. My goodness you have all of this backwards!
By faith Abel offered a sacrifice (Heb. 11:4). Abel offered a sacrifice "by" (out of) a faith that "he already had" and confirmed his faith by what he did. Cain demonstrated an evil heart by his evil deeds, while Abel demonstrated a pious heart by his righteous deeds (1 John 3:12); and that Abel offered his sacrifice by faith and Cain did not. Because of Cain's faith, God accounted him as righteous. His faith was evidenced in obedience to God's requirement for sacrifice by which he obtained witness that he was righteous. That sacrifice did not make him righteous, but through it he was shown to be righteous because of his faith (James 2:18). Cain's sacrifice was evidence that his faith was not genuine. Abel's offering proved something about his faith that was not demonstrated by Cain's offering.
The one who practices righteousness does so BECAUSE he is righteous, not to become righteous, just as the one who practices sin does so BECAUSE is of the devil, not to become of the devil. Carefully read 1 John 3:7-10 again.
So you believe it's all about works of righteousness which they have done that is the basis for receiving eternal life and faith didn't matter in the OT? What do we read under the New Covenant in Acts 3:19; 10:43-47; 11:17-18; Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5 and 2 Timothy 1:9? The order is repent, believe the gospel, righteous standing with God, followed by working righteousness. [/FONT]
Repent, faith, righteous, fruit - keep statutes, do lawful, right. Does a wicked person keep statutes, do lawful and what is right or a righteous person?
Repentance precedes saving faith in Christ, then this person keeps His commandments and practices righteousness (1 John 2:3; 1 John 3:10). By this we KNOW that we HAVE COME TO KNOW HIM if we keep His commandments, not finally come to know Him from a lost condition after we keep His commandments. Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, so only those who are born of God FIRST then practice righteousness.
Ezekiel 33:13 - When I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity that he has committed, he shall die. Did you read that? “If he trust in his OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS.” This is the heart of the matter here. This is describing a righteousness which is by the law rather than that which is by faith. The New Testament states in Romans 10:3-4 - “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who BELIEVES.”
As James Fawcett Brown point out - righteous--one apparently such; as in Matthew 9:13, "I came not to call the righteous," that is, those who fancy themselves righteous. First please notice the underlined words "his righteousness" meaning that the "righteous" turns from his righteousness. That is his OWN righteousness.
Nothing about faith then at all? Is this salvation by works? We turn from wickedness when we repent and we believe the gospel and become saved (Acts 20:21; Acts 3:19; 11:17-18; Romans 1:16). Only righteous people because of their faith do what is lawful and right. In Genesis 26:4 - [/FONT]"I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and will give your descendants all these lands; and by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 because Abraham obeyed Me and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws." Was this the point in which Abraham's faith was accounted for righteousness? NO. Read Genesis 15:5-6 which happened many years before. Genesis 15:5 - Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
How do wicked people practice righteousness? Wicked people FIRST repent and believe on Him who justifies the ungodly, then their faith is accounted for righteousness. Then practicing righteousness follows. What you are saying is that a wicked person accomplishes works of righteousness in order to save themselves by works and then they shall save their soul alive based on these works of righteousness? (Titus 3:5). What happened to faith?
So a wicked person spends his entire life doing righteousness in order to be saved by works? Where do we read this in the NT? Lost souls do righteousness?
What happened to faith in your works formula plan of salvation? When a person repents and believes the gospel, they become saved. Turning from doing unrighteousness to doing which is lawful/doing righteousness is the fruit of repentance/faith (Matthew 3:8; Acts 26:20). So according to you, we have not been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9) but will be saved by works which follow?
DEEDS determine and demonstrate the condition of our heart which determines if we will receive eternal life or not. Notice that ALL who will receive eternal life are described as everyone who does good and ALL who will not receive eternal life are described as everyone who does evil. Luke 6:45 - [/COLOR]A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. Notice the heart condition precedes the results. It's the same with DEEDS as the result of the heart condition.
False. We have been saved through faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8,9). Then after one is saved/created in Christ Jesus - what follows? - UNTO/FOR good works (Ephesians 2:10). So contrary to scripture, you teach that salvation is "attained" and "maintained" by works. From beginning "have been saved through faith" (Ephesians 2:8) to end "receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:9). It's obvious what you are trusting in for salvation - WORKS and not Christ alone. You are in the same boat with Roman Catholics and Mormons. Difference in style, but same in substance - "works based" false gospel.