James 2:14-26, A verse by verse study

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Apr 7, 2014
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Instead of audience recognition and application, let’s switch meanings of words to make it fit.

In James, Abraham was justified by works in the sight of God not man. He was declared righteous when he believed Genesis 15, but that righteousness was not justified until he offered his son (Genesis 22). James is using Abraham as an example after circumcision (Genesis 17), as faith and works to the Jew in the last days. Paul uses Abraham before circumcision as an example of faith alone to the Gentile. Abraham being used as a dual type, uncircumcision and circumcision.
The greek word for "justified" does have more than one meaning.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/dikaioo.html

In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidence for, or against a man being in a state of righteousness.

God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. *Notice that the NIV reads, "acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads, "they declared God just.." That is the "sense" in which God was "justified." He was shown to be righteous.

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds.
 
Apr 7, 2014
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However, not one drop of water in chapter 6. It is the baptism into Christ, being totally emerged into his body, the church.
Regardless, the word "baptism" is used in Romans chapter 6 and Beckworth missaplies it to mean that water baptism is the cause of the realities which takes place in Spirit baptism. These realities are merely signified but are not procured in water baptism.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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The greek word for "justified" does have more than one meaning.

https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/nas/dikaioo.html

In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidence for, or against a man being in a state of righteousness.

God is said to have been justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. *Notice that the NIV reads, "acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads, "they declared God just.." That is the "sense" in which God was "justified." He was shown to be righteous.

Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds.
The context of James 2 is salvation of the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Can faith save him?
 
Apr 7, 2014
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The context of James 2 is salvation of the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Can faith save him?
Can that faith save him? What kind of faith is that? Bare profession of faith. (James 2:14) The Israelites are saved the same way that the Gentiles are saved. By faith. Genuine faith that does not remain barren of works.
 
Nov 30, 2024
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Ephesians 2:1-3

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others"

DEAD PEOPLE DON"T CHOOSE.. But THANK GOD we serve a very merciful and loving GOD that while we were still sinners (dead) He died to so we may live. Amen
 
Nov 1, 2024
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The context of James 2 is salvation of the twelve tribes scattered abroad. Can faith save him?
Yes, a faith that works through love can save anyone.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love. Galatians 5:6
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,176
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Can that faith save him? What kind of faith is that? Bare profession of faith. (James 2:14) The Israelites are saved the same way that the Gentiles are saved. By faith. Genuine faith that does not remain barren of works.
Paul says yes, faith alone saves, no works needed for salvation nor for justification.
 
Nov 17, 2015
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Whenever the word has two or more meanings, the context will determine the sense so the Bible built-in dictionary for justification is to simply "shew" i.e. to demonstrate
 
Nov 17, 2015
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Can that faith save him? What kind of faith is that? Bare profession of faith. (James 2:14) The Israelites are saved the same way that the Gentiles are saved. By faith. Genuine faith that does not remain barren of works.
Exactly sir, "...though a man may say", is a mere profession of faith. Thanks
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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Exactly. (Roman 4:5-6; 5:1)
And in this age, the believer is justified by the faith OF Jesus Christ. He did all the work to justify us before God. Our works matter for future rewards, not justification. A believer can be saved with no works, but will receive no rewards at the JSOC.
 
Nov 1, 2024
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Paul says yes, faith alone saves, no works needed for salvation nor for justification.
Paul said faith that works through love saves

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love. Galatians 5:6
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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Paul said faith that works through love saves

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love. Galatians 5:6
Yes, love is indeed a good thing for us to live by.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

However, we are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
 

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
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Paul said faith that works through love saves

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works through love. Galatians 5:6
Paul never says or said that faith ALONE saves. He may have said “faith saves” but he never says faith ALONE SAVES. If he did then we have a contradiction in the Bible because James 2:24 says faith alone does NOT save. If the Bible contradicts itself how can we believe anything it says?
there is a huge difference between being saved by faith and being saved by faith alone.
The Bible says we are saved by works ( not works alone), James 2; the Bible says we are saved by baptism ( not baptism alone), 1 Peter 3:21; the Bible sats we are saved by confession (not confession alone) Romans 10:9-19; and the Bible says we are saved by faith, but Not by faith alone. James 2:24.

If you are going to quote the Bible, please quote it correctly.
 

Beckworth

Active member
May 15, 2019
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Paul never says or said that faith ALONE saves. He may have said “faith saves” but he never says faith ALONE SAVES. If he did then we have a contradiction in the Bible because James 2:24 says faith alone does NOT save. If the Bible contradicts itself how can we believe anything it says?
there is a huge difference between being saved by faith and being saved by faith alone.
The Bible says we are saved by works ( not works alone), James 2; the Bible says we are saved by baptism ( not baptism alone), 1 Peter 3:21; the Bible sats we are saved by confession (not confession alone) Romans 10:9-19; and the Bible says we are saved by faith, but Not by faith alone. James 2:24.

If you are going to quote the Bible, please quote it correctly.
Sorry, this post was a reply to John 146.
 
Nov 1, 2024
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Paul never says or said that faith ALONE saves. He may have said “faith saves” but he never says faith ALONE SAVES. If he did then we have a contradiction in the Bible because James 2:24 says faith alone does NOT save. If the Bible contradicts itself how can we believe anything it says?
there is a huge difference between being saved by faith and being saved by faith alone.
The Bible says we are saved by works ( not works alone), James 2; the Bible says we are saved by baptism ( not baptism alone), 1 Peter 3:21; the Bible sats we are saved by confession (not confession alone) Romans 10:9-19; and the Bible says we are saved by faith, but Not by faith alone. James 2:24.

If you are going to quote the Bible, please quote it correctly.
I don't understand what your issue is. I quoted what the bible says
 
Nov 1, 2024
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Yes, love is indeed a good thing for us to live by.

6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

However, we are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Justification is just the first step in salvation, which is a life-long process,
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,176
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Justification is just the first step in salvation, which is a life-long process,
Were these Corinthia believers justified? Was Paul telling the truth?

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.