I was once in a debate about faith and works or faith alone, I believe faith alone ( I know, oh Lord here we go again). The other person who believed in faith and works, would not get off this verse:
Mt 5:20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The debate has long past, when I thought about this verse (I am a Slow thinker):
Mt 21:31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the HARLOTS go into the kingdom of God before you.
Jesus was talking to the the chief priests and the elders here.
now I try to explain to the other debater that, this mt. 5:20 didn't mean our righteousness but was referring to when we take on His ( Jesus ) righteousness , because :
Isa 64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSes are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
but because mt. 5:20 said your righteousness, they wouldn't let go, they couldn't concept that :
Ro 4:13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.Ro 4:14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:Ro 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.Ro 4:16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
that just as Abraham, our faith is our righteousness not our works , now my thread although, I know it will , is not to reopen the debate but to help clear up the debate, so if the other debater was right , then we have a contradiction in the Word for Jesus told us unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. But then told the scribe and the Pharisees That the publicans and the HARLOTS go into the kingdom of God before you.
so let's look at the contents to help clear this up
Mt 21:31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.Mt 21:32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
see here the harlots and publicans didn't have greater works but rather because they believed so their righteosuness exceeded the scribes because of their belief( faith) not works. so no contradiction but rather clarification, Hopefully, we as Abraham :
Ro 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?Ro 4:2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.Ro 4:3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.Ro 4:4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.Ro 4:5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Ro 4:9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to ABRAHAM for righteousness.
Ga 3:1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?Ga 3:2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Ga 3:3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?Ga 3:4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.Ga 3:5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Ga 3:6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.Ga 3:7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.Ga 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.Ga 3:9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.Ga 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.Ga 3:11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.Ga 3:12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.Ga 3:13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Ga 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
many more could I post but this is rather long thread already hope this helps .
there is a reasonable service for us to live righteous, but because we are saved , not ot get saved
Ro 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.Ro 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Ro 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Mt 5:20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The debate has long past, when I thought about this verse (I am a Slow thinker):
Mt 21:31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the HARLOTS go into the kingdom of God before you.
Jesus was talking to the the chief priests and the elders here.
now I try to explain to the other debater that, this mt. 5:20 didn't mean our righteousness but was referring to when we take on His ( Jesus ) righteousness , because :
Isa 64:6But we are all as an unclean thing, and all OUR RIGHTEOUSNESSes are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
but because mt. 5:20 said your righteousness, they wouldn't let go, they couldn't concept that :
Ro 4:13For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.Ro 4:14For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:Ro 4:15Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.Ro 4:16Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
that just as Abraham, our faith is our righteousness not our works , now my thread although, I know it will , is not to reopen the debate but to help clear up the debate, so if the other debater was right , then we have a contradiction in the Word for Jesus told us unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. But then told the scribe and the Pharisees That the publicans and the HARLOTS go into the kingdom of God before you.
so let's look at the contents to help clear this up
Mt 21:31Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.Mt 21:32For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
see here the harlots and publicans didn't have greater works but rather because they believed so their righteosuness exceeded the scribes because of their belief( faith) not works. so no contradiction but rather clarification, Hopefully, we as Abraham :
Ro 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?Ro 4:2For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.Ro 4:3For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.Ro 4:4Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.Ro 4:5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Ro 4:9Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to ABRAHAM for righteousness.
Ga 3:1O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?Ga 3:2This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Ga 3:3Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?Ga 3:4Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.Ga 3:5He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?Ga 3:6Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.Ga 3:7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.Ga 3:8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.Ga 3:9So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.Ga 3:10For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.Ga 3:11But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.Ga 3:12And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.Ga 3:13Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:Ga 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
many more could I post but this is rather long thread already hope this helps .
there is a reasonable service for us to live righteous, but because we are saved , not ot get saved
Ro 12:1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.Ro 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.Ro 12:3For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.