Not By Works
- Thread starter dcontroversal
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Yes, you are correct, the Covenant of the Law provided for animal sacrifices.
But the point is, you have to sacrifice them, which involves work, since animals are certainly not cheap during the OT days.
If you were to do that, God sees your obedience to his covenant as faith to him, and he will see you righteous because of that faith.
The precedent was set with Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:7.
But the point is, you have to sacrifice them, which involves work, since animals are certainly not cheap during the OT days.
If you were to do that, God sees your obedience to his covenant as faith to him, and he will see you righteous because of that faith.
The precedent was set with Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:7.
But as Paul taught us now in the Body of Christ, our salvation is by faith, apart from works (Romans 4:5)
God commands us now, thru Paul, to cease from all works, and trust in Christ's finished work on the cross, and we receive present salvation if we obey him in that specific instruction.
There is a very clear difference there. Ours is present salvation (Ephesians 1:7), Israel's salvation only comes in the future, as Peter reminded Israel in Acts 3:19-21.
God commands us now, thru Paul, to cease from all works, and trust in Christ's finished work on the cross, and we receive present salvation if we obey him in that specific instruction.
There is a very clear difference there. Ours is present salvation (Ephesians 1:7), Israel's salvation only comes in the future, as Peter reminded Israel in Acts 3:19-21.
Never said it did.
It was always faith that saves, you obey what God commanded you to do at any time period, he sees that as faith.
For example, Abel offered the sacrifice God commanded, Cain refused to offer that (genesis 4:7). As a result, one had faith, the other did not.
In the ot time period, God commanded Israel to follow the law. The only way you can show faith is to do what he commands.
It was always faith that saves, you obey what God commanded you to do at any time period, he sees that as faith.
For example, Abel offered the sacrifice God commanded, Cain refused to offer that (genesis 4:7). As a result, one had faith, the other did not.
In the ot time period, God commanded Israel to follow the law. The only way you can show faith is to do what he commands.
Before I address what's written in your "Bible Tools" commentary, let's establish this:
1) What is certain is that Elijah was literally (not in vision) taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:1 KJV).
2) What is not certain is that Elijah ever returned from heaven to Earth to die (not one text) or returned at any other time except in the Mount of Transfiguration.
3) That Elijah did return centuries later to the Mount proves he had already received his immortal body.
THEREFORE:
1) It’s possible that the author of 2 Kings did not place the account of Elijah’s translation to heaven in chronological order with the surrounding chapters. Elijah could have still been serving as prophet until much later in the reign of Jehoram.
2) Another possibility is that Elijah wrote the letter to Jehoram before his departure to heaven and left it for Elisha or someone else to deliver. Elijah was a prophet, after all. God could easily have given him the words to write ahead of time.
3) Another possibility is that, before his translation to heaven, Elijah told Elisha what Jehoram would do and what God’s judgment would be. When the time came, Elisha wrote out Elijah’s prophecy and delivered it to King Jehoram.
So, for the author of the "Bible Tools" commentary to make such a bold, subjective statement when the three points above are more than plausible explanations to the contrary, demonstrates extreme irresponsible exegesis on his part.
1) What is certain is that Elijah was literally (not in vision) taken up to heaven (2 Kings 2:1 KJV).
2) What is not certain is that Elijah ever returned from heaven to Earth to die (not one text) or returned at any other time except in the Mount of Transfiguration.
3) That Elijah did return centuries later to the Mount proves he had already received his immortal body.
THEREFORE:
1) It’s possible that the author of 2 Kings did not place the account of Elijah’s translation to heaven in chronological order with the surrounding chapters. Elijah could have still been serving as prophet until much later in the reign of Jehoram.
2) Another possibility is that Elijah wrote the letter to Jehoram before his departure to heaven and left it for Elisha or someone else to deliver. Elijah was a prophet, after all. God could easily have given him the words to write ahead of time.
3) Another possibility is that, before his translation to heaven, Elijah told Elisha what Jehoram would do and what God’s judgment would be. When the time came, Elisha wrote out Elijah’s prophecy and delivered it to King Jehoram.
So, for the author of the "Bible Tools" commentary to make such a bold, subjective statement when the three points above are more than plausible explanations to the contrary, demonstrates extreme irresponsible exegesis on his part.