Saved by faith alone?
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James 2
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.”
(Is this understood as someone saying, "You have devoted yourself to believing and I have devoted myself to deeds"?)
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
(Is this saying, "Deeds are evidence of faith, and that is the only way faith can be 'shown' to anyone else?)
19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
(What then differentiates the demons' belief from faith?")
Demons are alone even among a legion, but the faithful are never alone. So, the question concerning faith alone is a bit of a leading question because it directs the answer toward no, even though deeds inherently accompany faith alone whereas, on the other hand, faith does not necessarily accompany deeds. Considering that demons' works are evil, even though they believe that God is one, and the faithful are a new creation chosen for good works, even though they are chosen by faith alone, then it can be said that we are saved by faith alone (for good works), especially since we have no good works up to that point since there are none genuinely good apart from the One God even if they tried with everything else they had, and then more likely boast of them which could be what James 2:18 is speaking to?
So, to say that one has to do good deeds in order to be saved for good deeds is circular reasoning.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.”
(Is this understood as someone saying, "You have devoted yourself to believing and I have devoted myself to deeds"?)
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
(Is this saying, "Deeds are evidence of faith, and that is the only way faith can be 'shown' to anyone else?)
19 You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
(What then differentiates the demons' belief from faith?")
Demons are alone even among a legion, but the faithful are never alone. So, the question concerning faith alone is a bit of a leading question because it directs the answer toward no, even though deeds inherently accompany faith alone whereas, on the other hand, faith does not necessarily accompany deeds. Considering that demons' works are evil, even though they believe that God is one, and the faithful are a new creation chosen for good works, even though they are chosen by faith alone, then it can be said that we are saved by faith alone (for good works), especially since we have no good works up to that point since there are none genuinely good apart from the One God even if they tried with everything else they had, and then more likely boast of them which could be what James 2:18 is speaking to?
So, to say that one has to do good deeds in order to be saved for good deeds is circular reasoning.
God used BOTH the ark and water to transport Noah and his family from a sinful existence to a completely cleansed one. It is a foreshadow of the NT reality of when a believer is placed INTO Jesus wherein their sins are remitted.
According to Paul, belief and obedience to the NT command to be water baptized (in the name of Jesus) is when a believer is actually placed into Jesus. (Rom. 6:3-4) Baptism is God's chosen instrument of cleansing wherein sins are remitted in accordance with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (Rom. 6: 6, Acts 22:16...) Paul clarified that IF a person is planted together in the likeness of Jesus' death they will also be in likeness of His resurrection.
According to Paul, belief and obedience to the NT command to be water baptized (in the name of Jesus) is when a believer is actually placed into Jesus. (Rom. 6:3-4) Baptism is God's chosen instrument of cleansing wherein sins are remitted in accordance with Jesus' death, burial and resurrection. (Rom. 6: 6, Acts 22:16...) Paul clarified that IF a person is planted together in the likeness of Jesus' death they will also be in likeness of His resurrection.
This is solely for the purpose of addressing your statement that "all sin is willful". While the Old Covenant was for Israel, it still gives us understanding on many issues. So, in studying the Old Covenant, we see that there is a difference between willful sin and ignorant sin, which you said there was no difference. Now, in the New Covenant, we are still required to refrain from sin, and there still is a difference between willful sin and ignorant sin. Willfully sinning Christians are in for a rude awakening at the end of life's journey when the Lord Jesus says to depart from Him because He does not know them.
Romans 6
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Romans 6
[11] Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
[12] Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
[13] Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
[14] For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
[15] What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
[16] Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
That's for those who love Him; and those who love Him keep His commandments.
John 14
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
John 14
[21] He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
[22] Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
[23] Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
[24] He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
Hardly a stretch to allow the scripture to say what it actually says. The whole point Paul is making is that we have entered in to a relationship with God based on what Christ has done, and not we ourselves. And finding ourselves in this new relationship, that God in Christ has secured it to us.
What do you believe it means to be "in Christ "?
What do you believe it means to be "in Christ "?
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Read verse 16.
You do not obey and then walk in the Spirit. You walk in the Spirit and thereby do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
You seem to have it backwards. You think in and of yourself you have the capacity to obey and please God. This is simply not so. It is only as we walk in the Spirit that we will not sin. This is why we are to seek first his kingdom and His RIGHTEOUSNESS.
You do not obey and then walk in the Spirit. You walk in the Spirit and thereby do not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
You seem to have it backwards. You think in and of yourself you have the capacity to obey and please God. This is simply not so. It is only as we walk in the Spirit that we will not sin. This is why we are to seek first his kingdom and His RIGHTEOUSNESS.
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