David misunderstands scripture and cannot show from scripture how much good deeds we must do to get a pass so that we can enter into eternal life.
Regarding James 4:17 that David quoted, the good referred to here is to believe on Jesus. Remember it's the sin of unbelief in Jesus that the world is convicted of.
Consider the context of James 4:17 and then we can see what "good" means.
Note James 4:4 to see who it addresses to help get context.
Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
Here we see it addresses spiritual adulterers who are in adultery with Hagar (who is symbolic for righteousness by works of the law, Gal 4:24).
Note also James 4:7, 8
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
Here we see a salvation call to these spiritual adulterers who are lost, in unbelief, which is evidenced by the fact they are legalists who follow doctrines where righteousness is determined by obedience to the law.
And note confirmation of this in James 4:12.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
James 4:12 confirms that the context of this chapter is referring to legalists/spiritual adulterers, who judge righteousness by obedience to the law.
So what is the "good" that James 4:17 speaks of?
It refers to believing on Jesus.
This is the will of God (John 6:40, 1 Thess 4:3,)
Our works are to believe on Jesus, John 6:29.
The sin that the world is convicted of is unbelief in Jesus, John 16:9
The "good" that we are to do is to believe on Jesus.
The legalists here seem intent on avoiding the gospel as much as possible in their efforts to try to lure others here back under the law.
Alright, lets recap this then. And in my opinion, twisting scripture. First, lets ALL read James 4
[h=3]James 4[/h]King James Version (KJV)
4 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?
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2 [/SUP]
Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
[SUP]3 [/SUP]Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
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5 [/SUP]
Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
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6 [/SUP]But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
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7 [/SUP]Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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8 [/SUP]Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
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9 [/SUP]Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
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10 [/SUP]Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
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11 [/SUP]Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
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12 [/SUP]There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
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13 [/SUP]Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
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14 [/SUP]Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
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15 [/SUP]For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
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16 [/SUP]But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.
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17 [/SUP]Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
Is this spiritual? If you read it, and you realize it's talking about things you shouldn't do, like judging, boasting, and lusting, it is not spiritual. It's saying what is right and whats wrong. If you read the entire Chapter, you will understand that.
There, now you attacked the one verse of James 4:17, what about all the other verses?