What has been said is that you can't HAVE FAITH without works - that is not true. FAITH comes FIRST, FIRST, FIRST then the works. Abraham believed God - that was FIRST - THEN - he was circumcised - THEN - he had the confidence and trust [faith] in God to offer Isaac. So faith without works - is DEAD faith - is it NO faith? or is it lying DORMANT, doing nothing, not being energized or exercised - as in DEAD - as in imperfect? Abraham's works made his faith perfect.
who said that....??
you can't HAVE FAITH without works
it is called faith without works is dead....you calling James a liar??? you are just trying to be technical...
James 2:22 - faith wrought with works - synergeo - 1. to work together, help in work, be partner in labour; 2. to put forth power together with and thereby to assist
not so hard to understand ...together....not before and after....not first and second
James 2:24 by works a man is justified not by faith only - ergon - 1. business, employment, that which any one is occupied, A. that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking; 2. any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind; 3. an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work - that faith you have is what energizes your works
so if there is no work the faith has nothing to energize and therefore useless /dead until it is joined with works.....
please quote scripture as they are written....we are saved by grace through faith.....
- but if works do not follow it is a DEAD faith
through faith indicates works ...because we know ...
that faith you have is what energizes your works
your words
- BUT if your faith is followed by good works then it is made perfect by those works. (2:22)
you are separating faith from works....it makes faith dead and works become evil....
Romans 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith:
for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
We cannot say a man is justified freely in one chapter [Romans] of scripture then come along and contradict that in another chapter [James] of scripture. There has to be something wrong with our understanding
of course we can ...if you don't look at faith/works as trying to earn salvation...
Romans 3:23-25King James Version (KJV)
[SUP]23 [/SUP]For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
[SUP]24 [/SUP]Being justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
[SUP]25 [/SUP]Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation
through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
In scripture we need to see "to whom" specific scriptures are addressed - Romans is addressed to all who be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints [Romans 1:7] which would be the church. James is addressed to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad [James 1:1] Maybe there is the conundrum with our understanding - Honestly, I'm not sure, and honestly, I don't know! I just see a BIG, DIRECT contradiction and I know there shouldn't be any . . .
the gospel is one message to all mankind....there is no contradiction in the word only in our understanding of the word....I pray that God shows you the truth sis