FAITH ALONE: Paul Agrees With James.

The concept of salvation by faith alone is a central tenet in Protestant Christianity, particularly emphasized by Martin Luther during the Reformation. This teaching is based on passages like Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Most all Christian churches emphasize Grace, & Faith as the sole means of salvation.

But not all Churches recognize His Grace, that offers salvation, is offered to all men everywhere.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:" Acts 17:30
Jesus said repent or perish Luk 13:3.
"When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Acts 11:18

So Repentance is a requirement for salvation Luk 13:3; Acts 11:18. It is Faith in Jesus and His Word that brings you to repentance. And the obedience to repentance, is the manifested confirmation of your Faith that is judged and rewarded.

'For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Eph 2:10

Paul taught to be zealous in showing obedience to HIS Word in producing good works in Titus 2:14:

"Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

Paul also taught you will be judge and rewarded for your works

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2Cor 5 10
Paul also records

"Who will render to every man according to his deeds:" Rom 2:6

John confirmed your works are rewarded by God and do follow you into His Kingdom

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." Rev 14:13.

What about James 2:14-26, where it is stated that faith without works is dead.
James emphasizes the importance of genuine faith which is shown through works. Works are seen as the evidence or fruit of ones faith.
All works, by all men, are produced by what they believe. The works show where one placed their faith, it is evident in what they do. You'd have to be dead not to produce any works. As everyone does as they believe.

The works of Repentance, doing good deeds, showing charity, and expressing love are all ways in which believers demonstrate their faith in action. These works are not done to earn salvation but as a response to the grace and love to God and to His Word . They are the visible manifestation of an inward transformation that comes from genuine faith in Christ.

In essence, faith and works go hand in hand in the Christian life. While salvation is by faith alone, provided by His Grace to all men, true faith in Jesus and His Word will inevitably produce good works as a reflection of one's relationship with God. It is through a living faith that believers are called to actively demonstrate their love for God and others. Thus giving evidence to ones obedience to The two great commandments.
"This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matt 22:38-40
Loving God with all your heart and soul and loving your neighbor as yourself, encompass the core of the Christian life, where faith, obedience, and good works flow from a heart transformed by God's grace.

Obedience is a key aspect of demonstrating faith in GOD. In John 14:15, Jesus says,
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments." Obedience to GOD's commandments is a reflection of one's faith and love for GOD. It is through obedience that believers show their trust in GOD's Word and wisdom and aligning ones actions with GOD's will.

Therefore, faith, works, and obedience are interconnected in the Christian life. True faith in GOD is demonstrated through actions and obedience to GOD's commandments, reflecting a genuine relationship with GOD and bearing witness to the transformative power of faith in the lives of believers.

This is a confirmation of one's faith and a response to God's grace, whom rewards one with rewards in eternity based on one's deeds Weather at be good or bad. (see Reve 14:13.)

"And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." John 5:29

John 5:29 above underscores the lasting impact of deeds done in faith and obedience to God.

The belief that God rewards these obedient works further underscores the importance of faith being manifested in actions that align with God's will and demonstrate love for God and others.

John emphasis on the confirmation of genuine faith through the evidence of works that result from obedience to God's commands, particularly the two great commandments to love God and love others. These works are seen as a reflection of one's faith and a demonstration of living out the teachings of Jesus.

Thus Salvation in Christ is a gift from God, received by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith leads to repentance, as seen in Luke 13:3, as turning away from sin is essential and a good work. While works and obedience are important fruits of genuine faith, they do not earn salvation but are evidence of Faith in Jesus and a transformed life that God judges and rewards. The two great commandments, loving God and loving others, encompass the core of Christian living, where faith, obedience, and good works flow from a heart transformed by God's Grace in sending the Holy Spirit to those that are obedient in baptism. Acts 2:38.

Sorry all. I did not realize I could not edit after posting this topic. as regarding
The two great commandments the post is missing the 1st great commandment matthew Matt 22:37. And needs to be added above the 2nd great commandment in the above post and I would of shorten the ending a bit. Lesson learned.

Faith without works is dead in James 2 has context of people who are using faith they already have. Abraham, Rahab both did acts out of having been converted by God much earlier.

So the works they show.. aren't hooked onto their eternal salvation. They are a right response to having been given salvation. It is not GUARANTEED that a saved person will go on to be faithful.

There will be fruit from being saved.. that is the result of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence on a saved person's soul, but it is not definite they will go on to faithfulness. People get taught the wrong doctrine.. can get caught up in old sins.. get in with the wrong crowd... even as christians.

So it is 'faith alone' that saves a person. By grace.. through faith in Jesus as God who can give everlasting life to all who believe in Him.

So.. maybe you are posting this because you have seen too many false conversions.. or people leading someone by just saying 'repeat these words after me'.. so I understand that. Salvation is simple.. easy.. but it is genuine, from the heart and mind change-- not just a flippant thing.

Look up threads on this site about seperating salvation from service. It is where soooooo many people get it mixed up. They connect the service to salvation.. where the bible does not.

Context is key. The demons believe.. yes.. but not the way a person getting saved believes. They know God as another being they are certain of existing .. but they do not entrust their salvation with Him, which a person believing does.

Daily service is the right response to salvation.. but not directly connected to it.

The title should say "Grace and faith alone", since grace comes first, and works have nothing whatsoever to do with justification by grace: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10)

Genuine salvation must result in good works and righteous living. James is telling those who brag about their faith to show that their faith is genuine by producing good works. He speaks of justification in the eyes of men, since salvation (eternal life) is a GIFT of God.

Man is saved through faith and not by works (Romans 4:5-6; Ephesians 2:8,9; Titus 3:5; 2 Timothy 1:9); yet genuine faith is (evidenced) by works. (James 2:14-26).

*Christ saves us through faith based on the merits of His finished work of redemption "alone" and not based on the merits of our works. (Romans 3:24-28)

It is through faith "in Christ alone" (and not based on the merits of our works) that we are justified on account of Christ (Romans 4:5-6; 5:1; 5:9); yet the faith that justifies does not remain alone (unfruitful, barren) if it is genuine. (James 2:14-26) *Perfect Harmony*

Medad, I enjoyed your post,

Welcome.

There is a difference between the way to become righteous and what we are becoming when we become righteous. The only way to become righteous is through faith that we ought to be doers of righteous works alone apart from being required to have first done a certain amount of righteous works in order to result in becoming righteous as through it could be earned as a wage and what it means for us to become righteous is that we are becoming doers of righteous works. So when someone does a righteous action such as doing charity, then the significance is not that it is part of something that they are required to do first to result in their righteousness, but that they are acting in faith, and it is by that faith alone that they are declared righteous.

In Psalms 119:29-30, he wanted to put false ways far from him, for God to be gracious to him by teaching him to obey the Mosaic Law, and he chose the way of faith by setting it before him, so this has always been the one and only way of salvation by grace through faith. Our salvation is from sin (Matthew 1:21) and it is by the Mosaic Law that we have knowledge of what sin is (Romans 3:20), so getting to have the experience living in obedience to it is the content of God's gift of saving us from not living in obedience to it, not something that we need to have done first in order to earn our salvation as the result. In Titus 2:11-13, our salvation is described as being trained by grace to do what is godly, righteous, and good, and to renounce doing what is ungodly, so we are not required to have first done those works in order to earn our salvation as the result and we are not required to do those works as the result of having first been saved, but rather God graciously teaching us to experience doing those works is the content of His gift of saving us from not doing those works.

And the believers who works are burned will be saved also, but receive no rewards. 1 Corinthians 2

What justifies a man before God?

Doing His will not ours.

Grace is to all men everywhere. But not all men everywhere have faith. Faith alone separates the just from the unjust the wicked from the tares. As evident by your works. The My Title address those that Want to remove the book of james and claim it is contrary to paul. All my titles are set for those that disagree.

Psalms 17:4
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

Psalms 23:3
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Grace's is to ALL men everywhere Acts 17:30 But not all men everywhere have faith. And by their fruits you shall know them. Matt 7:20

“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
‭‭James‬ ‭1:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: he is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:46-48‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ( preach the gospel to every creature ) teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, ( you must repent ) we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”( and follow me )
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:11-12‬ ‭KJV‬‬

“looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ( Jesus taught in the gospel he would return some day)

who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works( that’s the goal of Gods grace and how we are saved). These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:13-15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

the problem is when we remove Gods word from salvetion it removes faith and we’re left with this type of grace because his words are removed

“For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
‭‭Jude‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

people define grace according to men’s dictionaries so it seems conditionless grace through faith requires us to hear and believe what he actually said that’s the source of faith

So repenting from sin and acting in the right things Jesus taught us is just a part of faith maturing and rooting and beginning to grow but without accepting the gospel none of it can even form within us

If we listen to what Jesus was actually preaching we’re going to hear Gods word and begin to allow faith to root and grow

That may be so. But everything in salvation is strictly based on THE GRACE OF GOD. Therefore grace come first and supersedes faith. Faith is useless without grace. And faith is useless unless it is totally on Christ and His finished work of redemption. It is grace that sent Christ to this earth and then to the cross. It is grace which offers salvation to all mankind feeely. And all men could have saving faith since the Gospel is designed to generate saving faith. But many reject Christ and many reject the Gospel.

The people whose 'by their fruits you shall know them' in this passage, by context, are false prophets! The passage is about identifying false prophets. Not Christians in general.

Is this what you truly believe is the righteousness of the saints? Is it not the perfectly lived life of Christ imputed to us?

I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but we would never be justified were it not for the perfect life of Christ making us right with God. We, in the flesh, will never actually do God's will completely and continually. And continually striving to keep the commandments was the error of the Pharisees. They, too, thought justification came through the law. The righteousness that exceeds their righteousness is the righteousness of Christ, and this requires no righteousness of our own. I implore you with all haste to prayerfully consider what I shared.

They are one ! or did you not know this too.