When you say "that line," which verse, exactly, are you referring to? Surely you can't mean James 2:20, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" That is not the interlocutor speaking, it is James' reply to the interlocutor.
Quality of Faith
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I do look at Him, but that is how I see myself. I see how he has changed me. I don't think I can earn my salvation through works or legalism.
But I do think like the lord said look at the log in our own eye before taking the speck out of someone elses, we need to be self aware with humility to the Lord and what he asks of us. Not for our salvation but as a result of our salvation. I want to obey him with all my heart mind and soul
I agree with focusing on God is how we grow as new creations in Christ though. Just please don't misunderstand what I am trying to say - I focus a lot on being intentional with what I do and think.
Let me rephrase, it is not the earning I was addressing, it is the looking to oneself for verification.
This teaching was popularized by John MacArthur and it seems to have cause a lot of neurotic Christians or some Christians just leave the faith because they cannot withstand the constant introspection and feelings of failure.
Our salvation is objectively based on the promises of Christ Jesus.
Any way there is plenty information available on the perils of lordship salvation.
I'll just leave it there.
The straw man that James introduces are verses 18 and 19 in Chapter 2.
James responds to the straw man argument, by saying "But wilt thou know, O vain man..."
James 2
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
John 3
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
John 3
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Faith without works is dead means doing good works which is Christlike behavior for without that how is their faith valid.
True faith has the right perspective of God's kingdom that it is love so we have to comply to that.
Which love works no I'll towards their neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Faith is not the fulfilling of the law but love is the fulfilling of the law.
Everything stems from love so be like Jesus that loves people and your faith with increase.
For faith works by love.
2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
People will know if they represent good, are Christlike, and love.
If they lack then their faith is not perfect.
2 Timothy 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
But the sad thing is some people lack but they think they are saved and influence many people with that belief system.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
Ephesians 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
We grow in Christ and Jesus grew in wisdom and stature according to His humanity.
Okay I see the missunderstanding lol,
yeah my question is not about my salvation, it's about how can I know I am serving God to the best of my abilities lol, thank you for the clarification though
I dfinitely understand how that could be an issue.
Well, @HeIsHere, we’re in agreement up to a point. Most Bible editors prefer to handle these three verses as though the interlocutor is speaking in the first part of v. 18 and then James gives his reply in the second part of that verse followed by the whole of vv. 19 and 20. Here, for instance, is the ESV, where the interlocutor’s words are placed inside quotation marks. James' reply begins with the words "Show me your faith ...":
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
Okay, well "O vain man" is the clue so I will go with fits the context best and there is plenty of scholarship to support this view.
The letter still not about false faith and real faith.. that is not what James is dealing with in that community.
Okay I see the missunderstanding lol,
yeah my question is not about my salvation, it's about how can I know I am serving God to the best of my abilities lol, thank you for the clarification though
You know saint Jesus made it simple to understand.....be faithful in the little things and more shall be added.
Hes doing a work in you my friend and is faithful and able to complete it.
So who's faith do we really rely on.....his.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Keep the fire kindled my friend.
Faith works are like fire works (Happy 4th if you are US of American, btw) or water works. You'll exude love if you've received love for yourself, you'll extend mercy when you've received mercy for yourself, and likewise this is how actually forgiveness works. Although it's generally taught that you must give it to receive it.
"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hos 6:6)."
As you forgive your own evil, you are able to extend this mercy to others. -JJParsons (Thank you JJ, for your works!).
"For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings (Hos 6:6)."
As you forgive your own evil, you are able to extend this mercy to others. -JJParsons (Thank you JJ, for your works!).
This is a really thoughtful question and I think many of us wrestle with it at some point.
For me, the distinction between “faith being tested” and “life being difficult” isn’t always clear in the moment. Often it only becomes clearer in hindsight. When I’m in the middle of it, it can just feel like struggle, confusion or even feeling like I’m not enough.
What has helped me is remembering that in the book of James, faith is shown through what it produces over time, not through perfection in the moment. Even small steps of trust, prayer or choosing not to give up can be part of that “living” faith.
I also don’t think being tested means we are constantly expected to perform or prove something. Sometimes trials are just part of living in a broken world and God meets us in the middle of that too.
So maybe instead of trying to constantly evaluate whether our faith is “good or dead,” it can be more about honestly staying with God even when things feel unclear or messy. Growth often doesn’t feel dramatic while it’s happening.
Just some thoughts, others may have a clearer way of putting it.
For me, the distinction between “faith being tested” and “life being difficult” isn’t always clear in the moment. Often it only becomes clearer in hindsight. When I’m in the middle of it, it can just feel like struggle, confusion or even feeling like I’m not enough.
What has helped me is remembering that in the book of James, faith is shown through what it produces over time, not through perfection in the moment. Even small steps of trust, prayer or choosing not to give up can be part of that “living” faith.
I also don’t think being tested means we are constantly expected to perform or prove something. Sometimes trials are just part of living in a broken world and God meets us in the middle of that too.
So maybe instead of trying to constantly evaluate whether our faith is “good or dead,” it can be more about honestly staying with God even when things feel unclear or messy. Growth often doesn’t feel dramatic while it’s happening.
Just some thoughts, others may have a clearer way of putting it.
Thank you this helped a lot actually.
I think this is good insight especially being tested not automatically to prove and perform.