James 2:21 ”Was not Abraham our father justified by works... when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?” Justified by works? This does not… contradict Pauls clear teaching that Abraham was justified before God by grace alone thru faith alone (Read Romans 3:20; 4:1-25; Galations 3:6, 11). For several reasons, James cannot mean that Abraham was constituted righteous before God because of... his good works: 1) James already... had stressed that salvation is a gracious gift. (James 1:17-18); 2) In the middle of an oft disputed passage (2:23), James quoted Genesis 15:6, which forcefully claims that God credited righteousness to Abraham solely on the basis of his faith... (Romans 1:17, 3:24, 4:1-25); and 3) the work that James said justified Abraham was his offering up of Isaac (Genesis 22:9, 12), an event that occurred many years after... he first exercised faith... and was declared righteous... (justified) before God (Genesis 12:1-7; 15:6). Instead, Abrahams offering of Isaac demonstrated the genuineness... of his faith... and the reality.,, of his justification before God. James is emphasizing the vindication before others... of a persons claim to salvation. James teaching perfectly complements... Pauls writings; salvation is determined by faith alone... (Ephesians 2:8-9) and demonstrated by faithfulness to obey Gods will alone (Ephesians. 2:10). James 2:22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works was completed--> This refers to bringing something to its end, or to its fullness. Just as a tree has not arrived as its goal until it bears fruit, faith has not reached its end until it demonstrates itself in a righteous life. Salvation then, is wholly of God by grace... on the basis of the redemption of Jesus Christ..., the merit of His shed blood..., and not... on the basis of human merit or works (John 1:12; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-10; 1 Peter 1:18-19). The question a self-righteous person may ask at this point, who has been trying all their life to help merit or earn their salvation is this: Well, what role do good works have? Answer, that has already been addressed in this post, please re-read it one more time, study it, check the Scriptures that were quoted, as its been answered. Yet, heres another way of answering... Ephesians 2:10 For we are His... (Gods) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (recall verses 8 and 9--faith apart from works) FOR good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Good works become a reality for those whom God saves, and He alone gets all of the glory) James 2:26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. This is what Protestants (Christians, true believers) believe, because the Bible teaches this. A person is saved by Gods grace alone, thru faith alone in Jesus Christ alone, apart from works, so that no one may boast. (The faith that saves is faith alone, but the faith that saves is never alone. It will manifest good works which were preordained by God for the believer to walk in for His glory) The Roman Catholics wrongly believe salvation comes by grace thru faith in Christ PLUS works, but that damns as Ephesians 2:8-9 affirms. Any mix of faith plus works nullifies grace, AND gives the sinner something to boast about... But if it is by grace, it is no longer... on the basis of works..., otherwise grace is no longer grace... (Romans 11:6) I do not nullify (cancel out) the grace of God!, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (Galations 2:21) Any mix of works nullifies grace! Dear Catholic, pray that God would let you see this truth, and if necessary, re-read this thread again that you might believe it, as its the essential truth as to how God saves (rescues, delivers, forgives) sinners. Comment here or send me a message, but be respectful if you want to continue in the conversation. Im here to help, and there is far more truth from Scripture that I could have provided, but for the sake of keeping this post brief initially, Ill stop for now.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 03:54:31 +0000
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