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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: jhousewright Ordered by Verse |
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Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Faith and Works: Paul vs. James | Rom 4:3 | jhousewright | 80861 | ||
It might be beneficial to note that Paul is speaking of justification. What James is describing, using the word justification, is sanctification, being made holy, walking even as Christ walked (1 John 2:6). A simple comparison works like this: I can say I'm a Christian all day long. But talk is one thing, and we are called to walk the walk. If I say I am a Christian but to not have the mind of Christ (See Philippians 2:5ff), and would rather do nothing at all except say that I am a Christian, then I prove the contrary and God's name is blasphemed because of me, I bring reproach upon the holy name of Christ. Peter says, "make your calling and election sure (2 Peter 1:3) and this is what James is teaching...be doers of the word not hearers only. We are a royal priesthood (1 Pet. 2:9). For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. cf. 2 Tim. 1:9 (Eph. 2:10). See also 1 Tim. 5:25; 6:18 |
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2 | Witness to witches | 2 Cor 10:4 | jhousewright | 80860 | ||
I would strongly encourage you to check out a book entitled, "Always Ready" by Greg Bahnsen. In it he gives a splendid introduction to defending the Faith faithfully. If you can chew it, Cornelius Van Til has an outstanding work, "Defending the Faith". It is a difficult read but well worth the study. Regarding the page you referenced, the first thing to note is that the arguments against the Bible are broken cisterns. For example, Christ did not say that Abiather did the things...rather the events took place "in the days of Abiathar..." Notice too that in the reference in 1 Sam. 22, Abiathar was the only survivor when Saul slaughtered the priests, that is, the rest of his brothers and his father. A little study shows that Jesus had good reason for saying it the way he did. As for the passage concerning Abraham and his servant, see http://www.gospelcom.net/eword/comments/genesis/gill/genesis24.htm and the other commentaries there; Calvin is extremely helpful here. Similarities between pagan religions and the most holy Faith, can be seen. But to argue that Christianity ripped off pagan ideas is to beg the question...how does one know this? Could it not be that the pagans ripped off Christianity? Ever since the fall man has sought to "replace" God and the things of God with the things of man. See Romans 1:18ff The bottom line is that people will argue from their own presuppositions. No one argues purely objectively. Everyone sees the world through the tint of the glasses that forms their worldview. It is on this level that we must meet those who would deny and attack the Faith. Pagan arguments against the infallibility and inerrancy of the Bible proceed from, begin with, the presupposition that the Bible is NOT inerrant and is NOT the Word of Almighty God. We argue that it is...how do we know...because it says so. Visit http://www.reformed.org/apologetics/ The statements from Justin Martyr are taken out of context and put into a context; they became a pretext. They were placed to support an idea...not at all what Justin was saying...but what the author of the article was saying. Justin was defending the Truth over against folly...making the comparison to show 1.) pagans that call dead men gods and have tales about sons of God cannot call Christians foolish (history bears witness that this happens a lot...) for proclaiming Christ, the Son of God, risen from the dead. The pagans become pagan hypocrites at this point. 2.) He goes on to show that they have to have false witnesses to give substance to the lies whereas we have the law and the prophets see 2 Peter 1:19ff. Remember that Christians were called atheists because they worshipped an "invisible" God (again see Rom. 1:18ff). Idolatry has been rampant since the fall. That false religions have resurrected holy men shouldn't be surprising when you think that idolatry is and has always been about replacing God and his law. Study Exodus 32. May the Lord bless you as you give a defense for the hope that is within you. I hope that this humble attempt might prove fruitful. Isaiah 55:11 In His Sevice, Jason |
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