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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | don't just listen to gods word but do | James 1:22 | Morant61 | 79586 | ||
Greetings ACUYFMO6! One interesting point that many forgot when reading James 2 is the question of what issue James was addressing. He was not addressing how one gets saved. Rather, he was addressing the evidence of geninue faith. Here is a post I made some time ago on this topic: ********************************************* Allow me to take a stab at your question. :-) A very basic rule of interpretation is to interpret the less clear by the more clear. With that in mind, Eph. 2:8, Rom. 4, Gal. 2, and many other passages state in no uncertain terms that we are not, nor can we be saved by works. James does not actually contradict this because James is not talking about how one is saved, but the evidence that one is saved. James 2:14 sets the stage for this whole discussion in James 2. It says, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" Notice what situation is being discussed. Someone 'claims' to have faith, but they do not have works to back up their claim. Eph. 2:10 makes it clear that once a person is saved that there will be works, because we are created for good works. Christians are called to love one another, to demonstrate justice and mercy, ect... These works are a result of salvation, not the cause of salvation. This is exactly what James is saying. These people in James 2:14 say that they have faith, but they don't, and the evidence is that they don't provide for the needs of those who have no clothes or food (James 2:15). James 2:18 makes the point that faith is demonstrated by action. And, James 2:24 makes the point that one's faith is demonstrated by one's actions, not by simply claiming to have faith. So, the clear answer of Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 4, Gal. 2, and many other verses is that works do not and cannot save us in any way. I hope this helps! ********************************************* p.s. - Welcome to the forum! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | don't just listen to gods word but do | James 1:22 | ACUYFM06 | 105489 | ||
Morant61-- Thank you for your kind response. I apologize for the delay in responding. Your response troubles me, and requires some questions, at least in my mind. If I understand what you are saying correctly (correct me if I do not), nothing saves but faith alone (there is no salvation in works). However, according to your interpretation of James, one who HAS been saved by faith MUST have the works to back it up, or their salvation was not genuine (This seems to go along with the part about one "claiming" to have faith). Therefore, because works are an EFFECT of salvation, and not the CAUSE (as you stated), works are a definite indicator of faith. However, works do not just "happen" by themselves, of course. One must "take up his cross (Mark 8:34)" and become a disciple. Of course, God will aid in this process, but it is ultimately it is up to ones' self to get the job done. Otherwise, one is only "claiming" to have faith. This is what James (and Jesus) spoke of. We may be in agreement on this, but I'm not too sure. I request your thoughts on this matter. I hope I'm not being too redundant or elementary, but I believe this matter is worth clarifying. I look forward to your kind response. ACUYFM06 |
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3 | don't just listen to gods word but do | James 1:22 | Morant61 | 105494 | ||
Greetings Acuyfm06! It is good to hear from you again! Your summary sounds pretty good. If would be like someone claiming that they had accepted Christ, but yet continued to live in sin. Would you believe that they were really new creations? In the same way, because we are new creations, we will have the evidence to back it up. But, the evidence is the result of salvation, not the cause of salvation. p.s. - Please, just call me Tim! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | A believers questions? | James 1:22 | Totallypostal84 | 182366 | ||
A person must ask themselves these questions? Do you, who are saved, still sin? Is the evidence of your life completely indicative of your spiritual standing? Are you still being redeemed and protected despite your weakness in the outward flesh? We are to no longer look at the outward, we are a new creation on the inside. |
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5 | A believers questions? | James 1:22 | Searcher56 | 182369 | ||
God's day to you, Totallypostal84, Do you, who are saved, still sin? ... "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). There are others Scriptures than the ones I cited. Moreover, look at the context. Is the evidence of your life completely indicative of your spiritual standing? ... "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come" (2 Cor 5:17). Are you still being redeemed and protected despite your weakness in the outward flesh? ... "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). Hope this helps ... go study the Bible yourself, Searcher |
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6 | A believers questions? | James 1:22 | Totallypostal84 | 182370 | ||
My point exactly. Our outward evidence does not always speak the truth concerning our inward spiritual condition. A person can still be saved without any outward works evidence. We still grieve the Spirit outwardly though we are inwardly secure. James is speaking of salvation in his chapter 2 discourse and he is saying it is impossible to have faith without outward works. Paul says we are not to look at the outward signs as evidence of salvation just as we are not to look at Jesus in the earthly form. We are to look at the ascended Lord Jesus and the inward evidence of a person as confirmation of salvation. |
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