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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | kalos | 37837 | ||
HALF TRUTH: "...according to James 2:24 we are not justified by faith alone either." TRUTH: According to James 2:24 ALONE we are not justified by faith ALONE. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24, NASB) For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (Romans 4:2 KJV) Which is true and correct -- Romans 4 or James 2? Do Paul and James contradict each other? If they do, then the Bible contradicts itself. If the Bible contradicts itself, then how can it be inspired of God? Fact: Paul and James do not contradict each other. Fact: The Bible does not contradict itself. Fact: "All Scripture is inspired by God" (2 Tim 3:16). Fact: God, who cannot lie, never contradicts Himself. Conclusion: Romans 4 and James 2 are both true. James 2:21 *justified by works.* "This does not contradict Paul's clear teaching that Abraham was justified before God by grace alone through faith alone (Rom. 3:20; 4:1-25; Gal. 3:6, 11). (...) "James' teaching perfectly complements Paul's writings; salvation is DETERMINED by faith alone (Eph. 2:8,) and DEMONSTRATED by faithfulness to obey God's will alone (Eph. 2:10)" (emphasis added, page 1930, MacArthur Study Bible, Word Publishing, 1997). "One of the basic principles of biblical interpretation is the analogia scriptura, the analogy of Scripture. In other words, we must compare Scripture with Scripture in order to understand its full and proper sense. And since the Bible doesn't contradict itself, any interpretation of a specific passage that contradicts the general teaching of the Bible is to be rejected. Since the general teaching of the Bible is . . . that baptism and other forms of ritual are not necessary for salvation, no individual passage could teach otherwise" (http://www.gty.org/IssuesandAnswers/archive/baptism.htm). |
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2 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | cheezbay | 44004 | ||
You are right in saying that the Bible doesn't contradict itself. However, I do believe you are wrong. We have to look and see what is really going on here. The people in the old testemant and even in the time of Christ lived under the old law (the law of Moses). Yes, Christ lived under that law. Christ did however establish a new law. But, "In the case of a will, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a will is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is livin." Hebrews 9:16-17 Because of this, the new law Christ established did not go into effect until Christ died. It is before Christ's death that it was taught that one could be saved by faith alone. In the old testament people had to offer sacrifices for their sins. Were they saved by the blood of bulls and goats? Definitly, but not as you might expect. Since God does not exist in time, during the old testament period, Christ had already died in God's mind. The blood of the people's sacrifices were just checks written on the bank account of the blood of Christ. Because of this, they did not need baptism for salvation. After the death of Chist, however, we find that baptism is now a crucial step for salvation. Christ commands his Apostles to go out into all of the world making disciples of every nation and baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit for the remission of their sins. Matthew 28:18-end Another reason why baptism is important is because it is a resembleance of Christ's death. We are our old selves, buried with Christ, then raised to a new life just as Christ was buried and raised on the third day. Also, every example we find of someone being saved after Christ's death involves baptism. Not all instances include the same other steps, but that is because the steps given to the people are the ones they particularly needed. For instance in Acts 2, Peter tells the crowd at Pentecost that they need to repent and be baptized. He doesn't say they need to confess, which is a step mentioned in other places because the people have already confessed. He just gives them what they need. You are right in saying the Bible doesn't contradict itself, but you also have to realize which law the people are living under at the time and which law we live under today. We should be living under Christ's law. |
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3 | Saved by belief or belief and baptism? | NT general Archive 1 | John Reformed | 100992 | ||
"we find that baptism is now a crucial step for salvation" This is a common error of those who presume that man is saved through his own efforts and not by grace alone through faith. They believe that salvation depends not on the will of God; but on the will of man himself. That God merely makes salvation availible, but is man is the one who holds the key to it's effectiveness. The problem, as I see it, is their God is to small. He stands by powerless in the face of human rebellion, unable to effect a change in the hearts of those who reject the gospel. Now, we are told, He has to hope they get baptized as well! My concept of God is that He is more than I can even begin to imagine. Everything that He desires comes to pass. Is 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Matt 1:21 "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Who are "His people"? The Jews; The Gentiles; Both? No! His people are those whom the Father has given Him! Jews and gentiles alike. His people are those who hear His voice. They will not follow another. Luke 15:6 "And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' John 10:15,16 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. Notice the use of the word "will" in the passages above. When the Bible says Jesus will or God will...Brother, it will come to pass! To God Alone be the Glory for things which He has done, John |
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