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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Have you ever read a book by a Catholic? | Bible general Archive 2 | Morant61 | 131589 | ||
Greetings Dalcent! Please my friend, let's keep the posts nice! :-) I would agree with you that the NIV is not an inspired translation, but none of them are inspired! :-) I have posted many times on the question of James 2. You can search for them if you would like to read them. The short version is this: the word translated as 'justified' is also used in Scripture to mean 'demonstrated' or 'proven'. This fits the context of James 2 far better than 'justified'. James speaks of 'showing' our faith by our works. He certainly isn't claiming that we are saved by our works which would clearly contradict Eph. 2:8-10. Romans 1 through 5 is a clear cut unit. Paul begins his discussion in chapter 1 by demonstrating that 'pagans' are lost. Then, in chapter two, he demonstrates that Jews are lost. Chapter 3 makes the point that all are lost. Chapter 4 makes the point that all are saved by faith, not by works. Chapter 5 demonstrates that it is faith in the atoning work of Christ that saves. Surely, you would not have us believe that Paul says in Eph. 2:8-10, Rom. 4, and in Galatians that we are not saved by works, but that in Rom. 2 he is saying that we are saved by works! :-) Romans 2 is setting up the case of what would happen in someone could follow the Law perfectly, but Rom. 3 clearly states that this is not possible. There is only one thing that we all deserve for our 'works' - death (Rom. 3:23). Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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2 | Have you ever read a book by a Catholic? | Bible general Archive 2 | Emmaus | 131594 | ||
Tim, What constitutes the "obedience of faith" that opens and closes Romans? "Of" indicates that obedience is an integral component "of" faith, not some separate entity, and obedience is not a passive quality. Paul and James compliment one another, they do not contradict. They are both using Abraham as the example of obedient saving faith that was more than a passive virtue. God does not call us to passivity and his grace and faith are not passive gifts, they are transforming and dynamic. Paul himself uses the example of the children of Hagar and Sarah to demonstrate the difference between the obedience of faith and obedience under the law. We are children of God and our obedience is different from the servile obedience of slave children and has a different motivation and a different reward, even though it is a reward for a gift that is exercised. Emmaus |
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3 | Have you ever read a book by a Catholic? | Bible general Archive 2 | Morant61 | 131603 | ||
Greetings Emmaus! The phrase is only used twice in the NT. Rom. 1:5 - "By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:" And, Rom. 16:26 - "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:" The phrase is not defined, thus it is difficult to determine exactly what it does mean. It could mean 'obeying' our faith and responding to the Gospel. It could mean 'obedience' that springs from faith. However, it clearly doesn't mean 'works' that result in faith! ;-) I interpret it in line with Eph. 2:8-10 in that it refers to the works that we do as a result of our faith. I believe we have had this discussion in the past my friend. Scripture is clear that Christians are to 'work'. But, Scripture is also clear that works do not save us. We are saved by grace through faith. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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4 | Have you ever read a book by a Catholic? | Bible general Archive 2 | BradK | 131620 | ||
Tim, You make a good point to state that the phrase is not defined. This is an interesting phrase nontheless! Possibly we can get a sense of it from Hebrews 11:8: "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going." Obviously this being a reference to Gen. 12:1-4. Abraham's "obedience" was "by faith"- the focus of Hebrews 11. C. H. Spurgeon referred to this example as "the obedience of faith" in one of his enlightening sermons of the same title. It is an interesting and worthwhile read:-) Israel had to obey to receive the blessings of God. By contrast, we have been blessed (Eph. 1:3) that this would bring obedience. Therefore, our obedience is "by faith". Speaking the Truth in Love, |
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