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NASB | Galatians 3:7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 3:7 So understand that it is the people who live by faith [with confidence in the power and goodness of God] who are [the true] sons of Abraham. |
Bible Question: My question concerns the issue of faith vs. works but is not asking exactly that. I heard that during biblical times one's faith and one's actions were considered a whole. That's why faith and works cannot be separated. So when in Deut 6:25 it is stated that doing the law will result in righteousness, it is not works that earns the righteousness but it is assumed the works comes from an intense desire to live the meaning of the law. Also, the faith vs. works issue in The Book of James has not to do with "is works also necessary" but a reflection of the cultural assumption that works follows faith and each exists as an integral part of the person--they cannot exist separate from one another. Am I correct that biblical persons only viewed works and faith as a unit and never understood them as being separate? |
Bible Answer: Dear Robbert, Every one who is saved is saved precisely the same way; from Adam through the very last of God's elect (John 6:44; 14:6). When we speak of being saved by faith alone, we mean that it is the single instrument of justification; nevertheless, that faith is always accompanied by the manifestation of a life growing in Godliness (Romans 6:22; Matthew 13:23; Hebrews 12:14). In other words, we are saved by faith alone, but it is a faith that is not alone. Every plant brings forth fruit in keeping with its own nature. Apple trees grow up to bear apples because of the fundamental "appleness" of its roots. It can't produce peaches. If we glued peaches to the apple tree branches, we will not have transformed an apple tree into a peach tree. Lost people produce fruit common to the lost. Saved people produce fruit common to the saved. (See Matthew 7:16-20) Plants can't be something they are not. Neither can men behave differently than what they are (Luke 6:45). Read through Romans 6. Watch for the indicatives (statements of fact) in verses 1 through 10). Then notice how the imperatives (commands) in verses 11 through 23 are tied to the indicatives. Do the same kind of analysis in Ephesians. The first three chapters are full of indicatives, the last three chapters are full of imperatives. When truth is received, behaviors are the result. These things do not represent "cultural assumptions." Instead, they reflect the truth of special revelation (Hebrews 1:1-2). Since men are fallen, our cultural assumptions are always at odds with the truth. In Him, Doc |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Gal 3:7 | Author | ||
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pkreichard | ||
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Robbert | ||
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DocTrinsograce |