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NASB | James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 1:22 But prove yourselves doers of the word [actively and continually obeying God's precepts], and not merely listeners [who hear the word but fail to internalize its meaning], deluding yourselves [by unsound reasoning contrary to the truth]. |
Bible Question:
Please excuse my ignorance but I'm just returning to the faith after many years. Today I read this verse about the difference in hearing and doing. “You must do what it says (the Bible). Otherwise you are only fooling yourselves” Really? What about God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God – Ephesians 2:8 We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus – Acts 15:11 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified by his grace as a gift. Romans 3:23-24 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life John 3:16 It didn’t say that whoever believes in him and does good works and do what the Bible says and control your tongue then you will be saved. Yet James 1:26 says that if you don’t control your tongue then your religion is worthless. I’m severely confused. |
Bible Answer: You need to reread what Morgant61 answered. Salvation is by grace but salvation brings a transformed life, that transformed life must occur or real salvation never occurred. Now are there exceptions? Yes, thief on the cross, deathbed conversions and etc. But these are "exceptions" not the norm. One thing a transformed life does is teach us to live according to the norm, instead of looking for loopholes. Too many today want to live by grace and seek out every loophole that they imagine might allow them salvation without serving God through a transformed life. You cite many verses that declare salvation by grace but you ignore the whole of scripture that tells us we are bought with a price, bondservants etc. Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments. John 14:15. That statement is impossible to get around, when you realize Jesus commanded us to be His witness. May I suggest you read scripture in total and make your conclusions coincide with all of scripture instead of allowing exceptions to influence the rest of scripture. |