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NASB | James 2:14 ¶ What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 2:14 ¶ What is the benefit, my fellow believers, if someone claims to have faith but has no [good] works [as evidence]? Can that [kind of] faith save him? [No, a mere claim of faith is not sufficient--genuine faith produces good works.] |
Subject: Is salvation by faith only scriptural? |
Bible Note: "Actually, Eph 2:8 tells us that "grace" is the gift of God. There was nothing the Gentiles could do to make God send His son as a sacrifice for sin. By faith they obtained access to this gift, but again, faith is more than belief." Actually, it is gramatically impossible that the "this" in "this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" refers solely to grace. The Greek word translated "this" is neuter, while the Greek word translated "grace" is feminine. If the gift of God were just the grace, then the word "this" would have to be feminine as well. The best way to understand it from the grammatical forms is that the whole package--being saved by grace through faith--is what is the gift of God. You are correct that biblocal faith is more than just a nod of the head at certain facts, but a trusting of one's whole life that will result in actions. However, the Bible makes it clear that it is the faith and not the resulting actions that are the means of God's justification. Faith without works is indeed dead, but my works will never be the basis of why God lets me in heaven. --Joe! |