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NASB | James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | James 5:16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God--it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. |
Subject: Ridding myself of guilt and fear |
Bible Note: Hello Happy Soul, Thanks for your response and your honesty. I do understand what you’re saying. Based on what you said, I think we’re dealing with two issues; salvation (how we are saved) and sanctification (how we are to live as saved people). As Dr. Jerry Benjamin has said, “The purpose of the Christian life is not to see how close to the edge we can live, but how close to our Savior we can get”. I think there’s a great deal of wisdom in those words. So to be clear, I’m not advocating any type of “easy-believe-ism” or “cheap grace”. In defining belief, I want to make sure we’re on the same page. Belief is not mere intellectual assent. My working definition of true faith- which the Reformers held- consists of three essential components: “knowledge” (Heb. 11:6) “assent” (Heb. 11:1; Is. 40-48; Ex. 4:1-9), and “trust”. Allow me to answer through some select quotes from Dr. James Raiford in his book, “The Camouflaged Church”. I agree with what he says because I believe it mirrors the message of scripture- at least as I understand it. I chose to quote him since he also speaks with a lot of clarity on the important distinctions. He states in Chapter Two: The Soldier’s Main Battle Weapon, “ Practically, the common situation among Christians sounds like this, ‘Is so and so a Christian?’ ‘He can’t be, he doesn’t act like a saved person’. There is no fruit displayed in his life.” “Two responses to this error can be stated at this point. First, salvation is by grace through faith, not based on any activity or lifestyle. Second, such a position as having to prove the reality of personal salvation clearly denies the doctrine of carnality as stressed by Paul in 1 Cor. 3 and Romans 6-7. Requiring proof to certify the reality of genuine regeneration contradicts 1 Cor. 3, as well as Hebrews 5:11-14. These passages identify categories of believers within the body as being carnal weak (immaturity) and the carnal willful states, such as spiritual infants, and adults.”’ He goes on to state that, “It takes great effort to deny that salvation is by grace alone and faith alone.” The problem is, “many who profess to be saved live like the unsaved! This is a real problem among the people of God and those seeking to solve it are to be commended for observing the problem and attempting to solve it.” This creates another problem as he notes, “ But the proposed solution of distorting the gospel of grace by adding works, and evidence and other requirements is unnecessary and certainly unauthorized by the Word of God.” To that, I say a hearty, “Amen”. I’ve been in a church where it was regularly proclaimed from the pulpit that, “If He (Jesus) isn’t Lord of all, He’s not Lord at all”! That’s not scriptural, in fact IMO, directly contradicts Acts 2:36 that says, “…That God made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ”. Christ is Lord whether we acknowledge it or not. This segues into the matter of sanctification. Using manipulative language that attempt to shame people into obedience, doesn’t substitute for the Holy Spirit! He makes an important qualifying note in saying, “No one who is familiar with the Word of God would deny the fact that God designs and desires his people to live holy, righteously and godly after personal salvation”! [Eph. 2:10] Here’s the important distinction: “ What God requires for obtaining eternal life differs greatly from what he requires for living a godly life. When lifestyle becomes the measurement standard to determine possessing eternal life, then error has already corrupted a grace alone, faith alone doctrine of salvation. The presence of good works can give evidence of the reality of genuine regeneration but the lack of such good works does not necessarily prove that there is a false salvation.” Conversely, “ the evidence of good works in the lives of the unsaved does not demonstrate that they are saved.” “Works are no criteria to determine genuine salvation or the assurance of salvation.” They do matter- as James definitely speaks to the practical side of salvation- but they aren’t the sole determining factor! To sum up what he is saying is this: “ The camouflage of confusing salvation passages with sanctification truth is extremely common yet equally dangerous for the body of Christ”. I see this as the fallacy of attempting to prove that a godly lifestyle is required or one is not genuinely saved. I think this is the major concern that you are alledging? To close, “When a biblical writer states conditions for receiving eternal life he is clear when he states it is by grace through faith. The Bible always makes a clear distinction between obtaining eternal life and living a life for the glory of God.” I hope this dialog helps you to better understand and bring clarity to this sometimes confusing issue. Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |