Subject: Saved by belief or belief and baptism? |
Bible Note: As a courtesy, please try to use paragraphs more. You wrote: 'The writer above has it correct by quoting Rom 3:28, but on the flip-side of the coin, James 2:24 says EXPLICITLY that "... a man is justified by works and not by faith alone" There is a huge difference between being justified by faith and being justified by faith ALONE.' That is what James writes, and Paul writes: 'What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness" --Romans 4:1-5 So we have Paul saying that Abraham is saved through faith APART FROM works, and James saying that Abraham is justified BY his works. How do you reconcile these two passages? I would recommend a book entitled _Righteous Sinners_ by Ron Julian, to examine the dynamic between God's grace, our faith, and our works. He analyzes both Paul's commentary of Abraham and James' commentary of Abraham. --Joe! |