Not By Faith Alone

[myfavoritmartin]

It just amazes me how one can transform James 2:24 from:

“You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.”

To:

“You see then that a man is justified by faith only.”

God Bless,

I like Matt Henry’s commentary;
When Paul says that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law (Rom. 3:28), he plainly speaks of another sort of work than James does, but not of another sort of faith. Paul speaks of works wrought in obedience to the law of Moses, and before men’s embracing the faith of the gospel; and he had to deal with those who valued themselves so highly upon those works that they rejected the gospel (as Rom. 10, at the beginning most expressly declares); but James speaks of works done in obedience to the gospel, and as the proper and necessary effects and fruits of sound believing in Christ Jesus. Both are concerned to magnify the faith of the gospel, as that which alone could save us and justify us; but Paul magnifies it by showing the insufficiency of any works of the law before faith, or in opposition to the doctrine of justification by Jesus Christ; James magnifies the same faith, by showing what are the genuine and necessary products and operations of it.

 

[Jim_Baur]

First we love.

Then we believe.

Love rules faith.

 

[mikeledes]

We are incorporated into Christ by grace through faith, apart from works. We stay in Christ by grace through faith working through love (Galatians 5:6, John 15:2, 6, 1Corinthians 7:19).

Also, explain Romans 2:6-7

“Who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, ETERNAL LIFEE.”

John 5:28

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did good deeds to a resurrection to life….

Matthew 16:27

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and wiill then repay every man accodring to his DEEDS.”

1 Peter 1:17

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during your stay on earth.”

Galatians 6:7-9

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; fo whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.. For the one who sows to his owm flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit REAP ETERNAL LIFE. Let us not lose heart in DOING GOOD, for in due time we will REAP (i.e. eternal life) if we do not grow weary.”

Of course the verses above apply to the justified because truly righteous acts before God can only flow out of a regenerated heart. But if a justified person fails in persevering in doing good, he/she will not enjoy the final consummation of his/her salvation, glorification. That is why the Bible states that only he who perseveres to the end will be saved. Just because we receive the capability to do good when we are regenerated by God’s grace does not mean that these works will flow automtically (2 Peter 1:8-11, John 15:2, Titus 3:14). Bearing fruit depends on an act of the will.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[mikeledes]

Both are concerned to magnify the faith of the gospel, as that which alone could save us and justify us; but Paul magnifies it by showing the insufficiency of any works of the law before faith, or in opposition to the doctrine of justification by Jesus Christ; James magnifies the same faith, by showing what are the genuine and necessary products and operations of it.

James 2:14

“What use s it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but has no works. Can that faith SAVE HIM?”

This is the question James presents to us and the one he intends to answer in the following verses. He finally answers this question by saying, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” We know that the faith he is mentioning in verse 24 is genuine faith because he is using Abraham’s faith as an example to prove his point. Therefore, he is saying that man is justified by works and not by genuine faith alone. Therefore, the answer to the question of verse 14 is that the faith that ultimately saves the Christian is genuine faith that is accompanied by works. In other words, notby faith alone. You can have genuine justifying faith without it necessarily being fruitful in good works (2 Peter 1:9-11) If James were preaching salvation by faith alone, then he would have no need of bringing up works in relation to justification (i.e. the “justified by works” of verses 21, 24, & 25) or our salvation (v.14). If salvation were by faith alone, then his entire argument is rendered unnecessary and is nullified.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[Sean_Boyle]

I think he was saying that the contradition lies within the tradition of sola fide which is not found in the bible.

I had to read it a couple of times myself.

Thank you and your right. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[myfavoritmartin]

James 2:14

“What use s it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but has no works. Can that faith SAVE HIM?”

This is the question James presents to us and the one he intends to answer in the following verses. He finally answers this question by saying, “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.” We know that the faith he is mentioning in verse 24 is genuine faith because he is using Abraham’s faith as an example to prove his point. Therefore, he is saying that man is justified by works and not by genuine faith alone. Therefore, the answer to the question of verse 14 is that the faith that ultimately saves the Christian is genuine faith that is accompanied by works. In other words, notby faith alone. You can have genuine justifying faith without it necessarily being fruitful in good works (2 Peter 1:9-11) If James were preaching salvation by faith alone, then he would have no need of bringing up works in relation to justification (i.e. the “justified by works” of verses 21, 24, & 25) or our salvation (v.14). If salvation were by faith alone, then his entire argument is rendered unnecessary and is nullified.

God Bless,
Michael

James is clearly saying works are the fruits of our faith.

Did you read my post #10 on a saving faith?

In order for faith to be saving faith, it must have the proper content (i.e., conviction of sin, trust in God and Jesus Christ as savior) and it must be God-given (Rom. 12:3,6; Gal. 3:23; Eph. 2:8), residing in a regenerate heart (cf. Rom. 10:8-10). The difficulty for us as modern Christians reading the Bible is that the Bible itself does not clearly indicate what kind of faith it is talking about in all instances.

Consider, for example, John 2:23-25. There we learn that Jesus did not entrust himself to those who believed in him, and that he withheld himself from them because he knew them. Another way to describe these people is to say that they were “believers” who did not have saving faith. The point is simply that what the Bible calls “belief” or “faith” isn’t exactly the same was what modern Christians mean when they use these terms. It also applies these terms to people that have false faith in the gospel, and to people who have faith in a false gospel

 

[myfavoritmartin]

What can you do that Christ hasn’t already done for you?

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Do you think keeping the law will make you right before God?

 

[mikeledes]

James is clearly saying works are the fruits of our faith.

Yes, he is! But he is also saying more then that. He is talking about how we are saved (v.14).

The question he has proposed to answer is not, "Are works the fruit of genuine faith? Or “Are works necessary to demonstrate whether a person’s faith is genuine?” The question in verse 14 is “Can that faith save him?” The issue, then, is salvation!

Your response to this question? Faith alone saves.
If that is James’ intended answer, then why bring up works in relation to salvation (i.e. JUSTIFIED BY WORKS).

James 2:14

What use is it my brethren, if someone says he has faith but has NO WORKS? Can that faith save him?

So if you are saying that faith without works is sufficient for our final salvation, then why does James even bother to ask whether faith without works saves? Why does he strongly imply in the question and explicitly states in the following verses that salvation is by faith expressed through works and not by faith alone?

Yes, you are saying that true faith produces good works. But the good works are just an extra, but unnecessary, touch. It’s just the nice thing to do, but it has no impact on our eternal fate. And yet, James clearly relates works to salvation in the question of verse 14 and in verse 24. If our works had no impact on our eternal destination, then James’ argument would be absolutely unnecessary.

So the point is not that true faith produces good works. Rather, that faith and works are both essential components of our ultimate salvation.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Do you think keeping the law will make you right before God?

Galatians 3…
1** You foolish Galatians**! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? 4 Have you experienced [a] so much in vain—if it really was in vain?** 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by your observing the law, or by your believing what you heard?** 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Galatians 3…
1** You foolish Galatians**! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort? 4 Have you experienced [a] so much in vain—if it really was in vain?** 5 Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by your observing the law, or by your believing what you heard?** 6 So also **Abraham “believed God, **and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

Abraham was before Christ fulfilled the law.

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Do you put your faith in the works of Jesus?
or in your works?
No grey area, it is black and white.

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Gal 3:
11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith;

12 and the law is not of faith; but, He that doeth them shall live in them.

 

[mikeledes]

Do you think keeping the law will make you right before God?

What makes you right before God, myfavoritemartin, is God’s freely given grace through faith. The issue is not how we enter into a saving relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. Works have nothing to do with that. The point is whether our freely given justification comes with an obligation to live in righteousness subsequent to its reception through faith. The answer is yes! And what does practicing righteousness mean? Love! And what does love mean? Keeping the commandment and doing good to others!

The next question is if failure to persevere in fulfilling that obligation, that call, to live righteously given when we were justified has an affect on our salvation. The answer is yes!

Matthew 10:22

“… but it is the one who has endured to the end that will be SAVED”

John 15:2, 6

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.” Every branch IN ME that does not bear fruit, He TAKES AWAY… If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned."

God freely gives us the capability to do good works when we are justified (i.e. we are “created to do good works”). If we fail to persevere in utilizing this capability, we will be cut off from the Vine (i.e. Christ), who is the source of eternal life, and dry up (spiritually die) and will be thrown in the fire (eternal damnation). Anyone who is “in Christ” is a new creation. Notice that the branches (i.e Christians) being referred to here are “in Christ” (i.e. any branch IN ME), and hence justified. If they were not truly justified, they would not have been part of the Vine to begin with and hence could never be referred to as branches. But we are judged by our works, as all the verses I listed in my previous post clearly state. If we do not bear fruit for God, we will bet cut off from Christ and be eternally damned. We can only bear fruit for God if we are in Christ (i.e. justified) first.

God bless,
Michael

 

[myfavoritmartin]

What makes you right before God, myfavoritemartin, is God’s freely given grace through faith. The issue is not how we enter into a saving relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ. Works have nothing to do with that. The point is whether our freely given justification comes with an obligation to live in righteousness subsequent to its reception through faith. The answer is yes! And what does practicing righteousness mean? Love! And what does love mean? Keeping the commandment and doing good to others!

romans 9
1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Philippians 2:13 (American Standard Version)

13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

 

[mikeledes]

We are incorporated into Christ by grace through faith, apart from works. We stay in Christ by grace through faith working through love (Galatians 5:6, John 15:2, 6, 1Corinthians 7:19).

Also, explain Romans 2:6-7

“Who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality, ETERNAL LIFEE.”

John 5:28

"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did good deeds to a resurrection to life….

Matthew 16:27

“For the Son of Man is going to come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and wiill then repay every man accodring to his DEEDS.”

1 Peter 1:17

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each man’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during your stay on earth.”

Galatians 6:7-9

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; fo whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.. For the one who sows to his owm flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit REAP ETERNAL LIFE. Let us not lose heart in DOING GOOD, for in due time we will REAP (i.e. eternal life) if we do not grow weary.”

Of course the verses above apply to the justified because truly righteous acts before God can only flow out of a regenerated heart. But if a justified person fails in persevering in doing good, he/she will not enjoy the final consummation of his/her salvation, glorification. That is why the Bible states that only he who perseveres to the end will be saved. Just because we receive the capability to do good when we are regenerated by God’s grace does not mean that these works will flow automtically (2 Peter 1:8-11, John 15:2, Titus 3:14). Bearing fruit depends on an act of the will.

God Bless,
Michael

How about directly responding to these verses? Your verses apply to how we first become righteous before God. These verses discuss how we remain righteous before God.

God Bless,
Michael

 

[myfavoritmartin]

Gal 3
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
through faith
through faith
through faith
through faith

 

[mikeledes]

Philippians 2:13 (American Standard Version)

13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure.

That’s right! We cannot do the works pleasing to God without being first justified and following the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our lives.

 

[mikeledes]

Gal 3
14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
through faith
through faith
through faith
through faith

You are obviously not reading what I am writing. We are justified by grace through faith. We stay justified by grace through faith working through love.

God bless,
Michael