What Noah Could Have Said But Didn't

[WayneB]

Do we reap what we sow?

[HILL]

James 2:20-26

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the alatar?

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith is made perfect?

And the Scripture was fullfilled which says "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" and he was called a friend of God

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

Like wise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body with out the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

[WayneB]

I post again...

Those who are in Jesus Christ have the indwelt Holy Spirit of God... the ONE who is in these is greater than the one who is in the world. [re: 1 John 4:4] Salvation is not a wage we have been given for our works or obedience but rather a GIFT of God. We could never be obedient enough or work hard enough to earn our salvation, which is why the only wage paid is for sin and that leads to death.

It is ALL HIS works through us, which is why one day, we will lay our crowns before HIM just as the twenty-four elders. [re: Rev 4:10]

...FOR HE alone is worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power. We are but HIS vessels through which HE does good works according to HIS purpose.

Salvation is by GRACE alone and any good works that comes forth are HIS work, not ours.

Those who think the works they do are a prerequisite to salvation should ask themselves now: "What will I do with my crown one day?"

Remember what Jesus told Paul:

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

It is HIS work...

"...and to know this love that surpasses knowledge

[Kabowd]

James 2:20-26

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the alatar?

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith is made perfect?

And the Scripture was fullfilled which says "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" and he was called a friend of God

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

Like wise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body with out the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Righteousness came by way of faith. Works followed by way of righteousness.

[HILL]

James 2:20-26

But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the alatar?

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith is made perfect?

And the Scripture was fullfilled which says "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" and he was called a friend of God

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

Like wise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

For as the body with out the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Righteousness came by way of faith. Works followed by way of righteousness.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

But faith is justified by works. Together

Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith is made perfect?

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

I guess that is why Martin Luther wanted the book of James removed from the bible. He taught faith only.

Edited June 27, 2005 by HILL

[HILL]

1 Chorinthians 13:13 AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE, BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

This is my conclusion. Faith without works cannot be called faith. Faith without works is dead and a dead faith is worse than no faith at all. Faith must work, it must produce, it must bevisible. Verbal faith is not enough, You can deny Jesus by your works, if you deny Jesus he will deny you before the Father. Love is the greatest of all even greater than faith.

Ezekiel 18:24

But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? ALL THE RIGHTEOUSNESS which he has done SHALL NOT BE REMBERED BECAUSE OF HIS UNFAITHFULNESS OF WHICH HE IS GUILTY AND THE SIN WICH HE HAS COMMITTED, BECAUSE OF THEM HE SHALL DIE

[WayneB]

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

How is man justified?

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans...

Chapter 3

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished

[HILL]

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

How is man justified?

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans...

Chapter 3

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished

[WayneB]

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

How is man justified?

Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans...

Chapter 3

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished

[WayneB]

One more thing HILL ---

Paul spoke of all this clearly. I agree in that some things James spoke are hard to grasp UNLESS they are studied in context to the entire Word of God.

Consider this passage of Scripture, which reflects what happens to a believer at the moment of HIS salvation, when he turns to the Lord, and what continues afterwards:

2 Corinthians 3

12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

See it? We who have truly turned to the Lord of our salvation have had our blindness removed. We are saved at the point of turning to the Lord and from that point, we are transformed by the Spirit...a work in process that continues to sanctify us until the day the silver cord is severed and our flesh returns to dust and our Spirit goes to be with the Father.

May the Lord Bless you richly,

Wayne