I can’t show God my faith if I don’t do anything

[Hopefully]

“My brothers and sisters, if a person claims to have faith but does nothing, that faith is worth nothing. Faith like that cannot save anyone. Suppose a brother or sister in Christ comes to you in need of clothes or something to eat. And you say to them, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you don’t give them the things they need. If you don’t help them, your words are worthless. It is the same with faith. If it is just faith and nothing more—if it doesn’t do anything—it is dead. But someone might argue, “Some people have faith, and others have good works.” My answer would be that you can’t show me your faith if you don’t do anything. But I will show you my faith by the good I do. You believe there is one God. That’s good, but even the demons believe that! And they shake with fear. You fool! Faith that does nothing is worth nothing. Do you want me to prove this to you? Our father Abraham was made right with God by what he did. He offered his son Isaac to God on the altar. So you see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. This shows the full meaning of the Scriptures that say, “Abraham believed God, and because of this faith he was accepted as one who is right with God.” Abraham was called “God’s friend.” So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone. Another example is Rahab. She was a prostitute, but she was made right with God by something she did. She helped those who were spying for God’s people. She welcomed them into her home and helped them escape by a different road. A person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead. It is the same with faith—faith that does nothing is dead!”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:14-26‬ ‭

Again!

“So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭

[john1]

5 minutes ago, Hopefully said:

Again!

“So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭

1 Peter chapter 4 verse 8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

[Michael37]

10 minutes ago, Hopefully said:

Again!

“So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭

Quote from Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible. 

In other words, no man will be justified who has not a faith which will produce good works, and which is of an operative and practical character. The ground of justification in the case is faith, and that only; the evidence of it, the carrying it out, the proof of the existence of the faith, is good works; and thus men are justified and saved not by mere abstract and cold faith, but by a faith necessarily connected with good works, and where good works perform an important part.

[Blood Bought 1953]

 

After seeing at least 50 teachers over the years tie  themselves up in knots trying to make Paul and James comparable , I have come to the conclusion that they are simply NOT compatible .EVERY attempted explanation falls short and I have “ heard” them all.Why not just admit we can’t explain it  and just wait for  the Day  when ALL secrets will be revealed. In regard to This  so  - called “ contradiction”,  when God reveals  That we just “ thought” it was a contradiction.....I think we will slapping ourselves on the forehead saying “ wow! How obvious? Why didn’t “ I”  think of that ?”

 What is a Believer to do meanwhile , here on Earth? Well, Jesus never said , “ follow James as he follows Christ” . Jesus DID say for us  to “ Follow PAUL as he follows Christ”. Therefore I will go with what Paul said.... “ Faith alone,WITHOUT Works” for Salvation.....

  Works for me.....what do the rest of you guys think about my grand theory? Lol.... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Omegaman 3.0]

Quote

After seeing at least 50 teachers over the years tie  themselves up in knots trying to make Paul and James comparable , I have come to the conclusion that they are simply NOT compatible .

I do not see the issue even!

As to the title of the op, you do not need to show God anything, nothing is hidden from Him.

[Blood Bought 1953]

 

Apparently , I saw something you didn’t ....I can’t read these verses or hear this opinion without thinking of Paul’s verses that seem to disagree with these items that were brought up ....I bet I wasn’t alone in that thinking....

 another side of the story needed to be told as part of a full discussion .....we-ARE having a discussion aren’t we......sorry If I stepped on anybody’s toes .....it wasn’t.....

 Is all of this Nit - Picking a part of my “ welcome back?”

[Michael37]

34 minutes ago, Blood Bought 1953 said:

 

After seeing at least 50 teachers over the years tie  themselves up in knots trying to make Paul and James comparable , I have come to the conclusion that they are simply NOT compatible .EVERY attempted explanation falls short and I have “ heard” them all.Why not just admit we can’t explain it  and just wait for  the Day  when ALL secrets will be revealed. In regard to This  so  - called “ contradiction”,  when God reveals  That we just “ thought” it was a contradiction.....I think we will slapping ourselves on the forehead saying “ wow! How obvious? Why didn’t “ I”  think of that ?”

 What is a Believer to do meanwhile , here on Earth? Well, Jesus never said , “ follow James as he follows Christ” . Jesus DID say for us  to “ Follow PAUL as he follows Christ”. Therefore I will go with what Paul said.... “ Faith alone,WITHOUT Works” for Salvation.....

  Works for me.....what do the rest of you guys think about my grand theory? Lol.... 

Salvation is by grace through faith, not through works, correctoperfecto. 

• Works are the fruit of salvation.
• Dead faith doesn't bear the fruit of salvation.
• Salvation by grace through faith always produces fruit.

What thinkest thou?

[AnOrangeCat]

57 minutes ago, Michael37 said:

Salvation is by grace through faith, not through works, correctoperfecto. 

• Works are the fruit of salvation.
• Dead faith doesn't bear the fruit of salvation.
• Salvation by grace through faith always produces fruit.

What thinkest thou?

I feel like this is on target. Clearly we don't earn salvation through works, but rather, the works should come about naturally because of the transformative effects of salvation and spiritual growth. In John 14:15 Jesus states that if we love Him we'll keep His commandments. He said the greatest commandments were to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Sure, we're bound to make mistakes and stumble, but overall trying to live up to that should result in good works.

[R. Hartono]

10 hours ago, Hopefully said:

“My brothers and sisters, if a person claims to have faith but does nothing, that faith is worth nothing. Faith like that cannot save anyone. Suppose a brother or sister in Christ comes to you in need of clothes or something to eat. And you say to them, “God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,” but you don’t give them the things they need. If you don’t help them, your words are worthless. It is the same with faith. If it is just faith and nothing more—if it doesn’t do anything—it is dead. But someone might argue, “Some people have faith, and others have good works.” My answer would be that you can’t show me your faith if you don’t do anything. But I will show you my faith by the good I do. You believe there is one God. That’s good, but even the demons believe that! And they shake with fear. You fool! Faith that does nothing is worth nothing. Do you want me to prove this to you? Our father Abraham was made right with God by what he did. He offered his son Isaac to God on the altar. So you see that Abraham’s faith and what he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did. This shows the full meaning of the Scriptures that say, “Abraham believed God, and because of this faith he was accepted as one who is right with God.” Abraham was called “God’s friend.” So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone. Another example is Rahab. She was a prostitute, but she was made right with God by something she did. She helped those who were spying for God’s people. She welcomed them into her home and helped them escape by a different road. A person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead. It is the same with faith—faith that does nothing is dead!”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:14-26‬ ‭

Again!

“So you see that people are made right with God by what they do. They cannot be made right by faith alone.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:24‬ ‭

Early church wad fed to lions by the Roman, the christians offered their lives to God to defend the truth as the Roman offered these christians to lions to satisfy ruler n bloody spectators.

[Don19]

5 hours ago, Michael37 said:

Salvation is by grace through faith, not through works, correctoperfecto. 

• Works are the fruit of salvation.
• Dead faith doesn't bear the fruit of salvation.
• Salvation by grace through faith always produces fruit.

What thinkest thou?

 

A very common and false interpretation of James.

James is not saying, and cannot be saying, that works are needed for assurance of salvation, because this assurance is given by the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:16, 1 Thess 1:4-5). No amount of "good works" (which in God's eyes are just filthy rags) can provide evidence of salvation. 

 

6 hours ago, Blood Bought 1953 said:

 

After seeing at least 50 teachers over the years tie  themselves up in knots trying to make Paul and James comparable , I have come to the conclusion that they are simply NOT compatible .EVERY attempted explanation falls short and I have “ heard” them all.Why not just admit we can’t explain it  and just wait for  the Day  when ALL secrets will be revealed. In regard to This  so  - called “ contradiction”,  when God reveals  That we just “ thought” it was a contradiction.....I think we will slapping ourselves on the forehead saying “ wow! How obvious? Why didn’t “ I”  think of that ?”

 What is a Believer to do meanwhile , here on Earth? Well, Jesus never said , “ follow James as he follows Christ” . Jesus DID say for us  to “ Follow PAUL as he follows Christ”. Therefore I will go with what Paul said.... “ Faith alone,WITHOUT Works” for Salvation.....

  Works for me.....what do the rest of you guys think about my grand theory? Lol....

 

I believe James is saying simply that Jesus Christ is our good works.

John 14:12:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

See? To the one that believes, the very works that Jesus Christ did are ours. These aren't works of our flesh. Jesus Christ is our complete body of good works. The Father is perfectly pleased with us as sons because we are in the Son of God Jesus Christ. And in the end we will all be judged by works, as the Bible says in many instances. We'll be judged by Jesus Christ. If He is our good works, which He is if our life is hid with Him in God, then our works will be perfect on the day of judgment.

Edited December 14, 2020 by Don19