Are you sure that you shall enter into the Kingdom of heaven?

[AnOrangeCat]

17 hours ago, Buzzard3 said:

In James 2:24-26, for example,"works" refers to keeping  God's commandments - obedience, in other words.  Other words for (good) works and obedience are righteousness and holiness. 

I've really only skimmed this thread. I try not to get involved in these debates much as I don't see much profit to it, especially once things reach a boiling point or an impasse as this one seems to have. But I did want to say that I appreciate your emphasis on the book of James. It's done a lot to shape the way I believe as well. I'll throw in my two cents as well since I'm here and probably bow out after this.

Works seems to refer to our actions. They're essentially evidence. In John 14:15 Jesus said simply that if we love Him we'll keep His commandments. It very much echoes the first of the two great commandments. The thief crucified next to Jesus had faith, but what if he'd never spoken up? What if Abraham simply believed God would keep His promise even to the point of raising Isaac from the dead if need be, but he never put it into action? There are countless examples in the Bible. Without the works we'd be lacking amazing examples of faith put into action. It'd be like a seed that never grew.

Like it says in the Bible a tree bears fruit of its kind. If you'll pardon the oddness of talking trees as an illustration I don't think many people would believe a tree if it claimed it was an apple tree yet was growing oranges. Sorry, tree. The evidence says otherwise.

[Retrobyter]

12 hours ago, jeremiah1five said:

The scene was the Passover meal. He was speaking to His disciples. 

 

Who were JEWS.

[Retrobyter]

6 hours ago, Buzzard3 said:

Jesus gave believers this commandment:

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another” (John 13:34).

 That commandment means believers are under a law of works - loving one another - aka, "the law of Christ" (Gal 6:2).

 

Romans 13:8-10 also indicates that Christians are under a law of works  - "he who loves his neighbour has fulfilled the law".

Shalom, Buzzard3.

Yes, He did, but NOT for the "SIN question!" It's a commandment for us because we LOVE HIM (for He first LOVED us)! It's not a "salvation issue"; it's a "REFLECTION issue!" We obey Him now (with the Holy Spirit's help) to be MORE LIKE HIM! His handling of "the SIN problem" gives us the FREEDOM to become more like Him!

Yeeshuwa` said,

Matthew 11:27-30 (KJV)

27 "All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Yeeshuwa` was saying, "Get in the yoke with me and I will handle the heavy load; you just walk with me!"

The "easy" part is that the yoke - the collar that binds two oxen together - is smooth and not chafing. The "light" part is that Yeeshuwa` has done all the "heavy lifting." We just need to walk WITH HIM so we're not trying to pull AGAINST Him!

Note: GOD ISN'T MAD AT US ANYMORE! He has made a way for us to be at peace with Him! BE at peace! You've been given ETERNAL life! How is that life "eternal" if you could lose it?! Think about it!

[Retrobyter]

6 hours ago, Buzzard3 said:

You seem to be saying, faith alone makes you "right with God". 

If that is so, that means a believer can lead a life filled with the worst kinds of evil deeds imaginable (faith without works - James 2:26) and he is still "right with God", does it not?

No, it doesn't!

See, if a person is truly a believer, then he or she CANNOT "lead a life filled with the worst kinds of evil deeds imaginable!" It would be IMPOSSIBLE since, whatever he does, makes the HOLY SPIRIT DO IT WITH HIM! How long do you think God, our FATHER, would put up with those shenanigans? We would be INSTANTLY like Ananias and Sapphira! Furthermore, God CHANGES our hearts! He writes His Law into our hearts! (We are a NEW Creature!) Grantedly, while this is a gradual change as we learn from Him, the initial change is SUBSTANTIAL AND COLOSSAL! A true believer wouldn't WANT to do those things! 

Ya`aqoV ("James") in James 2:16 is talking about the EVIDENCE that is displayed outwardly BECAUSE one has been justified by God inwardly! He DISPLAYS his faith in God by the outward SHOW of doing good deeds! One who can't do good deeds to prove His faith in God, never had true faith in God to begin with!

James 2:18-26 (KJV)

18 Yea, a man may say,

"Thou hast faith (without works), and I have (faith with) works: shew me thy faith WITHOUT thy works, and I will shew thee my faith BY my works."

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble! 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without (the display of) works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified (in the sight of others; proved)  by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought (worked) with his works, and by works was faith made perfect (completed; matured)? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith,

"Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness": (Genesis 15:6)

and he was called "the Friend of God!"

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified (proved to others), and not by faith only. (What proof is there?)

25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified (proved to others) by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 

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

A body that doesn't breathe is dead; trust in God that doesn't produce good works is also dead. It hasn't been proved to exist!

This is how we should look at what Ya`aqoV wrote.

[TheBlade]

Any one else notice were still here? Just playing yet.. looking up. I read 

"You seem to be saying, faith alone makes you "right with God". 

If that is so, that means a believer can lead a life filled with the worst kinds of evil deeds imaginable (faith without works - James 2:26) and he is still "right with God", does it not?"

I don't understand how you put those two together? We are righteous because we believe in Jesus Christ. Just two things here "God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." And "And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction".

No you can't just grab some other verse add it to this. There was no other verse when God by His sweet sweet spirit through Paul wrote this. See the tell is this "If that is so, that means".  You said "it means" His word never says that nor hints at it. When I just again read James 2 he was never talking about salvation. Just doing good works is not faith. Faith is the substance of things hopped for the evidence of things not seen. Yeah most (I only guess) do not share talk about "walking in" "living in" that kind of faith. If we were we would also have the "works" following our faith. So according to His word my faith that Christ was who He said He was and what Christ did and finished that faith in Him makes me 100% forever righteous before my Father. I never have to do anything. Its what He did.

So now with in me wants to obey love do what He taught. I often fail ooh the 1st song I ever sang over 40 years ago.. the whole Church hundreds stood and clapped. But I boast of Him. The words "If you could see where Jesus brought me from to where I am today Then you would know the reason why I love Him so Now you can take this world's wealth and riches, I don't need them for fame It's my desire to live for Him" Called "its my desire".