RE: [TruthTalk]

[ShieldsFamily]

John,   First of all I really have to work at not being unforgiving of those of you who ask a question like you did without posting the specific scriptures.  That means I had to go look them up and post them myself!!! (Humbug) Now that that’s off my chest, and being VERY tired after a VERY long day at a quilt seminar and concert today from which I just got home (left at 6:30 am), just off the top of my head I would say that: “as a result of the works, faith was perfected” means just what it says.  Faith is just “head knowledge” unless/until you ACT on it.  That is why action, behavior, works are so important.  Talk/head knowledge/mental assent means NOTHING. Real faith will show itself in works, or it was ONLY talk. The works don’t justify us.  The faith does.  But the faith isn’t real until it is translated into action.    That reminds me of the thought that kept coming to me yesterday!  The physical is the manifestation of the spiritual.  Faith is a spiritual thing.  But if it is “real” it will manifest itself in the physical (works).  The spiritual reality came first. The physical outworking, second.   Izzy   James 2 21   (1) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? 22   You see that (2) faith was working with his works, and as a result of the (3) works, faith was perfected; 23   and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "(4) AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS," and he was called (5) the friend of God. 24   You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.   Romans 4 3   For what does the Scripture say? "(1) ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 4   Now to the one who (2) works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due. 5   But to the one who does not work, but (3) believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 8:11 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [TruthTalk]   To all: I would be interested in reading how it is that you (all) reconcile Romans 4:3-5 with James 2:21-24.   I am not interested in starting a big fight.   But there are a number of traditions represented on this list.   A good opportunity for me to consider this variety of opinion.  John