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
Hi John,
This has been a major
"controversial question" for some traditions...
In Romans 4:3-5
Paul writes in part "righteousness is counted to him that works not but believes on Him
that justifies the ungodly" and James says "faith if
it has not works is dead, being alone; Jas
2:24 You see how by works a man is justified and
not by faith only?" Both use Abraham for an example so how are these
seemingly opposite positions reconciled?
It is important to
understand what God the Holy Spirit (rather than traditions) means when He uses
these terms - because scripture must be interpreted in the light of other
scripture... Works in Strongs is 2041 ergon
from ergo: act, deed, doing, labor, work.
So what is a "dead"
work? Hebrews 6:1 and Hebrews 9:14 tells us that they need to be repented
of up front, right at the beginning, so that we are able to serve the
"living God" with a clean conscience. by acting in faith like Father Abraham
whose faith was counted to him for righteousness long before the law of Moses or
the Cross of Jesus Christ.
Abraham was justified by
works when he had offered Isaac his son - but God apparently knew his faith was
the saving kind long before this. What makes the difference? Everyone has
faith in something. Both fear and faith are spiritual, both project into
the future and both demand to be fulfilled so there will be some (works) or
corresponding actions. What makes the difference is where our faith
rests. People who believed the prophets of doom who spoke about Y2K had
some corresponding actions - they stored up food, batteries etc.. Abraham
who believed God, went to Mt. Moriah willing to sacrifice the child of promise
because his faith rested in the fact that God was able to raise him up
again.
We recently discussed 1
Peter 1:20 on TT. I would like to point out here that God never deals with
a committee. He always spoke to individuals and this is true for Job,
Joseph, Noah, Jonah Abraham and Moses; none of whom had anyone to check it out
with. These men were led by the Spirit of God as we are supposed to be in
Christ. Sometimes I wonder if we are in danger of worshipping the Jewish
culture rather than the God of the Promise made to Abraham. Gentiles are
not second class citizens folk. Abraham was a Chaldean, Enoch was not a Jew, Job
was not a Jew and Noah was not a Jew. Jesus died for all men and the
Holy Spirit speaks ALL languages ... The Word of God is not bound.
SO FAITH WITHOUT THE
RIGHT CORRESPONDING ACTION IS DEAD OR WORTHLESS.
Grace and
Peace,
Judy
