What kind of virgin will you be?

I think maybe we should start another thread to discuss purgatory and why it is not what I am talking about. Personally I always thought that works salvation was a catholic doctrine, but I think that is where you will have to run to deny the existence of the carnal believer and judgment for same.

 

If you would apply James to believers as it was written instead of making every thing apply to the common salvation that the readers of James would already possess it would make much more sense. James didn't say that whoever is justified by faith would have works, he said justification was by works. The truth is there are two justifications.

Romans 4:2-3
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Genesis 15:5-6
5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Here is the first justification. By faith, Abraham believed and the Lord counted it to him for righteousness. Nothing but believing was required.


James 2:21
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Genesis 22:16-18
16 And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.

The second justification occured when Abraham, believing God, obeyed the command to sacrifice his son. God pronounces an additional blessing upon Abraham, saying in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed. And what else did He tell Abraham? Did He say 'now I know that you are a true believer?'

Genesis 22:12
12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Believers need not fear that God will take back His promise, that whosoever believes will be raised up on the last day. But reigning with Jesus in His kingdom is conditioned upon fearing God, and keeping His commandments.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

This is still the conclusion of the whole matter.

 

Each parable stands on its own, we can't just mix them all together. The common thread is Jesus teaching on the kingdom. Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and says in revelation that the gospel of the kingdom will go out into all nations for a testimony and then the end shall come. That gospel is the same gospel that Jesus preached, the same one that John the Baptist preached, it's the one that the two witnesses will preach.

Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

We must repent of our sin to enter into that kingdom. Jesus Christ came to die not only to pay for our sin, but to give us the power to live holy. It is all by His grace, but we have got to repent and start believing what He said.

 

No, James' point was justification is by works.

 

So you can play the 'faith=works' game, but we have clear testimony of scripture that faith!=works.

Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Reward is also not the same thing as gift. But I understand why you have to mush all these concepts together in order to get out from under the clear teaching of a coming judgment for sanctified believers.

My question to you is, if faith is only true faith when it is mingled with works, what makes you think that you have it?

 

Luke 19:12-27
12 He said therefore, A certain noble man went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

Here is two classes, His 'called' servants and the citizens who hated him, and would not have Him to reign over them.

15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
16 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.
17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.
19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:
21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou laidst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.
22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:
23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?
24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.
25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)
26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

The servants of the first class have been divided into good, faithful servants and wicked servants. The wicked servant has his portion taken from him and given to the faithful servant.

27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

And the 'third' class, the citizen enemies, are slain outright. But these never had a portion to lose.