Conveniently you left out the rest of this which explains the verse you quote.
Romans 4:1-5 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Example of Abraham
4 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather (according to the flesh)? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works (ACCORDING TO THE FLESH), he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as (righteousness.” )
4 Now to one who works (ACCORDING TO THE FLESH), his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.( Why?, because faith, knowing about God is a gift ).
5 And to one who does not work(ACCORDING TO THE FLESH) but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.
4 What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather(according to the flesh)? ACCORDING TO THE FLESH (important statement which proceeded what you posted).
This is to put to rest what the OC Jew and those who did works, during Christ time . They believed -they were (RIGHTEOUS) according to the flesh. Works outside of God (Christ)are according to the flesh not faith in Christ who is God come in the flesh).
Matthew 26:41
But according to( faith), and that (faith) in its fullness is believing on Jesus Christ. (Faith in Christ makes one RIGHTEOUS , not man's works outside of the faith).
The Jew(Edom Jew that is) did not and does not believe on Jesus. So how can any work they do be according to faith? They can not even be justified .Their faith is to the flesh.
Proving the OP true, If you do not believe or have faith in God (Christ), you sin. The work according to the (spirit) comes when accepting Jesus Christ as being God with men. You are born again , according to the Spirit and the inner man. (Your work is your YES, in accepting this truth of the faith).
The first commandment has been obeyed, and you have come to life in Christ .
The Edom Jews considered these works: sacrifice- even though Christ is the final, ritual washing, circumcision of the flesh, and belief that because they are descendants of Abraham that through the flesh they are justified.
The scriptures do not contradict one another. MEN MISINTERPRET THEM! It is clear what James 2 says .
So, what I am saying is the true understanding of all of this? The beautiful Holy Spirit guides in NON- CONTRADICTING KNOWLEDGE. It is only by the Holy Spirit the scriptures are opened and understood. It would seem men rely on the precepts of men for their understanding of the scriptures instead of the Holy Spirit.
Faith is not according to the flesh, and works according to the flesh do not justify a man as righteous. We are speaking of FAITH and WORKS. Not flesh works of the flesh not based on faith.
James 2:14-26 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
Faith without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? ( SPEAKING OF THE JEWS WHO SAY THEY HAVE FAITH YET REJECT Christ) Can his faith save him?( CAN HIS FAITH SAVE HIM , IF IT IS NOT IN CHRIST?)15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit?( Many assume that Christ is only speaking of the needs according to the flesh coats , food, is He?)
There were Jewish laws which demanded that those with- help the poor. That was a give in... that they helped the poor.
How, else could you say :“Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” They gave according to the flesh, and their faith was not according to believing in Christ.
The action of the Book of Ruth centers around gleaning, which was one of the most important elements of the Law for the protection of poor and vulnerable people. The requirements are laid out in Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Exodus.
When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the Lord your God. (
Leviticus 19:9–10, repeated in part in
Leviticus 23:22) See
"Leviticus 19:9-10" in
Leviticus and Work .
When you reap your harvest in your field and forget a sheaf in the field, you shall not go back to get it; it shall be left for the alien, the orphan, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all your undertakings. When you beat your olive trees, do not strip what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left; it shall be for the alien, the orphan, and the widow. Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I am commanding you to do this. (
Deuteronomy 24:19–22)
NOW IF YOU ALLOW THIS BUT HAVE NO FAITH IN CHRIST, are you RIGHTEOUS? Are your works considered JUSTIFIED?
For six years you shall sow your land and gather in its yield; but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the wild animals may eat. You shall do the same with your vineyard, and with your olive orchard. (
Exodus 23:10–11) See
"Exodus 22:21-27 & 23:10-11" .
The basis of the law is the intention that all people are to have access to the means of production necessary to support themselves and their families. In general, every family (except among the priestly tribe of Levites, who were supported by tithes and offerings) was to have a perpetual allotment of land that could never be alienated (
Numbers 27:5-11,
36:5-1;
Deuteronomy 19:14,
27:17;
Leviticus 25).
Moses gave the Jews the Law and they did follow it (works of the flesh) and believed even though Christ came and they rejected Him , they were and are righteous.
James 2 continued
17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead. The Work we are speaking of is accepting Christ (Your yes) then faith is alive. Then they can give to the body ,Christ, which Christ came to destroy sin in. It is the flesh in which the sin is in, as according to Adam all die in.
Now that we know what true faith is:
James 2
18 But some one will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works (IMPOSSIBLE), and I by my works will show you my faith (TRUTH). 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, (you foolish fellow), that faith apart from works is barren? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. 24( You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone). 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26( For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.)
The point: Faith Alone thumpers are wrong, just as Works alone thumpers are. Faith and works, is the point of the OP. As for righteousness..... that comes because of faith, that is what was accounted to Abraham . I did not , nor the OP question that. Justification is something else which I stated before. Works justify us in and before God, man and yes demons. The demons shudder when we believe Faith and works are one as God is one. righteousness and justification , go hand and hand. Peace!
