Well I was hoping you thought R.C. is right bout it all. My guess now is no one on earth has better understanding of scripture then you do. Can't name one living person who has it right other then yourself.
There is not one person or group that has everything right, Utilyan. And I am more than willing for you to show me where I am in error in my views. You aren't going to do it by dodging everything I say and going on to preach your gospel.
The glaring factor about you is that you claim allegiance to a group who would toss you out on your ear for heresy.
Calling me enemy of the word means so much from someone who follows it backwards
This coming from someone who thinks the Lord is teaching men can gain eternal life by keeping the Law.
Go figure, lol.
24You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
James speaks about the visible actions of men and the justification in view is not from God...but from men.
You would know that if you bothered to actually read the entire chapter, but, since the L.O.S.T. (loss of salvation teachers never do that (because it would mess up what they want to teach) I will help you with it.
Let's start in Chapter One:
James 1:22-26
King James Version (KJV)
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Understand? He is speaking about what a man does in relation to the Word of God. The Word of God teaches that if any man say he has not sinned, and has no sin, he is a liar.
And here you are denying that you sin.
Strike one for you. You can recover, though, by learning how to study properly, instead of making it up as you go. Granted, the group you say you are a part of has teaching that will no doubt confuse their adherents, but, there is hope for you yet, Utilyan.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
What is the perfect Law of Liberty according to the gospel of Utilyan? Perhaps "...you have the liberty to be in bondage to the Law perfectly?"
The Word of God makes it clear that God's Law is for man's benefit, it is not a book of regulations meant to make men false religionists. You have the identical problem the Rich Young Ruler had...you both think you have kept the Law.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
Now, who is in view here, Utilyan? Who do men "seem" to be religious before?
God? No, God knows the heart. It is before other men that men "seem" to be religious before.
I know you will reject this, because it interferes with the gospel of Utilyan, but this is the basic premise underlying James' teaching.
That is why, Utilyan, I can trust and teach the Word of God and say...there are no contradictions between James and Paul, both teach inspired truth. You, on the other hand, have called into question most of Paul's teachings.
And just a quick example of men "seeming" to be religious before other men:
James 2
King James Version (KJV)
1 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.
First statement he makes has to do with men interacting...this is not about men interacting with God, or His perception of men, which is flawless.
Keep reading, Utilyan:
2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?
Now who is going to judge what is being done here? God? Sure, but, back up and remember that in view is a man "seeming" to be righteous...before other men.
Consider:
8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.
10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
Of course this does not apply to Utilyan, who does not transgress a single point of the Law, but let's say hypothetically that James means what he says, and that his conclusion is that if men "seem" to be religious yet have respect of persons, they commit sin.
Understand yet, Utilyan? Rather, can you let the gospel of Utilyan go back into the farther reaches of your heart, from whence it came, and give heed to James' warning? Can you see that in view are the works of men before men, and that here the example of being a "Doer" rather than just a hearer has to do with man in the temporal?
James is not establishing how men are saved here. He is not establishing how men are justified before God...but before men.
Another quick example, one well known:
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Can you understand that this to maintains the context? That James is again establishing that men be doers of the Law...not hearers only?
Remember his statement concerning the Royal Law? A man hears that, and outwardly professes his love, yet does nothing to show it?
What the gospel of Utilyan teaches is that James is here saying "Do good works and you will be saved!"
And you miss the entire point, thus you wrest the meaning, and lose the lesson to be learned here.
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Just like "seeming" to religious means nothing, the outward profession of the mouth in regards to the destitute is nothing.
Now who is going to see those works? God? Sure, but, James has no doubt God already knows. The exhortation here is for men to actually...do. Not just hear.
The faith that is not outwardly expressed in obedience is a dead faith.
That is what you have, my legalistic friend. As I said, no-one is ever going to believe you do not sin, not even the church you claim to be a part of. No credible Catholic would claim your doctrine as Catholic, but as rogue as them Protest Ants.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Very simple statement, of which we pick up the context back in Chapter One, "Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only," which when kept in context, let's the reader/hearer understand...anyone can make claims of religious standing, of faith, but, if that profession is not openly and visibly correlating to what the Word actually teaches...
...it is dead.
Will you hear the Word of God, Utilyan?
Now the last thing I will ask you is, who is James going to show his faith to?
God?
Nope, God already knows the true condition of James' heart.
James is going to show his faith to other men, and thus be...
...justified before other men.
Context...context...context, Utilyan, can save you from the gospel of Utilyan. You will miserably and utterly fail in the religion you have adopted, because it cannot save you. It cannot even justify you before other men.
Continued...