WORKS AND FAITH

[Alex2165]

WORKS AND FAITH​

James 2.26
I could not pass this last paragraph of James because of its importance and emphasis on Good Deeds in Christ.

Of course, the Works of Law (Physical Rituals and Ceremonies of the Law of Moses) and Faith, is the subject of constant debates and disagreements among Christians, but not for James. He, like no one else in the Bible, perfectly explained the importance and the essence of the joined forever together Spiritual Quality of Faith and Physical Quality of Good Works in Christ.

James explained this issue so good that practically is nothing can be added to it in terms of understanding the root and the core of these qualities, and in his writings, he had proved that they are inseparable. One such quality proves another in its Spiritual essence, and if separated, they; the faith and Good Works in Christ will be both dead. Just like the body without spirit is dead and so the faith without works is dead (26).

Above all, James also made excellent point saying:

19. "You believe that GOD is One, you do well, the demons also believe and shudder."

~ "Demons also know Who is Jesus Christ and afraid of Him" (Matthew 8.29) (Mark 1.34) (Luke 4.34.41) (James 2.19).

So, what the difference between demons and us? We and Demons are all believe that Christ is GOD. Are demons also saved for Eternal Life like we are because they also believe in Christ? What then separate us from demons? Our Good Deeds in the Name of Christ separates us from demons, because Demons do their deeds in the name of the Satan.

If any of the Christians will still argue against these words of wisdom that James wrote here, and saying that by only believing, or by Faith only, or by Promise of GOD, or only by His grace, or only by anything else we are saved, such person does not tell the truth. (Romans 9.4.11.30-32, 11.6) (Galatians 2.16, 3.5.12). Some people knowingly and purposely ignoring and rejecting the true meaning of Faith and Works, because under word "Works" Paul and other Apostles always meant only physical Rituals and Customs of the Law of Moses and not the Good Works in the Name of Christ, they have nothing in common.

James called such a person who separates, twist the meaning, and argues Faith against Good Works as "you foolish fellow" (20) and he is absolutely right in his assessment.

As a culmination of James writing, verse 14 revealed the most important fact in our faith, asking a question, "...if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" The answer is this that our Salvation depends on both, on Faith and Good Works in the Name of Christ, if one on those is missing, our Faith and our Works without one another are dead in us, and the Salvation will not work for us, because Salvation is Conditional, and Condition is, as James explained, to have both Faith and Good Works in Christ.

Philippians 2.12-13
12. "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
13. for, it is GOD Who is at work in you, both, to will and to work for His Good Pleasure."

~ Good Works: (Nehemiah 2.18) (Matthew 5.16, 12.12) (Luke 6.35) (John 5.29, 10.32) (Acts 9.36, 10.38) (Romans 2.7.10) (2Corinthians 9.8) (Galatians 6.9-10) (Ephesians 2.10, 6.7-8) (Philippians 1.6) (Colossians 1.10) (2Thessalonians 2.17, 3.7-13) (1Timothy 2.9-10, 5.9-10.25, 6.18) (2Timothy 2.21, 3.16-17) (Titus 1.16, 2.7.14, 3.1.5.8.14) (Hebrews 10.24, 13.16.21) (James 1.22-25, 2.14-26, 3.13, 4.17) (1Peter 2.12, 3.6.11.17).

~ Works of Faith: (1Thessalonians 1.3.5) (2Thessalonians 1.11) (James 2.14-26)

~ Paul's profession and his works to support himself and others:​

(Acts 18.1-3, 20.33-35, 28.30-31) (1Corinthians 4.11-12) (1Thessalonians 2.9, 4.11-12) (2Thessalonians 3.6-12).

~ Doers of the Law and not the listeners are justified by GOD:​

(Ezekiel 33.31-32) (Matthew 7.21.24-27, 15.7-9, 23.2-3.5) (Mark 7.6-7-13) (Luke 6.46-49) (Romans 2.13) (James 1.22-25).

~ Love your enemies. Do good to them:​

(2Kings 6.18-23) (2Chronicles 28.9-15) (Proverbs 25.21-22) (Matthew 5.43-45) (Luke 6.27-28.35-36) (Romans 12.20-21)

James 4.17
17. "Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin."

 

[DaveXR650]

You should come out and say directly what you mean. Are you saying works act in a meritorious was to save us or are you just saying that it is impossible to truly have true faith, continue to live on this earth and yet not have good works.

 

[Alex2165]

You should come out and say directly what you mean. Are you saying works act in a meritorious was to save us or are you just saying that it is impossible to truly have true faith, continue to live on this earth and yet not have good works.

I commented on the writing of James. if you understand what James said in his writing then you surely will understand what I meant in my comment. As I wrote in my previous posts and replies, Faith without Good Works is Dead. It means that one cannot exist without another, just like the head cannot exist without its body. James perfectly pinpointed that faith and Good Works in Christ goes together hand by hand, and by Faith alone or by Good Works alone, it is impossible to be a full and complete Christian. Concerning Salvation, as it always a subject for discussion on this forum, it also depends on Faith and Good Deeds in the Name of Christ, and also on many other Spiritual Qualities what are essential for our Salvation, like Righteousness, Mercy, Compassion, and most important of all Love.
Read James carefully and discover the deepness of his thoughts and feelings while you read his works, that will explain many wonderful things.

 

[DaveXR650]

I commented on the writing of James. if you understand what James said in his writing then you surely will understand what I meant in my comment. As I wrote in my previous posts and replies, Faith without Good Works is Dead. It means that one cannot exist without another, just like the head cannot exist without its body.

Sorry. I don't remember if I saw your previous posts. Are people saying works are optional or don't matter? Or are they worried that if works get mixed up with justification, damage can be done to people.

 

[Alex2165]

Sorry. I don't remember if I saw your previous posts. Are people saying works are optional or don't matter? Or are they worried that if works get mixed up with justification, damage can be done to people.

Yes, all above, for some people the Good Work in the Name of Christ are not important and for some even not necessary. Some people assume that by promise of GOD of Salvation alone, or by His Grace alone they are already saved. So, why do Good Works if you already saved by the Grace or by the Promise of GOD of His Salvation? Such people cut out of the Bible all the Words of Christ and the Words of His Apostles in which said that by the faith and by the Grace of GOD we are saved.
This is of course true, if we also know and follow the Conditions set by Christ and His Apostles, and they are many such Conditions, we must deserve His Salvation that He has Promised to all who have faith in Him, and we must be to be worthy of His Kingdom to enter. Many people in this world believe in GOD but not many people will be saved and enter His Kingdom.
Those who argue against Good Deeds in Christ mistakenly taking Good Deeds for word "Works" under which Paul described the Rituals of the Law of Moses saying that by Works alone no one will be saved. "Works" are not the Good Deeds in Christ, this is the Rituals of the Law of Moses, customs and ceremonies. Good Deeds also essential for our Salvation just like Faith and Love for GOD, because GOD also said numerous times that He judges people according to their Deeds, because our Deeds show our Faith and Love in GOD, and there is no other way to prove it. If the Faith in GOD of a person is strong, and so will be strong his or her Good Deeds in Christ. They go hand by hand. GOD Father and His Son conducted many Good Deeds for good and even not for good people; (Matthew 5.45) (Luke 6.35) (Acts 14.17) (Proverbs of Solomon 29.13), He is merciful and compassioned to all in order to show all His great Mercy and great Love to all humanity. We pray to GOD to receive something good from Him, and how we would not do good to others when we see a person in need or someone ask us for help? Is what would be behavior of a true Christian? And how GOD Himself will look at it? When GOD do to us good and we call ourselves by the Name of Christ, but do not do Good Deeds to others as the Christ and His Father do in Whom we believe and call by His Name, how then we can be His children? His followers? And call ourselves as Christians? If we do not imitate our GOD in everything He does, then we are not His, and this mistake can put our salvation in jeopardy.
In my previous posts I presented many quotes concerning Good Works, if you can find them read them, they will be very useful for you.

 

[DaveXR650]

Yes, all above, for some people the Good Work in the Name of Christ are not important and for some even not necessary. Some people assume that by promise of GOD of Salvation alone, or by His Grace alone they are already saved. So, why do Good Works if you already saved by the Grace or by the Promise of GOD of His Salvation? Such people cut out of the Bible all the Words of Christ and the Words of His Apostles in which said that by the faith and by the Grace of GOD we are saved.

From my own experience I can say that the worst I experienced of this was from some Fundamentalists churches I was involved in. I think it's just a modern form of antinomianism which is commonly called "believism" or "easy believism". Because they didn't teach theology or really explain things I was just left with something not feeling right. It wasn't until I started reading Puritans that I really came across teaching for instance that "justification by faith alone does not render our actual obedience needless".

If we do not imitate our GOD in everything He does, then we are not His, and this mistake can put our salvation in jeopardy.

It sounds like you may be from a group that does not believe in the perseverance of the saints, which I don't have a problem with, although I do. But I can tell you that in Reformed literature and teaching the importance of that statement is no less emphasized and taught - but the emphasis is on the idea that such behavior does indeed bring up the question of whether we are His, not that we might loose our salvation.

 

[Alex2165]

From my own experience I can say that the worst I experienced of this was from some Fundamentalists churches I was involved in. I think it's just a modern form of antinomianism which is commonly called "believism" or "easy believism". Because they didn't teach theology or really explain things I was just left with something not feeling right. It wasn't until I started reading Puritans that I really came across teaching for instance that "justification by faith alone does not render our actual obedience needless".

It sounds like you may be from a group that does not believe in the perseverance of the saints, which I don't have a problem with, although I do. But I can tell you that in Reformed literature and teaching the importance of that statement is no less emphasized and taught - but the emphasis is on the idea that such behavior does indeed bring up the question of whether we are His, not that we might loose our salvation.

From my own experience I can say that the worst I experienced of this was from some Fundamentalists churches I was involved in. I think it's just a modern form of antinomianism which is commonly called "believism" or "easy believism". Because they didn't teach theology or really explain things I was just left with something not feeling right. It wasn't until I started reading Puritans that I really came across teaching for instance that "justification by faith alone does not render our actual obedience needless".

It sounds like you may be from a group that does not believe in the perseverance of the saints, which I don't have a problem with, although I do. But I can tell you that in Reformed literature and teaching the importance of that statement is no less emphasized and taught - but the emphasis is on the idea that such behavior does indeed bring up the question of whether we are His, not that we might loose our salvation.

Yes, I have been in Fundamentalists churched too, and I agree with you how you describe them. I do not belong to any particular group, sect, or denomination, but Concerning perseverance, I certainly believe in perseverance of the saints and all other who have faith in Christ. For true Christian perseverance is especially important because it another essential part of our Faith, part of Good Deeds, and important part in worship of GOD. Does it relate to our salvation? Yes, it does, as many other no less important Spiritual things relate to our salvation. All together they are truly telling who we really are. Spiritual Qualities mentioned by Christ and Apostles drive our physical abilities not only for our own benefit of blessing, salvation of soul, and eternal life, but also for the benefit of humanity to let humanity know and to learn from us what it really means to uphold the Gospel of Christ and to be a true Christian. Christ gave us perfect example of Self-sacrifice for others, and so the Apostles and all the men of GOD beginning from the Old Covenant (Testament) to the New.

In the Old Testament GOD said to His people, "be holy because I am Holy." By these Words GOD let us know that He wants us to be like Him. GOD want us to have the same Spiritual Qualities as He has, in order to obey Him, prosper, have security, and be saved. The Law of Moses with its physical prescriptions and rituals outline the condition of cleanness of the body and soul which resulted in holiness before GOD as being a part of His Holy Being. The same thing comes from the Spiritual Commandments and Conditions of the same Law of Moses which Jesus Christ introduced in His Gospel and in New Testament for cleansing of our souls and conversion to a spiritual being. Such Spiritual Qualities as faith, mercy, compassion, and love, all of which are Spiritual Qualities that GOD possess in His Holy Spirit and Personality should be also in our own spirit and personality. Imitate GOD, it means to be like Him, it is a form of Spiritual growth in GOD to achieve the highest level of Spirituality in our Lord, to get closer to His Holiness, to his Holy Spirit, and to His Spiritual Kingdom.

Our salvation is the salvation of our spirit, not soul. We were born with soul and later in life became Spiritual from the Gospel of Christ. Those who are not Spiritual in GOD have only soul and not the spirit, soul is only a life energy of GOD that he had breathed into Adam, and which passed to all his following generations, to us. To be Spiritual means not only to be with GOD, but it also means to be saved and live with Him forever. And to achieve this goal certainly requires PERCEVERANCE.