(Verse 10) "A person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as the person who has broken all of God's laws.") This is a parabolic statement. James is showing us how impossible it is for a sinful man to live up to God's perfect standards. Because even if you think you kept nine perfectly (which nobody has), you are still missing the mark because you missed out on one.
But the fact is, nobody has kept even one. Just thinking about breaking a law is the same as doing it. "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." That's why Jesus said to the self righteous Jews, "None of you obey the law of Moses! In fact, you are trying to kill me."
Too, James is showing us that breaking any one law shows your intent to break all God's laws, and to over rule God in everything. "We will not have this man to rule over us." ( Luke 19:14) This is what Adam intended when he broke God's very first command. In other words, inclusive in any one command is God's intent and purpose for all his commands.
This is why God saves us by faith. That is, if we depend on our ability to keep the law, no one will ever be saved.
Presumably, Jesus here is merely stating a scientific fact, rather than suggesting that it would be desirable for us all to have such faith.
Because St John says something similar, but in the context "Yes, faith can do anything, but it is worthless without love" (Charity, caritas, love):
"Though I have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing." 1 Cor. xiii. 2.
James says that faith without works is worthless, but John's p***age implies that neither lead to salvation, but love does: James 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in 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 good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead".
I like how versus 18 tops off this chapter with a cherry: "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace".
Where are mind is set on; determines, what he will allow us to go through, or what he will bless us with; to help us be like him, and react like him in every situation we face in are lives.
It's like God is saying to us " If you want me, than you will study the lamp that i have given to your feet, and then on your own power, try to follow it, without giving up". "And then will I pour on you, my Spirit, and be ONE with you.
It's like, in are prayer's we ask God to drive for us, in are metiphoric prayers to God, but as James 2:26 says; are faith without works is dead.
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, �Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,� but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Comments on Galatians Chapter 3:10. �FOR AS MANY AS ARE OF THE WORKS OF THE LAW ARE UNDER THE CURSE: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, CURSED IS EVERY ONE THAT CONTINUETH NOT IN ALL THINGS WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW TO DO THEM.� I think the whole chapter presents many challenges in understanding correctly our relationship with God and our fellow human beings. If understood incorrectly it can lead to unnecessary pain and suffering, despair, even destruction. Here is what I mean (true story): A young family, with two children; the wife, a musically talented lady in her upper twenty�s, the daughter of a minister of a �particular� church, and the husband, a little older but not wiser. At one point, the young husband feeling �freed from the Law� commits adultery. And of course, since there was no breaking of the Law, (the law being �nailed to the cross�), he did not feel guilty, and didn�t make much of it. But when his wife found out, she decided to divorce him: not because he broke the seventh commandment, but because of �infidelity�� When she told me what happened, and her plans to divorce, I was shocked. I tried my hardest to convince her not to do it. I talked to her about forgiveness in Christ, I asked her to consider the future of her kids without their dad, but to no avail. I finally mentioned God�s commandment found in Matthew 19:6 which says: �� What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.� When she heard that, she said: �Brother Daniel, I can�t keep the Law! I�ve got to go through with the divorce; I don�t want to be under the curse of the Law, there�s nothing worse than that! But God will take care of me and the kids�� So, here they were: four people, saved and �free from the curse of the Law�, and very much cursed by the misinterpretation of one bible verse. Now, is this what the Apostle Paul is teaching in verse 10? Absolutely not! Here, in order to build his case against circumcision, the apostle is quoting the text from Deuteronomy 28:15. �� IF THOU WILT NOT HEARKEN UNTO THE VOICE OF THE LORD THY GOD, TO OBSERVE TO DO ALL HIS COMMANDMENTS AND HIS STATUTES WHICH I COMMAND THEE THIS DAY; THAT ALL THESE CURSES SHALL COME UPON THEE, AND OVERTAKE THEE:� And from verse 16 to verse 68, God pronounces 53 curses against those WHO WILL NOT �observe all his commandments and his statutes�: Thus, (Paul) is implying that if you want to be circumcised in order to be �right with God�, then you need to keep the rest of the �Sacrificial and Ceremonial Laws�. A short overview of the Laws given to the people of Israel by God looks like this: 1. Religious Laws: A) Moral, B) Regarding Tithes and Offerings, C) Sacrificial, D) Ceremonial, A) Moral: a) The Ten Commandments (TTC) b) TTC Expanded B) Tithes and a) The Tenth Offerings, b) First fruits, c) Miscellaneous offerings, C) Sacrificial: a) Sin offerings, b) Peace offerings, c) Burnt offerings, d) Continual offerings, e) Drink offerings, f) Altars, g) Miscellaneous furniture, D) Ceremonial: a) Regarding the Levite priests, b) Regarding the people, c) The First Born, d) The Covenant of circumcision, e) Regarding the Temple/Tabernacle, f) The Feasts, etc. 2. Civil Laws: relating to the rights of the people, the conduct and relations between members of the family and of the community, including the king. 3. Criminal Laws: Same as above Now, the SACRIFICIAL AND CEREMONIAL LAWS make up the body of Law which Apostle Paul calls �the schoolmaster� which pointed to Christ: Galatians 3:24 �Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.� Today we have no use for circumcision, sin offerings, burnt offerings or any Ceremonial Laws: We have Christ; the Type met the Anti-type. After the Roman Conquest, the Jewish CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LAWS had no �teeth�, and they were subject to the Roman Laws. No one could implement any of them, except with the approval of the Roman Governor, including Christ�s crucifixion. So, today the only valid Laws remaining are: The Moral Laws, including the Ten Commandments which Apostle James calls �The Royal Law� ( James 2:8), and Laws regarding the Tithes and Offerings. In support of this Apostle Paul makes the following statements in Romans Chapter 7: (7) �What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (12) WHEREFORE THE LAW IS HOLY, AND THE COMMANDMENT HOLY, AND JUST, AND GOOD. (16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. (22) FOR I DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF GOD AFTER THE INWARD MAN: (25) � SO THEN WITH THE MIND I MYSELF SERVE THE LAW OF GOD;� Amen.
This is what is helping me through my storm! It helps me have hope and know that God will not go back from his words. James 2:12-13 - So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. So I know He will do as long as I do my part and it is me to trust and have faith in him.
Grace is not a ticket to sin. Grace is the New Testament or grace covenant. What, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound, God forbid. In Ephesians 2, the works that are spoken of are the works of the Law (Old Testament); offering goats and bulls and the keeping of holy days, etc.. Jesus said unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisee�s (Old Testament), you shall in no wise inter into the kingdom of God. Romans 12, I beseech you brethren that you present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto the lord which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind (New Testament). Galatians: Be not deceived; God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. If ye sow unto the flesh ye shall of the flesh reap corruption. But if ye sow unto the spirit, ye shall of the spirit reap eternal life, (New Testament). Ephesians 5, For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God; that also is in the New Testament. Jesus said Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat; New Testament. James 2:17, Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 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. 19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also� all that is in the New Testament.
Don't let someone fool into the broad and easy way with his/her greasy Grace doctrine. Jesus said sell all you have, deny yourself and come follow me.
I am not less of a sinner than anyone else, I am the biggest sinner that I know, and so is every sinner. We all need to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, and have faith in Jesus Christ alone (thereby forsaking all hopeless attempts at our own self-righteousness to gain entrance into Heaven). This verse goes well together with Romans 3:10 which reads "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:".
The only way to be perfect in keeping the whole law is in and through Christ. I am a lost and fallen man. No matter how perfect I may believe I am in keeping all the law, I will always fall short in some way, either through ignorance or willful disobedience. I would be wrong to judge my neighbor as being less worthy than myself, because I am in equal need of Christ's Atonement as any of the vilest sinners.
We need to be careful to stay in God�s perfect will by being obedient in what we know to do and stay prayerful, while asking God to deliver us, from all unrighteousness, for we all come short of God�s glory. Nevertheless God wants all of us, not just the parts. We want to give him total obedience. From the heart is pleasing to GOD. We, can only do what we know, we are not held countable for the things we don�t know.
I believe that Alexander needs to get himself a real Bible instead if a corrupted version, as this is not helping his confusion at all. The Calvinistic mindset is another thing that needs to be tossed out. It is not the problem (so called) of the old English prose in the King James Bible, but rather the problem of the interpreter. If we are not born again, (the way the Bible tells us - not the Calvinist way) of the Spirit of God, then we will never understand God's Word aright. It is not true that nobody can do any good works. Paul said of the barbarians, "They showed me much kindness." Also we read in the Gospel of Matthew how there would be those who would glorify God in heaven as they see their good works. If our standing (professed in many cases, but not "in Christ") does not correspond to our state, then there has not been a work of God done in the soul. God predestinated a "peculiar people" not to heaven, this is unscriptural, but for a purpose, "to be holy before him in love." This means living a holy and blameless life, "Be ye holy for I am holy." Our daily walk will be coming more and more comforted to our heavenly standing, if we have exercised "repentance towards God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ," as commanded in Acts 20:21. Calvinistic teachings must be rejected as "doctrine of devils." Only Holy Spirit discernment can open us our understanding of the Word of God, and there is only one in English, not 300 of them. Alexander, you may as well write your own Bible, as you have so much error and confusion in your post. "God is not the author if confusion." We know who is.
Jesus said in these verse! Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not mention NAMES but name (SINGULAR) (Proper Noun) Father, Son and Holy Spirit is NOT A NAME they are ALL TITLES! It is the name of God (JESUS CHRIST) that we should be baptize and not the TITLE for there is ONLY ONE GOD ( Deuteronomy 6:4; 1 John 5:20; Isaiah 43:10) Jehovah is Jehovah Saviour Jesus Christ revealed in the New Testament that is why there is NOT without this the plan will not be fulfilled, ( Gal 4:3-4) Fullness of time has come God sent forth his Son born of a woman ( Isaiah 7:14) God will give you a "SIGN" ( Isaiah 9:6) This boy will be given a name Emmanuel ( Matthew 1:20-23) That it is the Angel Gabriel who gave the name of this child and his name is Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. That is why there is power in his name! Jesus will SET YOU FREE ( John 8:32) for Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the father except through ME (Jesus). Because BAPTISM refers to REMISSION OF SINS, without baptism our SINS are not forgiven and our soul is destined to hell, that is why He said in Romans 6:23: ��For the wages of Sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ��. This is God's Plan of salvation. The offering of Bulls and animals is not good in the sight of God that is why He sent his Son born of a woman to redeem those who are under the law ( Galatians 4:3-4). And God is Spirit ( John 4:24), He came into world as a sinful flesh to die on the cross for our sins. That is why that in the name of Jesus there is Remission of Sins ( Acts 2:38); In the name of Jesus there is salvation ( Acts 4:12); in the name of Jesus there is healing. In other words without this process our soul will not be saved. Our faith must have WORKS ( James 2:24) God bless you all.
Jeff, and Alexander, and to the rest of the comments and lovly scriptures that were written! And u all were right! Ur quoting the BIBLE. But don't forget, to eat the WHOLE book! Hide the word n thy heart so u might not sin against Him. U all left out Acts. Where the bible states n 2:40 or so it states to SAVE URSELF from this untoward generation. God is a gentleman and He will not force Himself on u. But u must b Born Again. John 3:5 U must b born of the Water and Of the Spirit, and if not ur not going to heaven. Now That's Bible Too.
yes...Abraham did speak with God..Abraham was called the friend, and because of his close relationship with God, and his faithfulness. Isaiah 41:8 according to: Gen. 12:1, Gen 15:18, Gal. 3:6, Hab. 6:13, James 2:23. Abraham was a friend of God. All the friends i have , they know me.....
Its true that what a man sows,he will reap ie. you plant judgement to others without considering giving them some chance or benefit of doubts,the same judgements becomes grown and you are the first to reap its fruit!.
After further study on baptsm I think that most people miss the point. Johin baptized with water to "manifest" Jesus Christ to Israel (they required a sign) in John 1:33 John the Baptist speaks of the "real" Baptism, which by Christ putting believers into the Body by his Holy Spirit. ( 1 Cor.12:13) So what happens today is; a lot of unsaved people are trusting in their Water Baptism. The NIV leaves out the confession of the Ethopian ( Acts 8:37)and takes the man right into the water! The confession that they use today is the confession of a demon in Luke 4:41; "Thou art Christ the Son of God."..."The devils also believe, and tremble." ( James 2:19) DGL
Verse 26-29 Is talking about the person who rejects the finished work of Christ and tries to establish their own righteous through the law of Moses. Even though the law is holy righteous and true it can not make you holy righteous and true.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Grace does not justify us to sin. When you put faith- only in the finished work of Christ, you are justified in the sight of God from all sin. Not by what you did; but rather, by what Christ did for you. Exodus 12:13 and the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.
The scripture says when I see the blood � not when I see your good works. Titus 3: 8 [This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Good Works will not save you �Only the blood of Jesus. The scripture teaches good works are important �but not for salvation. If you love God you will maintain good works for his glory and for the sake of the lost man. To love your neighbor as your self is to live your life for the sake of the lost man. Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Always the issue comes down to grace vs works
Any one who teaches faith + works = salvation is teaching a false gospel. It is a lie and can not save you.
Just remember Faith alone = Salvation
What about James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James is speaking to believers about Service unto the lord �Verse 1 �My brethren�
Read James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.
If you are going to maintain your righteousness through the law then you will have to be absolutely perfect in maintaining the whole law order to enter heaven.
There is only one man who fulfilled the whole law- Jesus Christ.
Any one who teaches grace gives you the freedom to sin does not truly understand grace.
@Alexander's what you say is laughable. �Didn�t need to go study Hebrew or Greek but really need to learn English. Many misquote and misinterpret the bible simply because we don't understand the old English prose that the bible was written in.� the same could be said when it was translated from Hebrew to Greek to English. Who knows, it is possible to think that many misquote and misinterpret the bible simply because they weren�t able to translate it originally to Greek. Can you see the nock on affect?
It asinine to think we will need to learn 16th English just to understand the bible. I doubt the Greek to English really understood each other.
What you perch I find is insane. To quote you again �stop trying to do our own good works and waiting for us TO GIVE UP TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY that HE WOULD BEGIN TO WORK IN US!!� and �ISAAC was not born because of ABRAHAMS works because Abraham tried to have a son on his own works and produced Ishmael!!� I might be seeing this wrong (since your comment was too long) but you are saying two things. One Ishmael was made by Abraham and not god (WRONG). Second it could be interpret that we should not do any good intentionally as god will hate it. We should just wait for god to save everyone. That will help the starved; we have free will so we can do good works. That will save us.
God will ask you (after you have resurrected) �what have you done for me?� If you just say I have faith but did no good deeds for you, or tried to save others from the fire while I was earth. He will say �I don�t need such man�.
Can�t remember what Hebrew scripture (or if my translation is quite right, the jest is there so don�t say I got a word back to front) I read & it stuck with me.
It was Abraham worked, but God commanded him of what to do to his son Isaac. God tested Abraham of his faith to Him and he was successfully obey the command of God. So, Abraham was called the Father's of Faith because he will not opposed of what Father God wants him to do. Faith to Lord Jesus Christ cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven. You cannot read even one verses in the bible that through faith to the Lord Jesus Christ your Soul will be saved. Speaking the life of Timothy one of the desciple of Apostle Paul, he has already benefitted this kind of faith in Eph. 2:8-9. About his faith to the Lord Jesus Christ no one can surpass. But in 1Tim. 4:16, Timothy is working for his own salvation. " The question is " What kind of Salvation did Timothy worked ?.
Mcgi.org/en/topics/blog_articles/ on John 1 - 14 years ago
Who is JESUS??? He the Son of GOD or the bible signify the Wisdom of God...in the Book of Proverbs 8:22 is not Christ. He cited 1 Corinthians 1:30 and hastily concluded that Christ is the wisdom for salvation and redemption only, and not the Wisdom instrumental in the creation of every existing thing. Here were his allegations:
A careful look at the above cited verses will reveal to us the following facts �
1. The Wisdom of God is a mystery
2. The hidden Wisdom ordained by God was before the world
3. It was not known by the princes of this world
Due to these, they crucified the Lord of Glory.
The Wisdom of God being mentioned by Paul here is the Wisdom in a mystery, the hidden Wisdom, which is the Lord of Glory. Remember that this Wisdom was ordained by God before the World.
Who is the Lord of Glory?
( James 2:1) �My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.�
It is crystal clear, therefore, that the Wisdom mentioned by Paul who existed and was ordained by God before the world is the Lord Jesus Christ � The Lord of Glory.
It this the same Wisdom being mentioned in the Book of Proverbs?
( 1 Corinthians 1:24) �But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.�
The Apostle Paul said, �The Wisdom of God.� A little knowledge in grammar will teach us know that there is no other Wisdom of God because he used the definite article �the.� However, Christ is the Wisdom of God to those who are called. No wonder, Tumbok does not understand because he was not called. God calls people into the Church of God and not in any church founded by man.
( 1 Corinthians 1:1-2) �Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours��
It is in the Church of God that God calls people which He considers worthy of serving Him. If there are those who do not consider Christ as �the� Wisdom of God, they are the enemies of Christ.
( 1 Corinthians 1:23-24) �But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.�
Christ is not the Wisdom of God to those who were not called into the Church of God, but a �stumbling block� and foolishness. Certainly, He is the same Wisdom being mentioned in Proverbs 8:22 �
( Proverbs 8:22) �The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.�
The word �possessed� being used by the Wisdom (referring to Christ) is very much apparent in the declaration of John.
( John 1:18) �No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.�
The Wisdom was possessed by the Father in the beginning of His ways, before His works of old. The succeeding verses, the 23rd and the 24th, prove that He was begotten before anything was made.
( Proverbs 8:23-24) �I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.�
No other being in the universe was brought forth or begotten of the Father other than the only begotten Son, which was in the beginning, the Wisdom in the bosom of the Father.
( Hebrews 1:5) �For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?�
He is also the Son mentioned in the Book of Proverbs, which was with the Father in the creation of everything.
( Proverbs 30:4) �Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son�s name, if thou canst tell?�
He is the person to whom God was speaking, in the creation of man.
( Genesis 1:26) �And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.�
Others conclude (which were always erroneous) that God was speaking to angels; but this is not so. God was speaking to someone who has the same image as He has, and there is no other person in the universe or beyond it, that has the exact image of God other than the Son.
( Hebrews 1:1-3) �God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high��
Note that by the Son he made the worlds. The Son is the express image of His person. These reasonings of Saint Paul jive with the preaching of John in his gospel.
( John 1:1-3) �In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.�
To sum up, that Jesus Christ really is the Wisdom of God being mentioned in the Book of Proverbs, let us look at the verses a second time.
( Proverbs 8:22-30) �The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him��
I have highlighted in red words and phrases that speak of the time element proving that the Wisdom, that is the Son, pre-existed before He was born of Mary in the form of a man. There is no other Wisdom of God being mentioned in the Bible, other than the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; the Lord of Glory, the wisdom that God used in the creation of everything that exists.
( Colossians 2:2-3) �That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.�
All treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. The Apostle Paul has known this so he wrote �
( Colossians 1:15-17) �Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.�
How can something that does not exist be made an instrument in the creation of everything that exists? That is impossible!
( John 1:1-3) �In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.�
The Son was there in the Creation of everything! Without Him was not anything made that was made!
ʼElo‧him′ means, not �persons,� but �gods.� So those who argue that this word implies a Trinity make themselves polytheists, worshipers of more than one God. Why? Because it would mean that there were three gods in the Trinity. But nearly all Trinity supporters reject the view that the Trinity is made up of three separate gods.
WHILE Jesus is often called the Son of God in the Bible, nobody in the first century ever thought of him as being God the Son. Even the demons, who �believe there is one God,� knew from their experience in the spirit realm that Jesus was not God. So, correctly, they addressed Jesus as the separate �Son of God.� ( James 2:19; Matthew 8:29)
Yes, there is no contradiction in the bible, so, reconcile these two verses Eph. 2:8 & 9, faith w/o works to James 2:17, faith w/o works is dead. Speaking the life of Timothy the desciple of Apostle Paul,he has already benefitted this kind of faith in Eph. 2: 8&9. About his faith to the Lord Jesus Christ no one can surpass. But in, ITim. 4:16, Timothy is working for his own Salvation. " The question is " What kind of Salvation did Timothy worked ?.
I really appreciate your comment Felis.
we are not saved by faith as its only a human respond, we need something more than a human respond that is why Paul clarify his writting in Eph 2 he says "for by grace ye are saved" we can only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ not faith alone,the grace is in Jesus.
This is a great problem in Christianity in the world today. Salvation is now based on a human response to God, where you come up to the altar or pray a prayer??? CAN MAN truly save himself?? This is truly the question of the hour and yet the answer is pathetically obvious.
Can a grain of sand on the bottom of the ocean floor possibly save itself?? For clearly he can not. And as human beings we have been made out of the dust of the earth and our condition is no different.
The problem is the pride of man�s heart.. all my human kind myself included there is something within us that WANTS TO DO SOMETHING TO SAVE OURSELVES!!! It is the pride of mans heart that somehow your salvation centers around yourself.
But you have a great chance of defying gravity and jumping to the moon than saving yourself. For even if I could jump 6 inches higher than any human being I would still be 100000000 miles (I don't know exactly but a likely only .00000001% of the way to the moon.) No matter how spiritual someone is.. NO MAN CAN SAVE HIMSELF AND NO MAN HAS ANY HOPE OUTSIDE OF THE MERCY OF GOD!!
As human beings we don't understand the DESPERATE CONDITION WE ARE IN and how desperately we NEED the MERCY OF THE FATHER.. mercy is undeserved we have no right or no hope of being saved yet it is the good pleasure of the FATHER that LONGS TO WORK IN US TO SAVE US!!
HE is the alpha and OMEGA.. he will FINISH the work He began in you.. and TRULY ONLY HE CAN FINISH IT.. if you think that He started it and now you have to finish it.. I would be very scared because it is a great deception to THINK THAT YOU ARE AS BIG AS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND THAT YOU CAN FINISH IT.. truly this is no different than what Adam thought in the garden I will be as GOD!!
YOU CANT BE AS GOD, there is nothing great that happens in the life of human being (PRIMARILY SALVATION) unless IT IS SOVERIGNLY DONE BY THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!! For what is man compared to the Creator?? Truly a grain of sand at the bottom of the endless ocean and UNLESS THE FATHER IS WORKING IN YOU.. truly you have no hope!!
I said all this to come back to James 2. Our greatest problem with understanding scripture is that WE DON'T UNDERSTAND the English language of which the bible was written in. A very wise man of God realized that he didn't need to go study Hebrew or greek but really need to learn English. Many misquote and misinterpret the bible simply because we don't understand the old English prose that the bible was written in. James 2 is a primary example.
This verse in KJV/interlinear is saying that Abraham our father was justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar.
Let me ask you a question whose �works� where these?? Abrahams? Gods?
To understand what James is saying we need to go back and read the account of Abraham in Genesis to understand the context of what He is saying because I can make up my own interpretation of this passage which many do but unless I allow the Spirit to give me the understanding I am just making things up. The greatest bible dictionary is scripture, scripture interprets scripture though there are some good commentaries out there you don't need to rely on what could be the wisdom of man to understand the bible. When the Holy Spirit inspired the BIBLE there was no need for commentary IT WAS DESIGNED TO INTERPRET ITSELF!!
So lets allow the Spirit to interpret what James is saying here. Going back to Genesis who is ISAAC?? Abrahams son. Now was ISAAC born because of Abrahams work or abilities?? Here is the VERY KEY TO INTERPRETTING THIS SCRIPTURE.. ISAAC was not born because of ABRAHAMS works because Abraham tried to have a son on his own works and produced Ishmael!!
God is very clear ANYTHING that WE PRODUCE BY OUR OWN WORKS is of the FLESH and must BE CAST OUT OF THE HOUSE.. even as God told Abraham to cast out the bondwoman (hagar) and her son. For nothing done of the flesh or nothing done ALONE By our own works is ever acceptable in the sight of GOD!!
You see GOD is not after our goods works� because WE DON'T HAVE ANY.. there is no human being who has GOOD WORKS.. that is why God is waiting for us to stop trying to do our own good works and waiting for us TO GIVE UP TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY that HE WOULD BEGIN TO WORK IN US!!
Abraham is the father of faith because this is the great journey that he is taking each of us on. Finally once Abraham totally and completely SURRENDERED God could begin to work.
Isaac is the child of promise and IS THE VERY WORK Of GOD that God worked in Abraham.
Once Abraham had totally and completely surrendered God began to work IN HIM.. faith spoke and called Abraham out of THE TEMPERAL PHYSICAL REALM on a journey to a city with foundations whose maker and builder is GOD ( Heb 11). Like Abraham God is longing to take every one of his children on a great journey to HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM (to his city).
So faith spoke and Abraham started walking. Then he came to Egypt and got in his own works again stumbled and fell and lied about his wife being his sister. Did God leave him there in his own pitiful works. NO GRACE INTERVENED!!
Instead of plaguing the one who lied (Abraham) God plagues Pharoah and his house with great plagues because of Sarah Abrhams wife ( Gen 12.17). IS THIS NOT GRACE!! Undeserved favor why would God plague the one Pharoah it was really Abrahams fault for lying..
God was not ignoring Abrahams lying but as any Father looks after his children, he knew Abraham would fall and now like a loving father GRACE STEPS IN and PICKS up little Abraham who got in his own works again.
The process repeats over and over again until God finally brings Abraham to the place of fullness of trust. It was a painful journey of Gods works combined with Abrahams works (stumbling and falling). Finally after Abraham kept falling in his own works and GRACE (God�s works) kept picking HIM up finally GODS WORKS BEGAN TO PREVAIL over Abrahams works.
This is the great journey the Father is longing to take every one of his children on. He is not after your good works, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY. He IS AFTER YOUR HEART!! HE is after you TO ACTAULLY BELIEVE HIM and come to the place of fullness of trust where you OFFER WHAT HE HAS DONE IN YOU back up to HIM on the altar of God. To come to the place of fullness of TRUST WHERE YOU ACTAULLY OFFER YOUR ENTIRE LIFE BACK TO GOD ON THE ALTAR!!
For Abraham offering up Isaac was offering up his Name and HIS LIFE for all eternity. It is as if Abraham was saying �I am offering my eternal future, my name (which Isaac would carry on) and everything else, offering up Isaac truly would be offering up HIS ETERNAL FUTURE.
Imagine God had been working for over 40 years to bring this child forth and NOW GOD IS ASKING ABRAHAHM TO GIVE HIM UP!! It would take a complete TRUST IN the FATHER TO DO THIS�
Yet Abraham the very next morning woke up EARLY and took the great three day journey saying I and the LAD will go up yonder and WORSHIP and RETURN.. he had such a FULLNESS OF TRUST and even inside into the heart of the FATHER that HE KNEW that they would return�
This is a fullness of TRUST that ONLY the FATHER could work into a human being therefore as JAMES is saying it is very clear.
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Faith without the WORKS of GOD working in you and bringing you to a place of FULLNESS OF TRUST IS LIFELESS and VAIN and of no purpose what so ever. For your FAITH is DEAD without the WORKS OF FATHER working in you.
As seen so clearly in the life of Abraham which James makes reference too that even Abraham had faith but kept stumbling in his own works and HIS FAITH would have been completely dead and of no purpose unless GRACE would have picked HIM UP and the FATHERS works were prevailing and cleaning up every spiritual mess Abraham got himself in.
For the Father knows we will mistakes and He knows HOW FRAIL WE ARE and that we are mere children in his sight. The problem is many of us try to pretend we are something we are not. Jesus said unless you be as a child you cant enter the kingdom yet we try to be some type of super spiritual adults but there is no such thing as an adult in the kingdom of God only children!! And unless you be a child you cannot enter. The Father knows how frail you are, and knows you will fall that IS WHY HE WANTS TO WORK the works of GOD IN YOU.. for this is the only way you will come to completion in Christ.
That is why Jesus came He said I have come to work the works of God. For man cannot do these works only God can. O vain man do you not know that faith without works is dead? That only the Father can do these works and UNLESS HE DOES your FAITH IS IN VAIN..
Only God could bring Abraham to the fullness of trust. Faith spoke and Abraham began the great journey but unless God had been working in Him along the way His Faith would have been in vain. He would not even have made it past Egypt. Pharoah would have taken Sarah as his wife and the whole journey and plan would have come to an end before it even began!!!
Truly without Gods works IS a DEAD END ROAD, unless God is working Abrahams faith, my faith and your faith is in VAIN and totally purposeless!!
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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
When was Abraham justified? By his own works in having Ishmael, far be it from that. No Abraham was justified when HE CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS and surrendered to the Father and allowed GOD to work IN HIM and bring forth LIFE INSIDE OF HIM�
For in this hour the Father is longing and looking for FAITHFUL ONES He can work in and even grow up his very own LIFE IN!! Isaac is only a type and shadow of the CHRIST LIFE that God is longing to put in FAITHFUL ones who have ceased from their own works and totally surrendered to the FATHER and will allow THE CHRIST LIFE TO FULLY COME to MATURITY in them.
GOD IS DOING IT ALL but he is not doing it without you!! HE is working in you both to will and to do his good pleasure all HE IS LOOKING FOR IS A WILLING and CONTRITE HEART!! He knows how frail man is, for heaven is His Throne and the earth his footstool yet there is ONE I WILL looketh upon saith the Lord, Him who is of a broken heart and contrite spirit.
He is not interested in how spiritual you are, or how much you understand for surely all that is only getting in the way of KNOWING HIM.
For I have called you even with an eternal calling and predestined you to be here even before the foundation of the world.. yet only as you become a child can you understand the great things of my kingdom.. therefore continue getting younger and younger more childlike every day.. for it is not your intellect or understanding that ONLY HINDER and what you have learned.. NOW IHAVE TO DESTROY all the SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING you acquired.. for it is of no help and actually has been keeping you out of my kingdom..
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
ONLY BY the works of GOD can FAITH BE MADE PERFECT.. only by the Father working in Him did Abraham reach the place off offering HIS NAME and eternal hope back to the Father.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
What is a friend? Deutoronomy has a very deep thought a friend is as ones own soul! When Abraham offered up Isaac he was saying to the Lord.. I don't want to be like me anymore, I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU!! And in this giving back to God all that God had done in HIM no longer wanting to be like himself anymore but I want to be like YOU FATHER.
In this Abraham became a friend of God�. AFTER WALKING with the Lord and ceasing from his own works but ALLOWING the WORKS of God to PREVAIL IN HIS LIFE truly this He offered up himself back to God and became a Friend of God.
For this is the great journey of every believer. That one may actually become a friend of God. This is the high calling in Christ Jesus that every believer has been called to.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
That you may actually know Him. For this is eternal life to know the ONE TRUE GOD and Savior Jesus Christ.
But the fact is, nobody has kept even one. Just thinking about breaking a law is the same as doing it. "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he." That's why Jesus said to the self righteous Jews, "None of you obey the law of Moses! In fact, you are trying to kill me."
Too, James is showing us that breaking any one law shows your intent to break all God's laws, and to over rule God in everything. "We will not have this man to rule over us." ( Luke 19:14) This is what Adam intended when he broke God's very first command. In other words, inclusive in any one command is God's intent and purpose for all his commands.
This is why God saves us by faith. That is, if we depend on our ability to keep the law, no one will ever be saved.
Because St John says something similar, but in the context "Yes, faith can do anything, but it is worthless without love" (Charity, caritas, love):
"Though I have all Faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing." 1 Cor. xiii. 2.
James says that faith without works is worthless, but John's p***age implies that neither lead to salvation, but love does:
James 2:14 "What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in 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 good[a] is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead".
Where are mind is set on; determines, what he will allow us to go through, or what he will bless us with; to help us be like him, and react like him in every situation we face in are lives.
It's like God is saying to us " If you want me, than you will study the lamp that i have given to your feet, and then on your own power, try to follow it, without giving up". "And then will I pour on you, my Spirit, and be ONE with you.
It's like, in are prayer's we ask God to drive for us, in are metiphoric prayers to God, but as James 2:26 says; are faith without works is dead.
New King James Version (NKJV)
Faith Without Works Is Dead
14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, �Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,� but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Don't let someone fool into the broad and easy way with his/her greasy Grace doctrine. Jesus said sell all you have, deny yourself and come follow me.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Grace does not justify us to sin. When you put faith- only in the finished work of Christ, you are justified in the sight of God from all sin. Not by what you did; but rather, by what Christ did for you.
Exodus 12:13 and the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.
The scripture says when I see the blood � not when I see your good works.
Titus 3: 8 [This is] a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
Good Works will not save you �Only the blood of Jesus. The scripture teaches good works are important �but not for salvation. If you love God you will maintain good works for his glory and for the sake of the lost man. To love your neighbor as your self is to live your life for the sake of the lost man.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Always the issue comes down to grace vs works
Any one who teaches faith + works = salvation is teaching a false gospel. It is a lie and can not save you.
Just remember Faith alone = Salvation
What about James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James is speaking to believers about Service unto the lord �Verse 1 �My brethren�
Read James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.
If you are going to maintain your righteousness through the law then you will have to be absolutely perfect in maintaining the whole law order to enter heaven.
There is only one man who fulfilled the whole law- Jesus Christ.
Any one who teaches grace gives you the freedom to sin does not truly understand grace.
It asinine to think we will need to learn 16th English just to understand the bible. I doubt the Greek to English really understood each other.
What you perch I find is insane. To quote you again �stop trying to do our own good works and waiting for us TO GIVE UP TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY that HE WOULD BEGIN TO WORK IN US!!� and �ISAAC was not born because of ABRAHAMS works because Abraham tried to have a son on his own works and produced Ishmael!!� I might be seeing this wrong (since your comment was too long) but you are saying two things. One Ishmael was made by Abraham and not god (WRONG). Second it could be interpret that we should not do any good intentionally as god will hate it. We should just wait for god to save everyone. That will help the starved; we have free will so we can do good works. That will save us.
God will ask you (after you have resurrected) �what have you done for me?� If you just say I have faith but did no good deeds for you, or tried to save others from the fire while I was earth. He will say �I don�t need such man�.
Can�t remember what Hebrew scripture (or if my translation is quite right, the jest is there so don�t say I got a word back to front) I read & it stuck with me.
A careful look at the above cited verses will reveal to us the following facts �
1. The Wisdom of God is a mystery
2. The hidden Wisdom ordained by God was before the world
3. It was not known by the princes of this world
Due to these, they crucified the Lord of Glory.
The Wisdom of God being mentioned by Paul here is the Wisdom in a mystery, the hidden Wisdom, which is the Lord of Glory. Remember that this Wisdom was ordained by God before the World.
Who is the Lord of Glory?
( James 2:1) �My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.�
It is crystal clear, therefore, that the Wisdom mentioned by Paul who existed and was ordained by God before the world is the Lord Jesus Christ � The Lord of Glory.
It this the same Wisdom being mentioned in the Book of Proverbs?
( 1 Corinthians 1:24) �But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.�
The Apostle Paul said, �The Wisdom of God.� A little knowledge in grammar will teach us know that there is no other Wisdom of God because he used the definite article �the.� However, Christ is the Wisdom of God to those who are called. No wonder, Tumbok does not understand because he was not called. God calls people into the Church of God and not in any church founded by man.
( 1 Corinthians 1:1-2) �Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours��
It is in the Church of God that God calls people which He considers worthy of serving Him. If there are those who do not consider Christ as �the� Wisdom of God, they are the enemies of Christ.
( 1 Corinthians 1:23-24) �But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.�
Christ is not the Wisdom of God to those who were not called into the Church of God, but a �stumbling block� and foolishness. Certainly, He is the same Wisdom being mentioned in Proverbs 8:22 �
( Proverbs 8:22) �The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.�
The word �possessed� being used by the Wisdom (referring to Christ) is very much apparent in the declaration of John.
( John 1:18) �No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.�
The Wisdom was possessed by the Father in the beginning of His ways, before His works of old. The succeeding verses, the 23rd and the 24th, prove that He was begotten before anything was made.
( Proverbs 8:23-24) �I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.�
No other being in the universe was brought forth or begotten of the Father other than the only begotten Son, which was in the beginning, the Wisdom in the bosom of the Father.
( Hebrews 1:5) �For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?�
He is also the Son mentioned in the Book of Proverbs, which was with the Father in the creation of everything.
( Proverbs 30:4) �Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and what is his son�s name, if thou canst tell?�
He is the person to whom God was speaking, in the creation of man.
( Genesis 1:26) �And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.�
Others conclude (which were always erroneous) that God was speaking to angels; but this is not so. God was speaking to someone who has the same image as He has, and there is no other person in the universe or beyond it, that has the exact image of God other than the Son.
( Hebrews 1:1-3) �God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high��
Note that by the Son he made the worlds. The Son is the express image of His person. These reasonings of Saint Paul jive with the preaching of John in his gospel.
( John 1:1-3) �In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.�
To sum up, that Jesus Christ really is the Wisdom of God being mentioned in the Book of Proverbs, let us look at the verses a second time.
( Proverbs 8:22-30) �The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him��
I have highlighted in red words and phrases that speak of the time element proving that the Wisdom, that is the Son, pre-existed before He was born of Mary in the form of a man. There is no other Wisdom of God being mentioned in the Bible, other than the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ; the Lord of Glory, the wisdom that God used in the creation of everything that exists.
( Colossians 2:2-3) �That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.�
All treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Christ. The Apostle Paul has known this so he wrote �
( Colossians 1:15-17) �Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.�
How can something that does not exist be made an instrument in the creation of everything that exists? That is impossible!
( John 1:1-3) �In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.�
The Son was there in the Creation of everything! Without Him was not anything made that was made!
WHILE Jesus is often called the Son of God in the Bible, nobody in the first century ever thought of him as being God the Son. Even the demons, who �believe there is one God,� knew from their experience in the spirit realm that Jesus was not God. So, correctly, they addressed Jesus as the separate �Son of God.� ( James 2:19; Matthew 8:29)
we are not saved by faith as its only a human respond, we need something more than a human respond that is why Paul clarify his writting in Eph 2 he says "for by grace ye are saved" we can only be saved by faith in Jesus Christ not faith alone,the grace is in Jesus.
This is a great problem in Christianity in the world today. Salvation is now based on a human response to God, where you come up to the altar or pray a prayer??? CAN MAN truly save himself?? This is truly the question of the hour and yet the answer is pathetically obvious.
Can a grain of sand on the bottom of the ocean floor possibly save itself?? For clearly he can not. And as human beings we have been made out of the dust of the earth and our condition is no different.
The problem is the pride of man�s heart.. all my human kind myself included there is something within us that WANTS TO DO SOMETHING TO SAVE OURSELVES!!! It is the pride of mans heart that somehow your salvation centers around yourself.
But you have a great chance of defying gravity and jumping to the moon than saving yourself. For even if I could jump 6 inches higher than any human being I would still be 100000000 miles (I don't know exactly but a likely only .00000001% of the way to the moon.) No matter how spiritual someone is.. NO MAN CAN SAVE HIMSELF AND NO MAN HAS ANY HOPE OUTSIDE OF THE MERCY OF GOD!!
As human beings we don't understand the DESPERATE CONDITION WE ARE IN and how desperately we NEED the MERCY OF THE FATHER.. mercy is undeserved we have no right or no hope of being saved yet it is the good pleasure of the FATHER that LONGS TO WORK IN US TO SAVE US!!
HE is the alpha and OMEGA.. he will FINISH the work He began in you.. and TRULY ONLY HE CAN FINISH IT.. if you think that He started it and now you have to finish it.. I would be very scared because it is a great deception to THINK THAT YOU ARE AS BIG AS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND THAT YOU CAN FINISH IT.. truly this is no different than what Adam thought in the garden I will be as GOD!!
YOU CANT BE AS GOD, there is nothing great that happens in the life of human being (PRIMARILY SALVATION) unless IT IS SOVERIGNLY DONE BY THE ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE!! For what is man compared to the Creator?? Truly a grain of sand at the bottom of the endless ocean and UNLESS THE FATHER IS WORKING IN YOU.. truly you have no hope!!
I said all this to come back to James 2. Our greatest problem with understanding scripture is that WE DON'T UNDERSTAND the English language of which the bible was written in. A very wise man of God realized that he didn't need to go study Hebrew or greek but really need to learn English. Many misquote and misinterpret the bible simply because we don't understand the old English prose that the bible was written in.
James 2 is a primary example.
This verse in KJV/interlinear is saying that Abraham our father was justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar.
Let me ask you a question whose �works� where these?? Abrahams? Gods?
To understand what James is saying we need to go back and read the account of Abraham in Genesis to understand the context of what He is saying because I can make up my own interpretation of this passage which many do but unless I allow the Spirit to give me the understanding I am just making things up. The greatest bible dictionary is scripture, scripture interprets scripture though there are some good commentaries out there you don't need to rely on what could be the wisdom of man to understand the bible. When the Holy Spirit inspired the BIBLE there was no need for commentary IT WAS DESIGNED TO INTERPRET ITSELF!!
So lets allow the Spirit to interpret what James is saying here. Going back to Genesis who is ISAAC?? Abrahams son. Now was ISAAC born because of Abrahams work or abilities?? Here is the VERY KEY TO INTERPRETTING THIS SCRIPTURE.. ISAAC was not born because of ABRAHAMS works because Abraham tried to have a son on his own works and produced Ishmael!!
God is very clear ANYTHING that WE PRODUCE BY OUR OWN WORKS is of the FLESH and must BE CAST OUT OF THE HOUSE.. even as God told Abraham to cast out the bondwoman (hagar) and her son. For nothing done of the flesh or nothing done ALONE By our own works is ever acceptable in the sight of GOD!!
You see GOD is not after our goods works� because WE DON'T HAVE ANY.. there is no human being who has GOOD WORKS.. that is why God is waiting for us to stop trying to do our own good works and waiting for us TO GIVE UP TOTALLY AND COMPLETELY that HE WOULD BEGIN TO WORK IN US!!
Abraham is the father of faith because this is the great journey that he is taking each of us on. Finally once Abraham totally and completely SURRENDERED God could begin to work.
Isaac is the child of promise and IS THE VERY WORK Of GOD that God worked in Abraham.
Once Abraham had totally and completely surrendered God began to work IN HIM.. faith spoke and called Abraham out of THE TEMPERAL PHYSICAL REALM on a journey to a city with foundations whose maker and builder is GOD ( Heb 11). Like Abraham God is longing to take every one of his children on a great journey to HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM (to his city).
So faith spoke and Abraham started walking. Then he came to Egypt and got in his own works again stumbled and fell and lied about his wife being his sister. Did God leave him there in his own pitiful works. NO GRACE INTERVENED!!
Instead of plaguing the one who lied (Abraham) God plagues Pharoah and his house with great plagues because of Sarah Abrhams wife ( Gen 12.17). IS THIS NOT GRACE!! Undeserved favor why would God plague the one Pharoah it was really Abrahams fault for lying..
God was not ignoring Abrahams lying but as any Father looks after his children, he knew Abraham would fall and now like a loving father GRACE STEPS IN and PICKS up little Abraham who got in his own works again.
The process repeats over and over again until God finally brings Abraham to the place of fullness of trust. It was a painful journey of Gods works combined with Abrahams works (stumbling and falling). Finally after Abraham kept falling in his own works and GRACE (God�s works) kept picking HIM up finally GODS WORKS BEGAN TO PREVAIL over Abrahams works.
This is the great journey the Father is longing to take every one of his children on. He is not after your good works, YOU DON'T HAVE ANY. He IS AFTER YOUR HEART!! HE is after you TO ACTAULLY BELIEVE HIM and come to the place of fullness of trust where you OFFER WHAT HE HAS DONE IN YOU back up to HIM on the altar of God. To come to the place of fullness of TRUST WHERE YOU ACTAULLY OFFER YOUR ENTIRE LIFE BACK TO GOD ON THE ALTAR!!
For Abraham offering up Isaac was offering up his Name and HIS LIFE for all eternity. It is as if Abraham was saying �I am offering my eternal future, my name (which Isaac would carry on) and everything else, offering up Isaac truly would be offering up HIS ETERNAL FUTURE.
Imagine God had been working for over 40 years to bring this child forth and NOW GOD IS ASKING ABRAHAHM TO GIVE HIM UP!! It would take a complete TRUST IN the FATHER TO DO THIS�
Yet Abraham the very next morning woke up EARLY and took the great three day journey saying I and the LAD will go up yonder and WORSHIP and RETURN.. he had such a FULLNESS OF TRUST and even inside into the heart of the FATHER that HE KNEW that they would return�
This is a fullness of TRUST that ONLY the FATHER could work into a human being therefore as JAMES is saying it is very clear.
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Faith without the WORKS of GOD working in you and bringing you to a place of FULLNESS OF TRUST IS LIFELESS and VAIN and of no purpose what so ever. For your FAITH is DEAD without the WORKS OF FATHER working in you.
As seen so clearly in the life of Abraham which James makes reference too that even Abraham had faith but kept stumbling in his own works and HIS FAITH would have been completely dead and of no purpose unless GRACE would have picked HIM UP and the FATHERS works were prevailing and cleaning up every spiritual mess Abraham got himself in.
For the Father knows we will mistakes and He knows HOW FRAIL WE ARE and that we are mere children in his sight. The problem is many of us try to pretend we are something we are not. Jesus said unless you be as a child you cant enter the kingdom yet we try to be some type of super spiritual adults but there is no such thing as an adult in the kingdom of God only children!! And unless you be a child you cannot enter. The Father knows how frail you are, and knows you will fall that IS WHY HE WANTS TO WORK the works of GOD IN YOU.. for this is the only way you will come to completion in Christ.
That is why Jesus came He said I have come to work the works of God. For man cannot do these works only God can. O vain man do you not know that faith without works is dead? That only the Father can do these works and UNLESS HE DOES your FAITH IS IN VAIN..
Only God could bring Abraham to the fullness of trust. Faith spoke and Abraham began the great journey but unless God had been working in Him along the way His Faith would have been in vain. He would not even have made it past Egypt. Pharoah would have taken Sarah as his wife and the whole journey and plan would have come to an end before it even began!!!
Truly without Gods works IS a DEAD END ROAD, unless God is working Abrahams faith, my faith and your faith is in VAIN and totally purposeless!!
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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
When was Abraham justified? By his own works in having Ishmael, far be it from that. No Abraham was justified when HE CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS and surrendered to the Father and allowed GOD to work IN HIM and bring forth LIFE INSIDE OF HIM�
For in this hour the Father is longing and looking for FAITHFUL ONES He can work in and even grow up his very own LIFE IN!! Isaac is only a type and shadow of the CHRIST LIFE that God is longing to put in FAITHFUL ones who have ceased from their own works and totally surrendered to the FATHER and will allow THE CHRIST LIFE TO FULLY COME to MATURITY in them.
GOD IS DOING IT ALL but he is not doing it without you!! HE is working in you both to will and to do his good pleasure all HE IS LOOKING FOR IS A WILLING and CONTRITE HEART!! He knows how frail man is, for heaven is His Throne and the earth his footstool yet there is ONE I WILL looketh upon saith the Lord, Him who is of a broken heart and contrite spirit.
He is not interested in how spiritual you are, or how much you understand for surely all that is only getting in the way of KNOWING HIM.
For I have called you even with an eternal calling and predestined you to be here even before the foundation of the world.. yet only as you become a child can you understand the great things of my kingdom.. therefore continue getting younger and younger more childlike every day.. for it is not your intellect or understanding that ONLY HINDER and what you have learned.. NOW IHAVE TO DESTROY all the SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING you acquired.. for it is of no help and actually has been keeping you out of my kingdom..
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
ONLY BY the works of GOD can FAITH BE MADE PERFECT.. only by the Father working in Him did Abraham reach the place off offering HIS NAME and eternal hope back to the Father.
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
What is a friend? Deutoronomy has a very deep thought a friend is as ones own soul! When Abraham offered up Isaac he was saying to the Lord.. I don't want to be like me anymore, I WANT TO BE LIKE YOU!! And in this giving back to God all that God had done in HIM no longer wanting to be like himself anymore but I want to be like YOU FATHER.
In this Abraham became a friend of God�. AFTER WALKING with the Lord and ceasing from his own works but ALLOWING the WORKS of God to PREVAIL IN HIS LIFE truly this He offered up himself back to God and became a Friend of God.
For this is the great journey of every believer. That one may actually become a friend of God. This is the high calling in Christ Jesus that every believer has been called to.
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what [is] the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
That you may actually know Him. For this is eternal life to know the ONE TRUE GOD and Savior Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to all the Saints