@Anon,Paul and James are both desciple of Jesus and they were both inspired by the same Holy Spirit,their writting cannot contradict they agree.
i also agree that the devil fails to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Salvation is a gift it cannot be earned. Eph 2:8,9-GRACE is unmerited favour; it is never anything that we deserve. God took the initiative to give us freely what we don�t deserve eternal life in Christ Jesus. GRACE is the hand of God to sinner with the offer of salvation while FAITH is the human respond to that offer prompted by what God has already done for us in Christ. Faith is only the means by which we reach out & grab hold of the promises of a God we can�t see yet we know is there.
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.
James 2:21-24
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And 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.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
it means Abraham�s works by faith were made manifest, that is they gave evidence to his faith/his works proved he was justified(See John 6:28, 29 and notice Jesus use the word work). when we are truely saved and we abide in Jesus Christ we must bear fruits of the spirit and we reveal/demonstrate it by works of righteousness.
What the devil fails to do is confess Jesus Christ as Lord...... That if thou will confess w/ thy mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in thine heart that God has raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved...... Again....good works is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit that dwells w/in us not a requirement for salvation.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED by faith without the deeds of the law.
The most untaught doctrine in the Christian faith today is the doctrine of predestination and election. From the foundations of the earth it was settled..... it was not your intellect, it was not your good looks, it was not your wealth, it was not your works.....for all our works are as filthy rags... it was God and God alone that saved you. That is what grace is.... God's UNMERItED FAVOR.....its not earned.... it is given... to them whom he predestinated to become adopted into fellowsip w/ Christ....
Vs 19-Thou believest there is one God; the devils also believe, and tremble. the Apostole James is telling us believing or faith alone is not the evidence that we are God's children,because the devil also believe but is not God's children. the devil has more believe in God than all of us simply because he was with God in heaven and has been at every holy mountain of God until sin was found in his heart,so what separate the devil from being a child of God is disobedient he does not do what God requires that is doing the works of righteousness and keeping the commandments of God. so the evidence that shows that a christian is truly saved by faith is doing the works of righteousness that is why believing is not enough when we repent we start a new life the world must see the fruits of the spirit being revealed in us as true children of God and we show it by works that we are new creation in Jesus Christ.see James 2:17
You ,whom has posted no name, have done well in your thoughtful, researched, well written comment. God bless.
It was a verbal oasis, in a sea of swirling sands of useless, non-scriptural, pure narcicistic commentaries(?)
C,mon ya'll, read, study, read Mathew Henry and critisize him after you have spent a LIFETIME
instructing EVERY sentence in the Bible!!! Mr Henry was historically recognized as a GENUIOUS in his, by Grace of God, simple straightforward, and true to scripture, teachings for us all. His work has survived for FOUR CENTURIES!!!
Try a little humility and ACCEPTANCE.
I ask this for all of us ,in Jesus name.
Hunh........... I guess Eph 2:8-9 must have been a type O then.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ones works are insufficient: Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:10
As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, no, not one:
Good works are a manifestation of a born again spirit to be sure. But they did not save anyone. That would mean that Christ's death alone on the cross was not sufficient.
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are SUFFICIENT of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;
2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is SUFFICIENT for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
One cannot earn God's favor (Grace) it is freely given. We only need to believe.
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:24
Being JUSTIFIED freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:2
For if Abraham were JUSTIFIED by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being JUSTIFIED by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also JUSTIFIED: and whom he JUSTIFIED, them he also glorified.
1 Corinthians 4:4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby JUSTIFIED: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not JUSTIFIED by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be JUSTIFIED.
Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be JUSTIFIED by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, [is] therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Galatians 3:11
But that no man is JUSTIFIED by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by faith.
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are JUSTIFIED by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, JUSTIFIED in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Titus 3:7
That being JUSTIFIED by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
When verses in scripture seem to contradict each other you must do three things.
1. Find out what the rest of scripture tell us about the subject. *scripture interprets scripture*
2. Know the meaning in the original language as some does not translate well from its original. ( 1 John 3:6 and 3:9 are perfect examples) its says one born again is sinless; we know that not to be true it is impossible. A better translation would be to say; anyone born again will not continue in their sinful life style.)
3. Look at the historical context in which the subject was being written about.
Conclusion: Man has no part in his salvation, it is truly a gift to them that believe.
Ecclesiastes 12:13," Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep hIS commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man." Exodus 16:28 And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS and my laws? Exodus 20:6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. Leviticus 22:31 Therefore shall ye KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, and do them: I [am] the LORD. Leviticus 26:3 If ye walk in my statutes, and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS, and do them; Deuteronomy 5:10 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. also ( 1 Kings 9:6; 2 Kings 17:13; Nehemiah 1:9; Proverbs 3:1; Proverbs 4:4; Proverbs 7:2; John 14:15; John 15:10) Matthew 7:21," Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord,shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Sorry Dave, but you have it wrong...you can't be saved by faith alone. See following Scripture...pretty straight forward.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, 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.
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Ralph you have it all wrong my friend..... for by grace are you saved through faith,not of works, lest any man should boast.
You cannot earn your salvation by keeping the law.....it is your school master to teach you that you are a sinner (Galations) furthermore if you can earn your salvation..... why then did Jesus bother dying; his death would be for naught *nothing* Jesus death on the cross was all sufficient to pay for all sins...... you only need to believe..
Scripture tells us; That if thou confess with thy lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in thine heart that God had raised him from the dead, thou shall *be saved*........... no mentions of works there........... just Faith.......
comment on verse 10 jesus said all commandments are hung on this 2 commandments to love god with all your heart, soul, mind, and strenght, and to love thy neighbor as thy self all other comandments are like a mirror the apostle paul said to show me what kind of person i am without god and jesus. christ died he fulfilled all the law and love fulfills all the law the love of god,neighbor and self amen
We must search the scriptures to learn of all commandments of God that was not nailed to the cross. ( of the father, the son and the holy ghost) so that we may obey them all because if we do not we will be under the law and condemned by it. To be under grace and have the law written in our hearts we must obey it all by repenting and confessing to Jesus when we fall short of keeping the whole law. If we want to save our soul in the end and be saved from sin and the world now; we must keep it all.
i also agree that the devil fails to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Salvation is a gift it cannot be earned.
Eph 2:8,9-GRACE is unmerited favour; it is never anything that we deserve. God took the initiative to give us freely what we don�t deserve eternal life in Christ Jesus. GRACE is the hand of God to sinner with the offer of salvation while FAITH is the human respond to that offer prompted by what God has already done for us in Christ. Faith is only the means by which we reach out & grab hold of the promises of a God we can�t see yet we know is there.
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.
James 2:21-24
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23And 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.
24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
it means Abraham�s works by faith were made manifest, that is they gave evidence to his faith/his works proved he was justified(See John 6:28, 29 and notice Jesus use the word work). when we are truely saved and we abide in Jesus Christ we must bear fruits of the spirit and we reveal/demonstrate it by works of righteousness.
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED by faith without the deeds of the law.
The most untaught doctrine in the Christian faith today is the doctrine of predestination and election. From the foundations of the earth it was settled..... it was not your intellect, it was not your good looks, it was not your wealth, it was not your works.....for all our works are as filthy rags... it was God and God alone that saved you. That is what grace is.... God's UNMERItED FAVOR.....its not earned.... it is given... to them whom he predestinated to become adopted into fellowsip w/ Christ....
It was a verbal oasis, in a sea of swirling sands of useless, non-scriptural, pure narcicistic commentaries(?)
C,mon ya'll, read, study, read Mathew Henry and critisize him after you have spent a LIFETIME
instructing EVERY sentence in the Bible!!! Mr Henry was historically recognized as a GENUIOUS in his, by Grace of God, simple straightforward, and true to scripture, teachings for us all. His work has survived for FOUR CENTURIES!!!
Try a little humility and ACCEPTANCE.
I ask this for all of us ,in Jesus name.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:
9Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ones works are insufficient: Isaiah 64:6
But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as FILTHY RAGS; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:10
As it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, no, not one:
Good works are a manifestation of a born again spirit to be sure. But they did not save anyone. That would mean that Christ's death alone on the cross was not sufficient.
2 Corinthians 3:5
Not that we are SUFFICIENT of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency [is] of God;
2 Corinthians 12:9
And he said unto me, My grace is SUFFICIENT for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
One cannot earn God's favor (Grace) it is freely given. We only need to believe.
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be JUSTIFIED in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:24
Being JUSTIFIED freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Romans 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is JUSTIFIED by faith without the deeds of the law.
Romans 4:2
For if Abraham were JUSTIFIED by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being JUSTIFIED by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:9
Much more then, being now JUSTIFIED by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Romans 8:30
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also JUSTIFIED: and whom he JUSTIFIED, them he also glorified.
1 Corinthians 4:4
For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby JUSTIFIED: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.
1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are JUSTIFIED in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not JUSTIFIED by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be JUSTIFIED.
Galatians 2:17
But if, while we seek to be JUSTIFIED by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, [is] therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.
Galatians 3:11
But that no man is JUSTIFIED by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by faith.
Galatians 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are JUSTIFIED by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, JUSTIFIED in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Titus 3:7
That being JUSTIFIED by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
When verses in scripture seem to contradict each other you must do three things.
1. Find out what the rest of scripture tell us about the subject. *scripture interprets scripture*
2. Know the meaning in the original language as some does not translate well from its original. ( 1 John 3:6 and 3:9 are perfect examples) its says one born again is sinless; we know that not to be true it is impossible. A better translation would be to say; anyone born again will not continue in their sinful life style.)
3. Look at the historical context in which the subject was being written about.
Conclusion: Man has no part in his salvation, it is truly a gift to them that believe.
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, 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.
19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
You cannot earn your salvation by keeping the law.....it is your school master to teach you that you are a sinner (Galations) furthermore if you can earn your salvation..... why then did Jesus bother dying; his death would be for naught *nothing* Jesus death on the cross was all sufficient to pay for all sins...... you only need to believe..
Scripture tells us; That if thou confess with thy lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in thine heart that God had raised him from the dead, thou shall *be saved*........... no mentions of works there........... just Faith.......