Abraham was justified by faith BEFORE doing any works.Abraham was justified by his faith that was put into action; this is God's grace.
God is particularly clear on this point.
Much love!
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Abraham was justified by faith BEFORE doing any works.Abraham was justified by his faith that was put into action; this is God's grace.
Abraham was justified by faith BEFORE doing any works.
God is particularly clear on this point.
Much love!
I'm not confusing this, if you please!Wrong. You're confusing idle belief with faith. Abraham obeyed God, unlike today's modern christians. Saul was rejected as King of Israel because he would not obey God. No obedience = Rejected by God.
The shed blood of Jesus on the Cross redeemed all mankind, but all mankind will not be saved - the Cross makes it possible for us to saved, but the Cross alone is not what saves us. The Redemption (the Cross) was unconditional and is therefore universal ... however, our salvation is a different matter - it is conditional and it not universal.Tit 2:14, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
He redeems us from all iniquity.
Oh yes that right, you believe.t is conditional and it not universal.
We appropriate the blood of the Cross through faith.The shed blood of Jesus on the Cross redeemed all mankind, but all mankind will not be saved - the Cross makes it possible for us to saved, but the Cross alone is not what saves us. The Redemption (the Cross) was unconditional and is therefore universal ... however, our salvation is a different matter - it is conditional and it not universal.
twice the sons of hell you areAll things are become new in the life of the born again Christian.
Not according to James 2:24-26 ...Oh yes that right, you believe.
God bless
Actually, it's through abiding in Christ, which is faith and works - James 2:24-26, Rev 14:12.We appropriate the blood of the Cross through faith.
Not according to James 2:24-26 ...
- "a man is justified by WORKS and NOT BY FAITH ALONE". In other words, works are necessary for justification - no justification, no salvation.
- "faith without works is DEAD". The doctrine of "faith alone" is a recipe for DEAD FAITH.
Actually, it's through abiding in Christ, which is faith and works - James 2:24-26, Rev 14:12.
o you see how wrong one gets. we are justified ion Christ buy the works He has done. The works we do account for nothing, no man will ever be justified by His works for none will be able to stand before God and boast, as Jesus put itNot according to James 2:24-26 ...
- "a man is justified by WORKS and NOT BY FAITH ALONE". In other words, works are necessary for justification - no justification, no salvation.
- "faith without works is DEAD". The doctrine of "faith alone" is a recipe for DEAD FAITH.
Abraham was justified by faith BEFORE doing any works.
God is particularly clear on this point.
Much love!
This is always overstated. It seeks to place people in the seat of God...to make us gods. God (not us) can see the beginning from the end. So then a misreading of this verse points to US thinking we are justified by our beliefs while not doing anything. However even the angel of the Lord didn't SEE that Abraham feared God before the actual sacrifice event...
"And he said, 'Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me,'" (Gen. 22:12).
People like to put themselves above angels whereas in this life they see better than we do.And in the above verse the angel is speaking for God Himself...meaning God foresaw the sacrifice. People can't assume they can do that. Hence the reason why so many believers will be rejected on that day...saying Lord, Lord.
Equality with God?So arrogance and a lack of fear are truly the present iniquity that modern believers must wrestle with. The demonic lies of equality with God have been swallowed by a large portion of they who claim to be saved by their own self-interested beliefs.
You’ve just flat-out contradicted James 2:24, which clearly says we are justified “NOT by faith alone”. Denying Scripture is a sure-fire recipe for false doctrine and false Christianity.Works justify only in that they show forth that faith is genuine; which alone justifies.
What are you talking about? What does being justified “before man” have to do with anything?Works justify before man, who cannot see what is invisible (faith).
Abiding in Christ means more than simply belief - it requires keeping God’s commandments:Abiding in Christ is through faith alone (drawing up nourishment from the vine); which produces good fruit/works.
What happens if faith doesn't produce good fruit/works? You have dead faith, right? In other words, faith alone is dead faith that doesn't save - so salvation requires faith and works, whichever way you look at it.Abiding in Christ is through faith alone (drawing up nourishment from the vine); which produces good fruit/works.
What works by Christ are do you mean?o you see how wrong one gets. we are justified ion Christ buy the works He has done.
In that case, why does James 2:24-26 say “a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” and “faith without works is dead”?The works we do account for nothing, no man will ever be justified by His works
It is true that no man will ever be justified by WORKS ALONE. That is a different kettle of fish entirely to FAITH AND WORKS, which James 2:24 says are necessary for justification.The works we do account for nothing, no man will ever be justified by His works
Good post, Episkopos. The verse you quoted is interesting and enlightening:
"And he said, 'Do not stretch out your hand against the lad, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me,'" (Gen. 22:12).
After putting Abraham to the test, God says “NOW I KNOW that you fear God” - so only by Abraham ACTIONS could God truly know Abraham’s heart. James 2:22 says Abraham’s “faith was completed by works”.
Here are a couple of NT verses that I think relates to the same thing:
1Thess 2:4 says God “tests our hearts”;
James 1:12 says, ”Blessed be the man who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him”.
So it seems that our actions (“works”) are very important for demonstrating to God what is in our hearts. As Jesus said, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).No one is saved until Christ judges us after we die and then grants us eternal life (Heb 5:9, 9:27-28; 1Peter 1:3-5; 2Tim 2:10-12), so anyone who claims to know they are already saved must have a crystal ball or some God-like powers of ESP!So arrogance and a lack of fear are truly the present iniquity that modern believers must wrestle with. The demonic lies of equality with God have been swallowed by a large portion of they who claim to be saved by their own self-interested beliefs
That’s true - Abraham’ faith was reckoned to him for righteousness, but this doesn’t mean he was justified by FAITH ALONE. James 2:22 says Abraham’s “faith was completed by works”, so Abraham was justified by faith and works, not by faith alone. James 2:24 then says “a man is justified by works and not by faith alone”. Justification is like Araldite (the glue) - without both ingredients, it’s useless.… that Abraham believed God, and that his believing was reckoned for righteousness, and that this was before, and apart from, any works.
You seem to have missed the point of that passage, which is that WORKS (eg, circumcision or the law) WITHOUT FAITH is useless in the eyes of God, but that faith, on the other hand, is worth a great deal in the eyes of God and is counted to the believer as righteousness. But nowhere does that passage say that FAITH ALONE is all that God requires from us.Romans 4
1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
No human being can possibly know in this life that they are eternally saved. Mainly because we are not saved until after we die and are judged by Christ, who then grants us that eternal life. So if you know now that you are already assured of eternal life in Heaven, you must be God (or at least have a crystal ball).Equality with God? So then, in your view, if someone were to believe that God justifies them because of their believing Him, then this means they are holding themselves as equal with God?
Do you know what “works” are? How would you define “good works”?our works
In Gal 5:19-21, Paul warns believers that their sins can result in them not inheriting the kingdom of God. Works alone won’t save anyone, but sin (which is “works” of the wrong kind) can lead to no salvation.We don't have to know in advance that our works will be good, and acceptible to God, so that we will be saved, because it is not our works that save us.
How much faith do you need to be saved? And how do you know you have enough faith to be saved?As if we have that absolute certainty that our works will be acceptible, and because we will have the good works that we will be saved?