Ferris Bueller
Well-Known Member
James says this:I think the statements you make about BEING SHOWN TO BE RIGHTEOUS are a bit confusing, at least to me.
It's good to be a good witness once we've declared our Christianity,,,
but good works are beneficial to man,
but required by God...not for showing, but because God demands it.
"21Was not our father Abraham justified by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?" James 2:21
Which is a reference to this:
12“Do not lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him,” said the angel, “for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your only son from me.b” Genesis 22:12
He had already been justified by his faith, apart from works, back in Genesis 15:6. But now his actions show that he was righteous before God ("now I know", says God speaking through the angel). James says a man is not only justified by faith apart from works. His works also justify him, but not in the sense of the word 'justified' the way Paul uses it. Paul is talking about being made righteous before God. James is talking about being shown to have that righteousness ("now I know", says the angel).
Does God need to see our righteous behavior so he can know we're really righteous? No, of course not. The account in Genesis 22 is for our benefit, so that we can know that a man who has been justified by faith apart from works will also be justified by what he does. And that no man who is not also justified by what he does will be saved. Not because works are a reward owed to the worker, but because the person made righteous by faith apart from works will have a corresponding life of obedience to declare that he is the righteous person he claims to be. The church needs to know this because so many Christians are convinced their faith does not have to do anything for it be considered saving faith. They are dead wrong. Dead faith can not save. Because dead faith is ultimately NO faith. And it's the responsibility of each of us to work so that we can know we have the faith that saves. The Bible calls that 'making your calling and election sure'.
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