Was James confused?

KBCid · Sep 25, 2017

"ByGrace" said:
I being strongly a ' Grace' person...do not usually say that the law has been abolished even though the bible itself DOES say that very thing....
....So we cannot say it is not so. = Ephesians 2:15 " Having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace."

Sorry to butt in on your reply.
I would like to see if you can answer a few questions about the verses you quoted.
1) What exactly are the "commandments contained in ordinances" to you?
2) What law / laws did Christ fulfill?

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
BG
Tomorrow...

KBCid said:
As my post pointed out there is no problem between Paul and James. The problem is the interpretations and you are quite correct it is a more recent doctrine. The problem with the best solution is that people already think they are going to Jesus. People like Jim Jones.

So what's the story Jerry
Why did you start this thread?
You want to eliminate James?
Did Paul hang on that cross?

If someone THINKS they are following Jesus but are not, a la Jim Jones.
Does that disqualify Jesus from being the Main Character of the NT??

Jesus is still the final authority.
Seems you'd rather not address this...

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

KBCid said:
a man? nothing. All we can do is be a road sign and point to scripture

No man can do anything.
Great.
What about Philippines 4:13?
You cannot pick and choose your very favorite verses.
They are ALL for you.

Paul wrote for everyone.
ALL scripture is god breathed...
James wrote for everyone.

Just because You don't accept this, does not make it untrue.

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

bbyrd009 said:
hmm

oh, like if you were to see your kid doing whatever, something altruistic, you could say that he justified himself--well, he did whether you saw it or not lol, never mind that part--you would also feel justified as a parent. That is all justification really is--or enough to hang your hat on anyway cuz ya, there is the philosophical answer too lol

Do you mean the philosophical or the Christian answer?
In Christianity the word justification has a specific meaning.

Stranger · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
What does fulfill mean?

I never think what you might say until you say it.
I don't think you're saying that it's ok to break the law.
But a new Christian might think this.

Being UNDER THE LAW means that we are still in the Old Covenant.
When that was given there was no POWER to keep it.
God told the Israeilites to obey and they said they would.
Of course, it's impossible to keep the Law. We will always sin.
Even though we don't want to..

So what's the difference?
The difference is that in the New Covenant is IS POSSIBLE to keep the law because we work out of Love and not out of Law.
The Law must still be kept, but the method is different.
We want to keep the law because we're a friend of God.
Before we couldn't keep the law because we were a slave of God.

ok

'Fulfill' means that all that the law and Old Testament pointed to, was Jesus Christ. And Jesus Christ when He came fulfilled all that was written of Him.

(Luke 24:27) "And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself."

(Luke 24:44) "And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me."

(John 5:39) "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

The law was always a means to an end. It was not the end itself. The law showed us what we should be but could not be.

Yes, under the New Covenant we have love and the Holy Spirit. But the Spirit is not given for us to 'keep' the law. It is given so that we can walk in the Spirit. In other words, our keeping the law is only accomplished and is a by- product of our walking in the Spirit. It is not accomplished by trying to keep the law by the Spirit. If you try and keep the law as a born-again believer, you will fail. It will find you guilty.

You may say, it is important to try and keep the law. But, the law doesn't recognize trying. You keep it or you don't. You fail in one area, you fail in all.

So, of course I am not saying the believer can break the law and be right with God. But I am saying we are freed from the condemnation of the law when we fail. Because, as I said earlier, the law cannot reach us because we are dead with Christ.

We no more try and please God by keeping the law. We please God by walking in the Spirit. I would go so far as to say this, God is not pleased with us if we are trying to please him by keeping the law. Because in doing this, we, whether we know it or not, are trying to establish our own righteousness. (Philippians 3:9)

Stranger

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

Stranger said:
GodsGrace

This may be overly lengthy so I will probably use more than one post. This is my explanation to you concerning we who are Christians keeping the Law. This is not just from me, but from what I have learned over the years through many others. I located some notes I have during Bible studies I have given. I read through them and still agree with them. So that is what I am giving you here.

I've learned from two mainline churches and have taught in one of them. I also have many of my notes but most times do not need them.
Will probably do one page at a time. We'll see.
I also agree with myself!!

Let's start with (Romans 6:6-8) "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe we shall also live with him. "

The 'old man' here is Adam. It is all that your are in Adam be it good or bad. Your old man, all that your are in Adam, is dead; crucified. You still have your link to the old man in this body of flesh and blood. This body was not born-again, only your spirit was. You will one day have a new body, a glorified body, which is not linked to Adam. But for now, you have a new spirit in an old body.

Agreed. I like to mention our sin nature. I have not read through what you've written, so you might have. I like to say that we still have the sin nature but it is put under submission. The power to do this comes from the Holy Spirit.

What we are as in Adam is not really dead if we still have the flesh you speak of -- but he is dead in a spiritual sense.

I think we agree on this.

All that you are in Adam has been crucified. You are a new creation with the Spirit of Christ in you. This gives you the ability to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, which in turn will subjugate this body of sin, destroying its effects on you. Which means you are no longer a slave to sin.

Perfect.

Do not equate walking in the Spirit with not sinning. You cannot do that now while you have this body of sin draped around you. Wherever your spirit goes this body of sin goes with you. You have been freed from sin, but not freed from this body of sin. But, all the sins this body can produce are in Adam and have been crucified. Thus you are free from sin...past, present, and future.

It's not easy to speak of spiritual matters.
I'm fine with how you explain this although I do like my sin nature explanation. I do believe it works out to be the same idea.
IOW, our body of death is dead because Christ covers for us.
But, really, it is still functioning in the material world.
Without going too crazy about wording, I think we agree.

Remember, you have been freed from sin, not because you no longer sin, but because you are in Christ and Christ died to all sin. Now I also can live with Christ. I can walk in this newness of life that I have. For I have the Spirit of Christ in me. I can walk in the Spirit. I can live unto God as Jesus lives unto God.

Good. Agreed.

(Rom.6:9-10) "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more, death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once; but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God."

Christ died one time and that destroyed all sin for all time. He will never die again. There is no sin that hasn't been covered in His death. Being raised from the dead, Jesus Christ now lives. And He doesn't live with the worry that you or I are going to sin too much that He hasn't covered it, and might have to die again. Jesus focus is now living unto God, not the sin question. It has been dealt with.

(continued)

Srtanger

So far, so good.
I agree.
But I see trouble up ahead...!

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

Stranger said:
GodsGrace

(continued from #306)

Because Christ's focus is no longer on the sin question but on living unto God, then we should also do the same. (Rom.6:11) "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." Know this, whether you reckon it or not, it is so. (Rom. 6:3), "...know ye not...." (Rom.6:9)"...knowing that...." But, in order for you to have the experience of freedom; the confidence of who you are in Christ; you must reckon it so.

While on this earth, Jesus Christ always had the cross in view. It was necessary. It was a weight. Sin must be dealt with. His life was centered on that. But, once that was done, He no longer lives with that weight. And neither should we.

Agree again.
Philippians 4:8
We're not supposed to be thinking about sin all the time.
Jesus came to give us a life more abundant.
John 10:10

Also, 1 John 1 and 2

HIS yoke is easy and HIS burden is light.
Mathew 11:30

(Rom. 6:12-13) "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. "

Your mortal body is a body of sin and will always be a body of sin till it dies. But, sin doesn't have to reign in your body. All that you are in Adam is crucified with Christ and you have new life, thus the ability to walk in that life. The body of sin must be made subject to you and not you to it.

Agreed. This is what I meant about putting the sin nature under subjection. We are no longer slaves to it. We follow God and not the enemy.

The wording of (6:13) is interesting. Paul could have said it in legal or law terms. Such as don't do this, or do that etc. Instead, he says "Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness...but yield yourselves unto God...and your members as instruments of righteousness".

The legal way didn't work - the Mosaic Covenant.
The general works better. But the general way requires LOVE.
By the power of the New Covenant, we now have love available to us.
And this is what makes the New Covenant a better covenant.
This also reminds me of
Romans 12:1

Because you have this body of sin, it's always looking for every opportunity to sin. You as a believer with a spirit alive unto God can yield your members to sin. And yielding causes sin to reign in you body. Or, you can yield yourself to God.

Well, I wouldn't say I'm always looking for ways to sin!
I believe our love for God keeps us from much sin.
It helps us to understand how unpleasant sin is and how happy it makes the enemy. But, yes, we are fragile beings...

Note that Paul didn't say to first yield your members as instruments of righteousness. He said first, yield yourselves unto God. Turn your attention on to Him. Then follows the yielding of your members unto righteousness. (6:13) "As those that are alive from the dead." Remember who you are. That is what God is concerned with. If your attention is on who your are, then the body will be brought under submission. (Gal.5:16) "This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."

Again, you're correct. Again you refer back to the O.C. which was the opposite of the N.C. We cannot keep the Law. We MUST first love God and THEN we could keep the law. As much as possible.

Never try and bring the body into submission by the law. That is pouring gas on the fire. You bring the body of sin into submission by walking in the Spirit. Your attention is not on 'not sinning'. It is on God and walking with Him. The natural result is that the body is made to heel.

(continued)

Stranger

When are we going to disagree?
It seemd to me that you were disagreeing with me?
I could have done this last night..

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

Stranger said:
GodsGrace

(continued from #310)

This doesn't make the body of sin any better. It's still a body of sin. But, it's not allowed to control. Sin is not allowed to reign. But, it is still full of sin.

And, though you may yield your members as instruments of sin, that sin doesn't touch your spirit which has been born again. Note that Paul didn't say you could yield yourself to sin. You could only yield your members to sin. Concerning yourself, you yield to God. Concerning you which have been born again, you cannot sin. (1 John 3:9) Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

So God is making some very stark, and unbelievable to most, distinctions. But He can do that because the Word of God divides between spirit, soul, and body. (Heb. 4:12) "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

(Rom.6:14) "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Sin will not rule over you. Why? Not because you try and keep the law. Not because you don't sin. Because you are under grace. The law can't reach you as you are dead to all that Adam is. And the law has nothing on a dead man. And it is the law which is the strength of sin. (1Cor.15:56) "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." You who are born-again by the Spirit of God, the law cannot reach.

I am aware of (1John 1:8) "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us." And Paul is not saying that we have no sin. But he is getting to the very divisions of body, soul, and spirit, and showing us how it works with God. He locates it in the body. Yes I know I sin. God says that which is born of Him does not sin. (1 John 3:9) "...for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God."

Stranger

Stranger,
I don't see any conflict between what you're saying and what I believe.
What do you think we don't agree about?

It must be works.
Works have gotten a bad rap.
Grace does not exclude works.
Works are a part of grace.
But I'll wait for your reply...

P.S. In fact, your explanation was very well done and complete.
I couldn't really add anything to it.
Except my pink elephant theory.
If you tell someone not to think of sin, what will he think of ???
So I really don't even care to discuss it...

Stranger · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
Stranger,
I don't see any conflict between what you're saying and what I believe.
What do you think we don't agree about?

It must be works.
Works have gotten a bad rap.
Grace does not exclude works.
Works are a part of grace.
But I'll wait for your reply...

P.S. In fact, your explanation was very well done and complete.
I couldn't really add anything to it.
Except my pink elephant theory.
If you tell someone not to think of sin, what will he think of ???
So I really don't even care to discuss it...

I really wasn't trying to say we disagreed. You had asked me in post #264 if I was saying we do not need to follow the Law? And I am saying that, for the reasons I gave.

I have no problem with works as a result of walking in the Spirit. I do have a problem with works as a result of wanting to keep the law. Though the same work may be accomplished, it's affect on us as believers will be different.

Stranger

bbyrd009 · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
In Christianity the word justification has a specific meaning.

yes, well at least a more religious sounding meaning, where justification is made into some ceremony or whatever, but it is still just justification, see, only someone got to you before ol' Webster did, so now "justification" to you surely means "Catholic" justification, which no doubt requires a panel of bishops or whatever. But you still feel justified as a parent when your kid shines or whatever. Or iow your kid justifies himself to you when he does something that you taught them was the right thing to do, regardless of whether everyone else is maybe even yelling at them for it or whatever.

Abraham was justified to God when he offered Isaac, and would have not been justified if he had sacrificed Isaac after a ram was provided.

And we must all justify ourselves to God, as Scripture states, we will all have to give an accounting for our works, so see how if you can make the definition of "justification" into some philosophical yack that no one can grasp, and then if you can get people arguing over that, then by definition they are no longer justifying themselves, see?

So, the definition you know of would be interesting to insert here, this "justification by faith," right? Only you are arguing the difference in belief and faith right now on another thread, right? Which Bible translators are not helping in the least, because there is a difference, but you have to go to the Lex now to even find it.

bbyrd009 · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
Do you mean the philosophical or the Christian answer?
In Christianity the word justification has a specific meaning.

so another way to say that is i agree that we are "justified by faith," but then we have to decide what faith is, is it the same as "belief," or is it like really strong belief, no finger-crossies allowed, or just what exactly.

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

Stranger said:
I really wasn't trying to say we disagreed. You had asked me in post #264 if I was saying we do not need to follow the Law? And I am saying that, for the reasons I gave.

I have no problem with works as a result of walking in the Spirit. I do have a problem with works as a result of wanting to keep the law. Though the same work may be accomplished, it's affect on us as believers will be different.

Stranger

I think what you're saying is that works are a natural outflow from wanting to please God, and, in fact, Jesus did give us different behaviors to imitate and different things to do. Such as the Beatitudes and feeding the poor, etc.

We cannot be SAVED by doing works. THIS is being UNDER THE LAW.
Our works cannot save us.

Only our faith can save us.
Ephesians 2:8
But we are created for good deeds or works.
Ephesians 2:10

There are rules to being in the Kingdom of God that starts right here on earth. Jesus made up the rules. So He ALLOWS us in through His grace through our faith in Him.

But if we want to STAY in the Kingdom, then the rules need to be followed. But we WANT to follow them.

If someone starts to abandon God and act like a person NOT in the Kingdom, then he's in trouble and may not be allowed to stay.

Jesus said we are to CONTINUE to abide in Him.
As long as we abide in Him, we're safe.

I think this covers it.
(I didn't mean that I don't want to discuss this. I meant that I don't like talking about sin - in my last sentence in the other post)

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

bbyrd009 said:
so another way to say that is i agree that we are "justified by faith," but then we have to decide what faith is, is it the same as "belief," or is it like really strong belief, no finger-crossies allowed, or just what exactly.

Correct. We are justified ONLY BY FAITH.
Sanctification. OTOH, takes a cooperative effort between God and man.

Faith is belief. No such thing as "strong belief" needed for salvation.
Jesus said we could have the faith of a mustard seed.

Finger crossing. Does God see crossed fingers?
What any particular person believes is not for us to say. But only for God to know.

WE can only state what salvation is.
Faith in God.
Belief in God.
Same thing.

bbyrd009 · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
Faith in God.
Belief in God.
Same thing.

so you say, yes. Can even be true i guess

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

bbyrd009 said:
yes, well at least a more religious sounding meaning, where justification is made into some ceremony or whatever, but it is still just justification, see, only someone got to you before ol' Webster did, so now "justification" to you surely means "Catholic" justification, which no doubt requires a panel of bishops or whatever. But you still feel justified as a parent when your kid shines or whatever. Or iow your kid justifies himself to you when he does something that you taught them was the right thing to do, regardless of whether everyone else is maybe even yelling at them for it or whatever.

Do you think I'm catholic?
Not that I really care.
I'm protestant in theology.

We DO NOT justify ourselves.
We cannot justify ourselves.
Only God can justify us.
Only HE can make us righteous.
Righteous = right with God.
How could we possibly be right with God when we are filled with sin?
Only God in the person of Jesus can make us right with God.
It is a free gift so that no man may boast.

Mr. Webster has nothing to do with this.
Mr. Webster is not a Chrisitan theologian.
You cannot go by what Mr. Webster thinks it means.

Abraham was justified to God when he offered Isaac, and would have not been justified if he had sacrificed Isaac after a ram was provided.

And we must all justify ourselves to God, as Scripture states, we will all have to give an accounting for our works, so see how if you can make the definition of "justification" into some philosophical yack that no one can grasp, and then if you can get people arguing over that, then by definition they are no longer justifying themselves, see?

Are you scolding me?
What did I do?

The meaning of justification is not a yack, and it's not philosophical, it's THEOLOGICAL. How could no one grasp it? I have Christian books here that explain it.

Why do you think I like to get people arguing?

WE DO NOT JUSTIFY OURSELVES.
Why do you keep saying that.

Justification is salvation. Do you agree with
Ephesians 2:8 or not??

So, the definition you know of would be interesting to insert here, this "justification by faith," right? Only you are arguing the difference in belief and faith right now on another thread, right? Which Bible translators are not helping in the least, because there is a difference, but you have to go to the Lex now to even find it.

I'm arguing the difference between belief and faith in another thread?
How could that be if it means the same thing?

******************************************

Here are some explanations of JUSTIFICATION:

Definition of Justification

Justification means to set something right, or to declare righteous. In the original language, justification was a forensic term meaning "acquit," or the opposite of "condemnation."

In Christianity, Jesus Christ, the sinless, perfect sacrifice, died in our place, taking the punishment we deserve for our sins. In turn, sinners who believe in Christ as their Savior are justified by God the Father

Justifying is the act of a judge. This legal act means Christ's righteousness is imputed, or credited to believers. One way to understand justification is the judicial act of God in which he declares a person to be in right relationship to himself. Sinners enter into a new covenant relationship with God through the forgiveness of sins.

God's plan of salvation includes forgiveness, which means taking a believer's sins away. Justification means adding Christ's perfect righteousness to believers.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary further explains: "In addition to the pardon of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law."

The Apostle Paul states repeatedly that man is not justified by keeping the law (works), but rather by faith in Jesus Christ. His teaching on justification by faith in Christ became the theological basis for the Protestant Reformation led by men like Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, and John Calvin.

Bible Verses About Justification
Acts 13:39
Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses.

(NIV)

Romans 4:23-25
And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God. (NLT)

Romans 5:9
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! (NIV)

Romans 5:18
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. (ESV)

1 Corinthians 6:11
And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (NIV)

Galatians 3:24
So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. (NIV)

Pronunciation: just i fi KAY shun

Example:

I can claim justification with God only through faith in Jesus, not in good works that I do.

PART 1 of 2
***************************************************

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

Part 2 of 2

Question: "What is justification? What does it mean to be justified?"

Answer: Simply put, to justify is to declare righteous, to make one right with God. Justification is God’s declaring those who receive Christ to be righteous, based on Christ’s righteousness being imputed to the accounts of those who receive Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21). Though justification as a principle is found throughout Scripture, the main passage describing justification in relation to believers is Romans 3:21-26: “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

We are justified, declared righteous, at the moment of our salvation. Justification does not make us righteous, but rather pronounces us righteous. Our righteousness comes from placing our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice covers our sin, allowing God to see us as perfect and unblemished. Because as believers we are in Christ, God sees Christ's own righteousness when He looks at us. This meets God's demands for perfection; thus, He declares us righteous—He justifies us.

Romans 5:18-19 sums it up well: “Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.” It is because of justification that the peace of God can rule in our lives. It is because of justification that believers can have assurance of salvation. It is the fact of justification that enables God to begin the process of sanctification—the process by which God makes us in reality what we already are positionally. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Recommended Resource: Making Sense of Salvation by Wayne Grudem

**********************************************

Sorry. I had a problem copying the source.
The second is from GotQuestions.

amadeus · Sep 26, 2017

KBCid said:
a man? nothing. All we can do is be a road sign and point to scripture

Essentially you may be correct, but ultimately who makes us a "road sign" or would people understand it better if we wrote it as "landmark"?

"Thou shalt not remove thy neighbour's landmark, which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy God giveth thee to possess it." Deut 19:14

"Cursed be he that removeth his neighbour's landmark. And all the people shall say, Amen.
Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way. And all the people shall say, Amen." Deut 27:17-18

"Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." Prov 22:28

Who are the "fathers" in that verse and from whom did they get their direction?

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." John 14:26

Every time we lead without being properly led, we are already in trouble.

GodsGrace · Sep 26, 2017

bbyrd009 said:
so you say, yes. Can even be true i guess

If you BELIEVE in something...
You have FAITH in that something.

amadeus · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
So what's the story Jerry
Why did you start this thread?
You want to eliminate James?
Did Paul hang on that cross?

If someone THINKS they are following Jesus but are not, a la Jim Jones.
Does that disqualify Jesus from being the Main Character of the NT??

Jesus is still the final authority.
Seems you'd rather not address this...

Or as the apostle Paul put it:

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ." I Cor 11:1

amadeus · Sep 26, 2017

GodsGrace said:
If you BELIEVE in something...
You have FAITH in that something.

Truly as for instance car owners quite often believe that instigating the ignition will result in the motor starting. They have faith, even if they are not auto mechanics. Is this not how God intends it for you and me and the other fellow?

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed." John 20:29

Was James confused?

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