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Right, but where is "Sin"? It's "in the flesh"--hence, Galatians 3:3 says those who are trying to be perfected by the Law are trying to be perfected "by the flesh".

"Unrighteousness" suppresses the truth about God (Ro 1:18); "righteousness", therefore, is revealing the truth about God. This makes sense of "faith is counted as righteousness": When we say, "God says I sinned, and God says He forgives me for Christ's sake," these beliefs and confessions count...

I think Justification is the adjudication of the Judge about the person after the Judge has examined the evidence and found righteousness. Our righteousness is our faith that God forgives us (Ro 4:6-8 defines our righteousness as "being forgiven"), so we are pronounced "justified" after the...

I am aware of your view, one shared by Dr. N.T. Wright, but I have to disagree: Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. So that we don't have to guess at the definition of "works of Law" by which comes "the...

I mean, it's reasonable, since Jesus's Name is "YHWH Is Salvation".

In this context, faith in God is "the one who does not work but believes in Him Who justifies the ungodly", and the message believed is that God "forgives" your sins (Ro 4:6-8). If our righteousness (faith is counted as righteousness) is that we are forgiven, then that would qualify as...

Paul separates faith from works of Law, so it's safe to separate the two.

You could argue, "Well, it's not you doing the good deeds, now, it's Christ." That's all fine and well, but Christ isn't going to go to hell if I don't do the good deeds, I will, so it's me doing them, but if I'm saving myself, I'm my own god, and that's idolatry, which will bring me to hell.

Paul compares salvation that faith in Jesus effects to that deliverance the Jews had from Egypt... but, afterward, they displeased God by sinning, so they fell under His wrath, and were rejected and did not inherit the promise (which, today, corresponds to the eternal life which is "in His...

Maybe I "trust", but I overemphasize the wrong verses and/or underemphasize the right ones in my "trust".

1. Work of Law I am trying to figure out: if I'm not saved by works of Law (which includes "love God"--"By the the Law comes the knowledge of sin" and "I would not have known sin lest the Law had said, 'do not covet'" (Ro 3:19,20, 7:7)), then how is it that my salvation seemingly depends on it...

I guess I don't "trust" God enough. But "trust" means "I heard God say something, and I trust that"--and I am trusting all the threats I see Him making in Scripture, so why isn't that "trust"?

With respect to the citation of 1 John, 1 John also defines "perfect love": "but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected." So, yes, if you obey Him, you won't be afraid. That seems to be what this is saying. It's also rational: Adam first feared when he first sinned...

By the way, isn't loving God a work of the Law?

Huzzah.

Also, I think my question is along the lines of "saved by faith or saved by works". I really don't understand that. But I guess your answer would be, "Yes, you are saved by works--the first good work is to love God, then, you will do things for the God you love." It's just insulting to be...

I guess this is a right answer, and I just don't love God enough.

I am motivated by fear of destruction, but I was told, in prayer, not to even be afraid of going to hell, but to serve completely out of love, but I find it difficult to forget I am being threatened, and I am motivated by the threat, so, when I am told, "Just serve completely out of love, not...

Thanks. Not to be offensive, but I am looking for Scriptural answers.

It's a good point, actually. You will undoubtedly hear the retort, "Therefore, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! Romans 8:1!" Unfortunately, virtually no one is serious in their Bible reading. An elementary school student could look at the word "therefore", and...