But you muddy the waters by using "works" apart from grace through faith, which is useless works. That's what "not of yourselves" means.
"Not of yourselves" means not of works. Salvation by grace through faith
and works is how you muddy the waters.
Notice that Paul never says we are saved by faith alone, and you can't show me where he does.
Notice that Paul never saved we are saved by faith
and works, and you can't show me where he does. The Bible clearly states in many passages of scripture that we are saved through belief/faith "apart from additions or modifications." (John 1:12; 3:15,16,18,36; 6:40,47; 11:25,26; Acts 10:43; 13:39; 16:31; 26:18; Romans 1:16; 3:22-28; 4:5; 5:1; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8; Philippians 3:9; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:13 etc..).
You don't need to add the word "alone" next to "belief/faith" in each of these passages of scripture above in order to figure out that the words, "belief/faith"
stand alone in connection with receiving eternal life/salvation. Do these many passages of scripture say belief/faith "plus something else?" Plus works? NO. So then it's faith (rightly understood) IN CHRIST ALONE.
James in James 2 does not use “ergon nomou” or "works of the law" He uses “ergois agathois” or "good works". Therefore, Paul’s “works of the law”, or “ergon nomou” and James’ “works” are entirely different types of works. Again, they could never contradict each other because the Scriptures are the inspired word of God. Yet using these terms interchangeably as if they mean the same thing is a constant error found throughout this board.
Paul NEVER said saved by faith AND "ergon nomou" or faith AND "ergois agathois" so your argument falls apart and also because in James 2:15-16, the example of a "work" that James gives is: "If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?" To give a brother or sister these things needed for the body would certainly be a
"good work" yet to neglect such a brother or sister and not give them the things needed for the body is to
break the second great commandment "love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39)
as found written in the law of Moses. (Leviticus 19:18)
In Matthew 22:37-40, we read: Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. Please tell me, which good works could a Christian accomplish which are "completely detached" from these
two great commandments which are found in the law of Moses? (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18).
When it comes to the moral aspect of the law, you cannot dissect good works from the law, so the not saved by "these" works (works of the law) but saved by "those" works (good works) argument is bogus. Paul did not limit works only to specific works of the law. In Titus 3:5 Paul said it was
not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy He saved us.. Also, in 2 Timothy 1:9, Paul said that God saved us and called us with a holy calling,
not according to our works.. So it's works in general.
Faith (not works) is accounted as righteousness/God imputes righteousness apart from works. (Romans 4:5-6) Crystal clear.
Eph. 2:8-9 – we have been saved by grace through faith, not because of “works,” lest anyone boast. This much-quoted verse by Protestants refers to the “works” of the Mosaic law or any works performed in a legalistic sense, where we view God as a debtor to us, and not as our heavenly Father. Paul is teaching us that, with the coming of Christ, we are now saved by grace through faith, not by Mosaic or legal works.
You cannot dissect good works from the moral aspect of the Mosaic law, as I explained above, so again, your argument falls apart. Paul went on to say in verse 10 that we are created in Christ Jesus unto/for good works, we we are saved FOR good works and NOT BY good works.
This is why Paul refers to “works of ourselves” and so we can’t “boast.” Paul says the same thing about “works” Rom. 4:2,4 – if Abraham was justified by “works,” he would have something to “boast” about. Here, the wages are not counted as grace, but debt. “Boasting” does not attribute works to God, but to oneself.
Ephesians 2:8 (AMPC) - For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this
[salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God. Romans 4:2-3 If Abraham was justified (accounted as righteous) by works (any works) he would have something to boast about, but not before God. Abraham
believed God and
it (faith, not works)
was accounted to him for righteousness.
But good works done in faith are necessary for justification (James 2:24, etc.) because we receive rewards by grace, not by legal obligation, and we attribute these works to God, not ourselves.
False. This is just Roman Catholic smoke and mirrors. In James 2:24, James is not using the word "justified" here to mean "accounted as righteous" but is
shown to be righteous. James is discussing the
evidence of faith (
says-claims to have faith but has no works/I will show you my faith by my works - James 2:14-18) and
not the initial act of being accounted as righteous with God (Romans 4:2-3). Works bear out the justification that already came by faith.
In the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, the Greek word for justified "dikaioo" #1344 is:
1. to render righteous or such he ought to be
2.
to show, exhibit, evidence, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3. to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
In Matthew 12:37, we read - "For by your words you will be
justified, and by your words you will be condemned." This is because our words (and our works) reveal the condition of our hearts. Words/works are evidences for, or against a man being in a state of righteousness.
God is said to have been
justified by those who were baptized by John the Baptist (Luke 7:29). This act pronounced or declared God to be righteous. It did not make him righteous. The basis or ground for the pronouncement was the fact that God IS righteous. Notice that the NIV reads,
"acknowledged that God's way was right.." The ESV reads,
"they declared God just.." This is the "sense" in which God was "justified." He was
shown to be righteous.
Matthew 11:19 "The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Behold, a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax-gatherers and sinners!' Yet wisdom is
justified/vindicated/shown to be right by her deeds."
