You're making the exact mistake I'm trying to point out that the church makes regarding justification.
Paul is talking about receiving God's righteousness. IOW, being MADE righteous. And so Paul is saying that Abraham was MADE righteous by believing the promise, not MADE righteous by what he did. James, on the other hand, is saying Abraham was SHOWN to believe the promise by what he did, not made righteous by what he did.
The important take away being, the true believer is justified by,
both, faith and works.
"As you can see, a man is justified by his deeds and not by faith alone." James 2:24
The church, because they do not understand James' teaching insists James is wrong and that a believer is only justified by faith, alone. And so we have a church full of people that have no works, no change of nature. No works to validate a change of life in a genuine salvation, completely unprepared to meet Christ when he comes back, and a church that tells them they don't need those works to be saved when Jesus comes back.
<<<You're making the exact mistake I'm trying to point out that the church makes regarding justification.>>>
I respect your opinion. However, it does not follow that your opinion is correct. By the way, what church are you referring to?
<<<Paul is talking about receiving God's righteousness.>>>
What do you mean exactly by thay?
<<<And so Paul is saying that Abraham was MADE righteous by believing the promise, not MADE righteous by what he did. James, on the other hand, is saying Abraham was SHOWN to believe the promise by what he did, not made righteous by what he did.>>>
We have already settled this one.
<<<The important take away being, the true believer is justified by,
both, faith and works.>>>
And this is your statement where our issue arises. For I contend that the justification by works and the justification by faith are true, yet in different senses. My argument being that, in the context of salvation, justification is grace. And so it is of faith, that it may be according to grace. For if it were of works, then it is not according to grace.
<<<The church, because they do not understand James' teaching insists James is wrong and that a believer is only justified by faith, alone. And so we have a church full of people that have no works, no change of nature. No works to validate a change of life in a genuine salvation, completely unprepared to meet Christ when he comes back, and a church that tells them they don't need those works to be saved when Jesus comes back.>>>
Which church? Who are “they” who does not understand James’ writing?
As I said I respect your opinion. It is so because you think that you got it and they don’t. But that does not mean you are right and they are wrong.
This is why I stated “Salvation is of God, by God, by grace through faith….”. For so I intend to remind those who read our discussion in this thread of that.
Between faith and works, scriptures speak of faith as being of grace and speak of work as being of wage.
Tong
R4478