Both Apostles Are Right!

[Jethro Bodine]

'Justified' means both, to be declared (made) righteous, and to be shown to be righteous:

1. to show to be just, right, or in accord with reason; vindicate

3. Christian Theol. to free from blame; declare guiltless; absolve

(From http://www.yourdictionary.com/justified)


We are justified (made) righteous by the blood of Christ, not works of the law. This is Paul's argument.

We are justified (shown to be) righteous through works of the law, specifically laws like 'do not murder', 'do not steal', etc. summed up in the law's command to 'love your neighbor as yourself'. This is James' argument.


It's more than easy to see from the context which meaning of 'justify' Paul and James are using. Their teachings are perfectly compatible with each other. We are made righteous by faith in Christ's blood, not works of the law. But we show that we are righteous in Christ when we fulfill our spiritual obligation to 'love your neighbor as yourself'. In fact, a person who doesn't show the righteousness of Christ in what they do may not have the righteousness of Christ at all.

 

[Davies]

We are made righteous by faith in Christ's blood, not works of the law. But we show that we are righteous in Christ when we fulfill our spiritual obligation to 'love your neighbor as yourself'. In fact, a person who doesn't show the righteousness of Christ in what they do may not have the righteousness of Christ at all.

Jethro Bodine,

I thought you made an excellent point here. To show one is justified is different then being justified by the blood of Jesus, and anyone who doesn't do what Jesus commanded shows they don't have saving faith, James' point. I thought Bunyan put it far more clearly then I've heard anyone put it:

"for true justifying faith puts the soul, as sensible of its lost condition by the law, upon flying for refuge unto Christ's righteousness (which righteousness of His is not an act of grace by which He maketh, for justification, thy obedience accepted with God, but His personal obedience to the law, in doing and suffering for us what that required at our hands)"

The verse in James is misleading to several people because they don't reconcile the other verses Paul talks about on the subject. They need to be reconciled, and I think Bacon put it well in my op, so does Bunyan.

When witnessing to people, this particular subject is usually the crux on which a person refuses faith in Jesus or is noticeably affected by the Gospel. Nine times out of ten, a person will say they have to be a good person to go to heaven, meaning they have to do good things in order to merit God's favor not realizing they've already lost the race because of their sinful past. Besides unbelievers, I think this is a real problem inside the church. When you have preachers like Joel Osteen not teaching on sin, righteousness, and judgment, then we undermine the Gospel message leaving people to think more of themselves instead of teaching them to think soberly.

In the excerpt I took from The Pilgrims Progress, I found Ignorance's question to be revealing as well.

"Ignor. What! would you have us trust to what Christ in His own person has done without us?"

Another way to ask this question is, 'Would you have me to believe that Christ's righteousness is sufficient without my own?' The answer to this question is a most thundering YES! We cannot do anything to add to the work of Christ for our justification. Because of our justification, we walk in faith doing good works with the motivation of loving God for what He has done for us, not so that God will continue to love us.

This dead horse, I don't mind beating to death because it is the most loveliest doctrines in all the Bible and speaks from the heart of the Gospel.

The last thing Christian and Hope said to Ignorance was this:

Well, Ignorance, wilt thou yet foolish be,
To slight good counsel, ten times give thee?
An if thou yet refuse it, thou shalt know
Ere long the evil of they doing so.
Remember, man, in time; stoop, do not fear;
Good counsel, taken well, saves; therefore hear.
But if thou yet shalt slight it, thou wilt be
The loser, Ignorance, I'll warrant thee.

- Davies

 

[JMJ]

James is not lying, nor is he ignorant of truth. A man is indeed justified by what he does.

Paul is not lying either. A man is justified by what he believes.


And no, this is not a 'faith + works = salvation' doctrine.

If this is not a faith + works = salvation doctrine, please explain how you think it is different?

Generally speaking, will a person be approved to enter into eternal life after he dies if he has not done good works while he was alive on earth?

 

[JMJ]

Statement of Faith (SoF)

We believe that all humanity is lost and born with a sinful nature, and can only be saved by a personal faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and not by any human merit or performance.

- Davies

I believe that Jesus saved me and justified me when I was born again and that I did nothing to earn this gift of salvation/sanctification/justification nor did I do anything to deserve this gift of salvation/sanctification/justification.

Where we differ is this:

I believe that we are each required to maintain/continue our justification/sanctification until we die if we want to inherit eternal life.

Being born again does not guarantee that the person will be approved to enter into eternal life. It gives him hope that he will enter into eternal life. Hope of eternal life is not a guarantee of eternal life.

Titus 3:7 (NKJV)
7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit's presence within each person's soul at the time of his death is what guarantees his approval to enter into eternal life.

2 Corinthians 5:5 (NKJV)
5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

To whom is the Holy Spirit given?

Acts 5:32 NKJV
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.â€

The Holy Spirit is given only to those persons who obey Him. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within these persons souls when they are born again.

When is the Holy Spirit taken away from the persons who had previously received Him?

He is taken away from them when they defile their temples/souls/hearts with sin.

1 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

Hebrews 10:26-30 (NKJV)
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,†says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.â€

A born again Christian will still reap whatever he sows.

Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

John 5:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

 

[JMJ]

The royal law commands a person to know, love, and serve God above all else and to love one's neighbor as himself. The Ten Commandments are examples of what is embodied in the royal law.

The royal law was in effect before the law of Moses was put into effect. Eve and Adam transgressed the royal law before anyone else and this was when they disobeyed God and ate the forbidden fruit. Cain transgressed the royal law when he murdered his brother Abel.

Paul was speaking of the works of the law of Moses of the Old Covenant which do not justify anyone in the New Covenant for salvation.

There are two parts to salvation. First part: a person has to be born again. Second part: a person has to be approved worthy in order to enter into eternal life.

For the first part; Paul is stating that none of the works of the law of Moses could ever atone for Adam's sin.

For the second part; James is speaking of the good works which are still commanded by the royal law of the New Covenant and which are still necessary to approve a person worthy of eternal life after he has been born again.

Each person must fulfill both of these parts of salvation in order to be granted everlasting life with God.

The Ten commandments were given to the Israelites as examples of the royal law commandments before the commandments contained in ordinances of the law of Moses were given to them. The law of Moses was given to them as punishment for making and worshiping the golden calf.

Jesus abolishes the commandments contained in ordinances/statutes of the law of Moses, but He never abolishes the royal law commandments.

James 2:8-10 (NKJV)
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.

The law of liberty is the New Covenant commandments of the royal law. The law of Moses is the Old Covenant commandments contained in ordinances/statutes.

If a Christian shows partiality to a rich man over a poor man, he is showing partiality and so he has transgressed the royal law. He has not transgressed the law of Moses since it no longer needs to be obeyed, but he has transgressed the royal law which must be obeyed if he wants to inherit eternal life.

Obedience to God's commandments until death is required in order to be approved to enter into eternal life.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If this is not a faith + works = salvation doctrine, please explain how you think it is different?

Pauls teaches us that a man is not justified (MADE righteous) by works of the law.

James' teaches us how a man is justified (SHOWN to be righteous) by works of the law.

To justify means to both, be declared righteous, and be shown to be righteous. I shared the dictionary link to show this.

Generally speaking, will a person be approved to enter into eternal life after he dies if he has not done good works while he was alive on earth?

Only if his lack of good works is because he has rejected God's forgiveness for his sins, just as good works are because a person has accepted God's forgiveness of sins--his good works 'justifying' him, or showing him, as one who has received the forgiveness of God in Christ. He is not made righteous by those goods works. He is shown to be righteous by those good works.

That is how both Paul and James can be correct and it not be a 'faith + works = salvation' doctrine.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

I believe that we are each required to maintain/continue our justification/sanctification until we die if we want to inherit eternal life.

And you do that by continuing to trust in the blood of Christ to cover your sins on the Day of Wrath.

"14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." (Hebrews 3:14 NIV1984)

If you stop trusting in the covering of Christ's blood for the forgiveness of sins you will be condemned guilty on the Day of Judgment.

Being born again does not guarantee that the person will be approved to enter into eternal life. It gives him hope that he will enter into eternal life. Hope of eternal life is not a guarantee of eternal life.

It is a sure hope...as long as we keep believing and trusting in the blood of Christ to the very end. If you stop believing you no longer have the sure hope of the salvation that Christ ensures for those who rely on him.

The Holy Spirit's presence within each person's soul at the time of his death is what guarantees his approval to enter into eternal life.

Yes, it is the seal that God puts on/in those who believe and trust in Christ.

To whom is the Holy Spirit given?

Acts 5:32 NKJV
And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

The Holy Spirit is given only to those persons who obey Him. The Holy Spirit takes up residence within these persons souls when they are born again.

... Their obedience being the evidence of their faith in Christ. Faith is what saves. Works prove, or confirm the presence of saving faith.

When is the Holy Spirit taken away from the persons who had previously received Him?

He is taken away from them when they defile their temples/souls/hearts with sin.

Almost. He is taken away when a person stops believing and trusting in the work of Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Their sin being the evidence of that unbelief. God is the one who knows whose sin is the result of a conscious rejection of the forgiveness of God and not just the struggles of the saint clinging to the hope they have in Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:17 NKJV
If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.

In context this is referring to those who destroy the 'building' of God's people with false doctrines. Instead of building up God's building with correct doctrine that does that.

Hebrews 10:26-30 (NKJV)
26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

A born again Christian will still reap whatever he sows.

Galatians 6:7-8 NKJV
7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

John 5:28-30 (NKJV)
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

The unbelief that proceeds and causes the turning back to evil deeds is what condemns a person. The evil works are the evidence that will be used against him to show that unbelief. Just as the good works of those who persist in their faith and trust in Christ are the evidence of that saving faith.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

If a Christian shows partiality to a rich man over a poor man, he is showing partiality and so he has transgressed the royal law. He has not transgressed the law of Moses since it no longer needs to be obeyed, but he has transgressed the royal law which must be obeyed if he wants to inherit eternal life.

No, that is not true. He has indeed transgressed the law of Moses. The law of Moses that is upheld by faith in Christ, not removed so we don't have to obey it anymore:

15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." (Lev. 19:15 NIV1984)

James was very much referring to the actual law of Moses. The royal law is the law of Moses summarized in "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18). Faith upholds the law of Moses (in the New Way of the Spirit). Not in regard to the literal requirements for sacrifices and Holy Days, but upholds it in regard to the commands that represent ways you are to 'love your neighbor as yourself'.

If you do not keep the law in regard to loving others, you may be showing that you really don't have faith in Christ's blood that saves. That is what James is trying to teach us. A lack of good works (yes, according to the law of Moses) may signify a 'faith' that cannot save a person, like the demons have. Receiving God's forgiveness causes us to care about other people and see that they are treated mercifully, just as we have been. We love because he first loved us...if we really have received God's love in the forgiveness of sins. Your works will show if you have or not.

 

[JMJ]

Pauls teaches us that a man is not justified (MADE righteous) by works of the law.

James' teaches us how a man is justified (SHOWN to be righteous) by works of the law.

To justify means to both, be declared righteous, and be shown to be righteous. I shared the dictionary link to show this.

Thank you for replying.

I do agree that James used Abraham and Rachel as examples from the Old Testament books.

However, Abraham was not under the Old Covenant Law of Moses and neither was Rahab the Gentile. So, IMO, James is not speaking of the works of the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses did not apply to either Abraham or Rachel.

The problem I have with the dictionary link you provided is that James was not able to consult this dictionary when he was writing the Book of James so he was unaware of the restrictions placed on him by this dictionary. :D

Only if his lack of good works is because he has rejected God's forgiveness for his sins, just as good works are because a person has accepted God's forgiveness of sins--his good works 'justifying' him, or showing him, as one who has received the forgiveness of God in Christ. He is not made righteous by those goods works. He is shown to be righteous by those good works.

I would say that a born again man is perfected for entrance into heaven by his good works and so his good works approve him to enter into eternal life.

I would say that a born again man is made unfit for entrance into heaven by his evil works and so his evil works do not approve him to enter into eternal life.

1 Timothy 4:16 NIV
16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

If Timothy does not persevere in both good personal conduct and the doctrine of the faith, he will not be able to save himself nor will he be able to help others to be saved.

1 Timothy 2:15 NIV
But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

Will be saved... IF they continue..... Being approved to enter into eternal life is conditional on whether they continue in faith, love, and holiness until they die.

Revelation 2:10 NIV
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.

Being approved to enter into eternal life after death is conditional upon whether a person continues to be saved until he dies. Ezekiel 33:12-20

Jude 1:20-23 NKJV
20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.

None of us are judged by our faith on Judgment Day. We are all judged according to our works. The sheep did good works with the help of God and so they are approved to enter into eternal life. The goats did not accept the help of God and so they did not do good works and so they are condemned to hell.

John 5:28-29 (NKJV)
28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

Faith + good works is a living faith and so it has the power to save a person until he is approved to enter into eternal life.

Faith without good works is a dead faith and so it has no power to continue to save a person and approve him to enter into eternal life.

 

[JMJ]

And you do that by continuing to trust in the blood of Christ to cover your sins on the Day of Wrath.

"14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." (Hebrews 3:14 NIV1984)

If you stop trusting in the covering of Christ's blood for the forgiveness of sins you will be condemned guilty on the Day of Judgment.

I do trust Jesus to forgive my sins each time I repent of them and confess them.

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Luke 13:3 NKJV
I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.

What does repentance mean to you? To me, it means to have a change of heart, i.e., to strive to not commit this sin again and to do whatever is necessary to prevent me from committing this sin.

It is a sure hope...as long as we keep believing and trusting in the blood of Christ to the very end. If you stop believing you no longer have the sure hope of the salvation that Christ ensures for those who rely on him.

I agree that if a person stops believing before he dies, he will not inherit eternal life. A person who actually walks the walk until he dies shall surely inherit eternal life.

What do you think is meant by believing? Do you think that some people believe they are saved, but they will still not be given admittance into eternal life? I believe that right now there are many professing Christians who are believing in vain that they will inherit eternal life.

... Their obedience being the evidence of their faith in Christ. Faith is what saves. Works prove, or confirm the presence of saving faith.

I believe that good works are evidence of faith in Christ; but, I also believe that good works are necessary in order to be approved to enter into eternal life. Faith without good works is dead faith. Dead faith does not save anyone. This is why James claims:

James 2:21-25 (NKJV)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.†And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

Both faith and works are necessary to justify a man for entrance into eternal life.

I am not talking about our original born again experience. Jesus gave us this justification as His gift to us as stated in Ephesians 2:8. We did not earn it nor did we deserve it. His gift of justification gives us hope of eternal life. But, in order to realize our hope, we must do the good works that our Father in heaven has prepared for us to do as stated in Ephesians 2:10 and we must also refrain from doing the evil works that Satan and our flesh desire us to do.

Almost. He is taken away when a person stops believing and trusting in the work of Christ for the forgiveness of sin. Their sin being the evidence of that unbelief. God is the one who knows whose sin is the result of a conscious rejection of the forgiveness of God and not just the struggles of the saint clinging to the hope they have in Christ.

God is merciful to the person who is striving to please Him.

I agree that their sin is evidence of their unbelief. A person who sins sin leading to death also called mortal sin proves that he does not know God nor does he love Him.

In context this is referring to those who destroy the 'building' of God's people with false doctrines. Instead of building up God's building with correct doctrine that does that.

I have not heard it explained like that before. That is an interesting point of view.

This is my own understanding:

Paul is comparing the growth of each Christian to the building of a house.
The foundation of each person's "spiritual" building is his faith in Christ. The "temple" or the inner sanctum of this building is the person's soul/heart.

1 Peter 2:1-6 ESV
1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.
4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:
“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.â€
Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Romans 12:1-2 ESV
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

2 Timothy 2:15 (ESV)
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

The unbelief that proceeds and causes the turning back to evil deeds is what condemns a person. The evil works are the evidence that will be used against him to show that unbelief. Just as the good works of those who persist in their faith and trust in Christ are the evidence of that saving faith.

I believe that people condemn themselves by their own evil works and that good works are evidence of saving faith.

1 Timothy 5:24-25 ESV
24 The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. 25 So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.

Titus 3:9-11 (ESV)
9 But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

Jesus condemns those who have condemned themselves by their own evil works.

Titus 1:16 NKJV
They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

 

[JMJ]

No, that is not true. He has indeed transgressed the law of Moses. The law of Moses that is upheld by faith in Christ, not removed so we don't have to obey it anymore:

15 “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly." (Lev. 19:15 NIV1984)

James was very much referring to the actual law of Moses. The royal law is the law of Moses summarized in "love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev. 19:18). Faith upholds the law of Moses (in the New Way of the Spirit). Not in regard to the literal requirements for sacrifices and Holy Days, but upholds it in regard to the commands that represent ways you are to 'love your neighbor as yourself'.

If you do not keep the law in regard to loving others, you may be showing that you really don't have faith in Christ's blood that saves. That is what James is trying to teach us. A lack of good works (yes, according to the law of Moses) may signify a 'faith' that cannot save a person, like the demons have. Receiving God's forgiveness causes us to care about other people and see that they are treated mercifully, just as we have been. We love because he first loved us...if we really have received God's love in the forgiveness of sins. Your works will show if you have or not.

I am sorry that I did not do a very good job explaining what I meant so I will attempt to do a better job now:

When I speak of the law of Moses, I am referring to the law of commandments contained in statutes/ordinances, i.e., the dietary, ceremonial, and animal sacrifice laws. I am not referring to the moral conduct laws such as the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments were put in force before the Old Covenant (Moses' law of commandments contained in statutes/ordinances) was ratified and they help to explain the everlasting royal law.

The royal law was mandatory before the law of Moses was put in force. It is and always will be in force. This royal law for mankind has existed since the creation/ensoulment of Adam. The Jews count this 2011/2012 year as year #5772. So, it has been 5772 years since the royal law was put into effect. The Old Covenant has not been in effect that long.

Noah, Abraham, and the other good men and women who lived before the Old Covenant was ratified were judged to be righteous by the royal law.

We who are now under the New Covenant are still judged by this same royal law that Abraham and Noah, etc. were judged by. Neither they nor we were/are bound by the law of Moses.

To recap:

The law of Moses is the law of commandments contained in ordinances/statutes of the Old Covenant and the Old Testament books also include the Ten Commandments and the royal law. Both the Ten Commandments and the royal law preceded the ratification of the Old Covenant law of Moses.

The law of Liberty pertains to the royal law of the New Covenant. The Ten Commandments, still today, do help to explain what is either commanded or prohibited in the royal law of the New Covenant.


I think we both believe that persons can become believers for a while and then fall away from the faith later and thereby be disqualified for eternal life.

 

[Davies]

This morning's Spurgeon meditation was very appropriate for this thread. I highlighted all the quotations which should make a Christian sing. I am complete; I have God's righteousness; I am sinless; I am perfect. Someone might say, if you say you are without sin, then you are a liar. I would say to the person in and of myself, I am a wretched, sinful, foul, vile man who deserves God's judgment because of my transgressions, but because of my faith in Jesus Christ, I am found in Him. Reckon the old man dead! Don't stand on your righteous deeds, because if you do, then when you stand before God, along with your righteous deeds, you will bring with you your unrighteousness too. Don't stand in yourself, stand in Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
New King James Version (NKJV)
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

As Christians we no longer strive to be accepted by God, but we are motivated to live for Him because we love Him. Why do we love Him? We love Him because He paid for all of our sins and rose from the dead for our justification.

There is only One that is good, and that is God!

- Davies

Wednesday, April 04, 2012
This Morning's Meditation
C. H. Spurgeon
________________________________________
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."—2 Corinthians 5:21.
MOURNING Christian! why weepest thou? Art thou mourning over thine own corruptions? Look to thy perfect Lord, and remember, thou art complete in Him; thou art in God's sight as perfect as if thou hadst never sinned; nay, more than that, the Lord our Righteousness hath put a divine garment upon thee, so that thou hast more than the righteousness of man—thou hast the righteousness of God. O Thou who art mourning by reason of inbred sin and depravity, remember, none of thy sins can condemn thee. Thou hast learned to hate sin; but thou hast learned also to know that sin is not thine—it was laid upon Christ's head. Thy standing is not in thyself—it is in Christ; thine acceptance is not in thyself, but in thy Lord; thou art as much accepted of God to-day, with all thy sinfulness, as thou wilt be when thou standest before His throne, free from all corruption. O, I beseech thee, lay hold on this precious thought, perfection in Christ! For thou art "complete in Him." With thy Saviour's garment on, thou art holy as the Holy one. "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Christian, let thy heart rejoice, for thou art "accepted in the beloved"—what hast thou to fear? Let thy face ever wear a smile; live near thy Master; live in the suburbs of the Celestial City; for soon, when thy time has come, thou shalt rise up where thy Jesus sits, and reign at His right hand; and all this because the divine Lord "was made to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

 

[WIP]

Let's try to keep this thread on topic please.

 

[Davies]

I think the apostle John captures the relationship between faith and works.

1 John 4:9-11
New King James Version (NKJV)
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

We must be justified before God, and God sent His Son to provide the means of justification. This is God's great love displayed for the sinful man. Now based on that faith in Jesus, how are we to respond? by loving one another. There are many ways to show love for someone, but it's important that we don't love each other to earn God's love. Faith should always proceed our works, or else, it's nothing but self-righteousness.

Romans 16:25-27
New King James Version (NKJV)
Benediction

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began 26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith— 27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.[a]

- Davies

 

[JMJ]

Jesus Christ freed/liberated us from the bondage of sin which we inherited from Adam. He also liberated all people alive back then and also in the future, both Jew and Gentile, from the law of Moses and its required punishments for disobedience to the law of Moses. For these reasons the New Covenant is sometimes called the law of liberty.

The law of Moses: the law of commandments contained in statutes/ordinances, i.e., the dietary, ceremonial, and animal sacrifice laws.

Galatians 5:1-6 NKJV
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. 2 Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3 And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. 4 You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

The New Covenant law of Liberty does not require justification by the circumcision rite of the Old Covenant law of Moses which justified all males and their female family members through the circumcision rite of the males.

The law of Moses did not free anyone from Adam's sin and that is why Jesus in His parable stated that Lazarus and Abraham were in the Bosom of Abraham instead of in heaven with God after they died. Only Jesus' blood sacrifice could and did liberate them from Adam's sin.

Jesus also paid the blood guilt price required in payment for every person's future sins under His New Covenant. He alone could make peace between God and mankind and this is because only He is both God and Man.

As a result of His sacrifice, He opened the gates of heaven which Adam's sin closed and this re-opening makes access to the tree of eternal life a possibility for all mankind. Abraham and Lazarus are now in heaven, but until the Second Coming manifests, they will not receive their immortal bodies.

The New Covenant law of Liberty frees all males from the formerly required physical circumcision rite. Now, in the New Covenant, Jesus requires baptism for justification. Baptism makes a person born again spiritually and this spiritual rebirth/regeneration makes this person justified before God. Now, he must maintain/continue his justification until he dies if he also wants to be approved to inherit eternal life.

What is required now in the New Covenant for approval to enter into eternal life is the circumcision of the heart.

Romans 2:28-29 (NKJV)
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.

1 Corinthians 7:19 NIV
19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts.

Galatians 5:6 (NKJV)
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

James 2:21-24 (NKJV)
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

What happens to the people who deny their faith in Jesus by their evil works?

Jude 1:4 NKJV
For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

So, now that the New Covenant has liberated all people from the severe punishments required by the law of Moses such as stoning for the sin of adultery, does this mean that adultery is now okay and that if a Christian commits adultery, he will still inherit eternal life?

Galatians 5:13 (NKJV)
13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Peter 2:15-16 (NKJV)
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.


So, unless the foolish, sinful Christian repents of his adultery before he dies, he will not inherit eternal life.

James was teaching the requirements of the law of liberty for justification for eternal life for the Christian which requires both faith and works and not faith alone; and Paul was teaching that adherence to the law of Moses was of no effect in regard to the atonement of Adam's sin and mankind's consequent slavery to sin. And for New Covenant Jew and Gentile believers, no person's personal sins could ever be atoned for by the continual animal sacrifices required by the Old Covenant law of Moses. Jesus' once and for all blood sacrifice atoned for Adam's sin for all time. Jesus' once and for all blood sacrifice also paid the blood guilt price that must be paid for each NC person's personal sins.

Faith plus good works until death makes salvation and approval to enter into eternal life a reality. If a person does not have both faith and good works to recommend him at the time of his death, he has believed/hoped in vain and he will be numbered among the goats on Judgment Day.

 

[WIP]

Faith plus good works until death makes salvation and approval to enter into eternal life a reality. If a person does not have both faith and good works to recommend him at the time of his death, he has believed/hoped in vain and he will be numbered among the goats on Judgment Day.

I wonder.....how many "good works" must one do before he/she no longer "believes/hopes in vain?" When would one finally realize and feel assured they were successful? Prior to arriving at that point, it seems life bears no meaning. Christ did the work for us didn't he? All we need to do is respond to His calling.

 

[Davies]

Psalm 51:14
New King James Version (NKJV)
14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
The God of my salvation,
And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness.

Here is a prayer of David that highlights the appropriate response to God's divine mercy. Notice, David doesn't say he would sing of his own righteousness, but God's righteousness.

"I wonder.....how many "good works" must one do before he/she no longer "believes/hopes in vain?" WIP

One more good work then you think.

I believe Jesus did do the work for us.

Romans 5:19
New King James Version (NKJV)
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

How can we be made righteous by another Man's obedience, when we didn't earn it ourselves, or have reached the end of our life? Because Jesus' righteousness was imputed to our account and our sins imputed to Jesus' account.

What work do we have to do now? How do we respond to His calling?

John 6:28-29
New King James Version (NKJV)
28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

Easier said then done.

- Davies

 

[Jethro Bodine]

"...when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7 NIV)


"...not because of righteous things we had done..."

It doesn't get any clearer than that. I know what JMJ will debate in the passage, so when he/she brings the arguments up we'll examine the passage closer to see how those arguments can not stand.

 

[Davies]

"...when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7 NIV)


"...not because of righteous things we had done..."

Hi Jethro,

That was an excellent example spelling out that we are not justified by works. Since I started this thread, even though I already believed what I originally shared in the beginning, as I read the Scripture, I find the same balance between faith and works everywhere. Here is another example:

1 Corinthians 15:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

This is after Paul has been matured in the faith and gone through many trials. Obviously, Paul was compelled to serve God and do good things, but what does Paul say, "yet not I." Paul was giving credit or the glory to God. The grace of God labored which was with Paul.

It's interesting in v. 9, Paul could not boast about what he did in the past, because anything he did good in the past is tainted with sin.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

He confessed He was not worthy to be called an apostle. I think our attitude as Christians should be the same.

- Davies

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Hi Jethro,

That was an excellent example spelling out that we are not justified by works. Since I started this thread, even though I already believed what I originally shared in the beginning, as I read the Scripture, I find the same balance between faith and works everywhere. Here is another example:

1 Corinthians 15:10
New King James Version (NKJV)
10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

This is after Paul has been matured in the faith and gone through many trials. Obviously, Paul was compelled to serve God and do good things, but what does Paul say, "yet not I." Paul was giving credit or the glory to God. The grace of God labored which was with Paul.

It's interesting in v. 9, Paul could not boast about what he did in the past, because anything he did good in the past is tainted with sin.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

He confessed He was not worthy to be called an apostle. I think our attitude as Christians should be the same.

- Davies

I agree.

The grace I now have to be at peace with God, when I tried so hard to have that before but couldn't, is so evident that I wouldn't dare think that I could somehow take some of the credit for my salvation through the things that I have done. It's impossible for me to even entertain the thought.