James 2: Claiming Salvation without works

[JLB]

You want to purify yourself. go to the cross..

To purify ourselves we obey.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit… 1 Peter 1:22

This is how we become born again, by obeying the Gospel which is to confess Jesus as Lord.


After we are saved, we confess our sins to be forgiven and cleansed.


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


Whether we obey His Gospel, His Commandments or His teaching, obeying Jesus Christ as our Lord is what we are called to do.


And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:9

Eternal salvation is for those who obey Him.


This is what it means to be led by the Spirit.

Those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14



JLB

 

[mailmandan]

To purify ourselves we obey.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit… 1 Peter 1:22

What do we obey in order to be purified? The gospel by choosing to believe the gospel. (Romans 1:16; 10:16) Hearts are purified by faith. (Acts 15:9)

This is how we become born again, by obeying the Gospel which is to confess Jesus as Lord.

Obeying the gospel is choosing to believe the gospel. (Romans 10:16) Confessing Jesus as Lord is a confirmation we believe from the heart that God has raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:8-10)

After we are saved, we confess our sins to be forgiven and cleansed.

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

Notice that - "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9) is in contrast to - If we say that we have no sin, (present tense) we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us (1 John 1:8) and - If we say that we have not sinned, (past tense) we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:10)

You seem to misunderstand verse 9 to mean that we "must confess each and every sin that we commit as we commit them" (keep a specific inventory of every sin) as an "additional requirement" to "remain cleansed" and "if we forget a sin, we are toast!" Who could actually write an exhaustive list of every sin they have ever committed or ever will commit? Sin is not only missing the mark by what we do but also what we fail to do. (James 4:17)

Believers "confess" (Greek - homologeó) speak the same/acknowledge/agree with God's perspective about their sins and have a settled recognition and ongoing acknowledgment that one is a sinner in need of cleansing and forgiveness in contrast with saying that we have no sin or that we have not sinned. (1 John 1:8-10)

Whether we obey His Gospel, His Commandments or His teaching, obeying Jesus Christ as our Lord is what we are called to do.

So, which act of obedience saves? Obeying the gospel by choosing to believe the gospel? Obeying His commandments? Obeying Jesus as Lord? Do you claim to be obedient 100% of the time? Sinless, without fault or defect, 24/7?

And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:9

Eternal salvation is for those who obey Him.

In regard to Hebrews 5:9, who obeys Him? The saved or the lost? Only believers have obeyed Him by choosing to believe the gospel (Romans 1:16) in order to become saved, and only believers obey Him after they have been saved through faith by practicing righteousness and not sin. (1 John 3:9,10) In either sense, only believers obey Him.

Unbelievers have not obeyed Him by refusing to believe the gospel (Romans 10:16; 2 Corinthians 4:3,4) and without faith it's impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6), so unbelievers do not obey Him no matter how much "so called" obedience that they attempt to conjure up from an unregenerate heart in a vain effort to receive salvation based on works. So, in either sense, unbelievers do not obey Him.

This is what it means to be led by the Spirit.

Those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14

Descriptive of believers. Romans 8:8 - So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

 

[Hopeful 2]

not work of the law or the law itself!

Correct.
Circumcision, dietary rules, tithing, sabbath keeping, feast keeping, etc., will profit no man.

but James 2:21
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Yes, but not by the works of the Law of Moses.

James 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
1 Jn 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Our deeds 'declare' our Leader.

 

[JLB]

What do we obey in order to be purified? The gospel by choosing to believe the gospel. (Romans 1:16; 10:16) Hearts are purified by faith. (Acts 15:9)

We obey the Gospel; the truth.

This is how we are born again.

Repent is the command of the Gospel.

Confessing Jesus as Lord is how we repent thus obeying the Gospel.

 

[mailmandan]

We obey the Gospel; the truth.

This is how we are born again.

Repent is the command of the Gospel.

Confessing Jesus as Lord is how we repent thus obeying the Gospel.

Repenting is a change of mind and the new direction of that change of mind is believing the gospel/placing our faith in JesusChrist for rsalvation. Two sides to the same coin. (Acts 11:17,18; 15:7-9; 20:21)

Confessing Jesus as Lord is how we express and confirm our faith after we repent (change our mind). Obeying the gospel is complete the moment that we believe the gospel and are saved. (Romans 1:16; 10:16)

 

[JLB]

Repenting is a change of mind and the new direction of that change of mind is believing the gospel/placing our faith in JesusChrist for rsalvation. Two sides to the same coin. (Acts 11:17,18; 15:7-9; 20:21)

Confessing Jesus as Lord is how we express and confirm our faith after we repent (change our mind). Obeying the gospel is complete the moment that we believe the gospel and are saved. (Romans 1:16; 10:16)

Repent as it relates to salvation means to turn to God
(in submission to Him as Lord.)

If we are called to turn to God, then by default we are called to turn away from Satan as our lord; our master, the one we obey.

The way we obey this command to repent is to confess Jesus as Lord.

This is what Jesus commissioned Paul to do as an apostle.

• in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God

I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:17-20

 

[mailmandan]

Repent as it relates to salvation means to turn to God
(in submission to Him as Lord.)

If we are called to turn to God, then by default we are called to turn away from Satan as our lord; our master, the one we obey.

The way we obey this command to repent is to confess Jesus as Lord.

This is what Jesus commissioned Paul to do as an apostle.

• in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God

I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:17-20

I already covered this in post #423 from the link below:

Post in thread 'Inherint contradictions teaching Faith Alone'

Mar 30, 2025

Repent means turn to God in submission to Him as Lord, which plainly means turning away from Satan as our Lord.

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:19-20

We must not confuse the fruit of repentance (bear fruits worthy of repentance/do works befitting repentance) with the essence of repentance. (change of mind)...

• mailmandan

 

[JLB]

I already covered this in post #423 from the link below:

I’m covering it here because Jesus defines what it means.


Repent as it relates to salvation means to turn to God
(in submission to Him as Lord.)

If we are called to turn to God, then by default we are called to turn away from Satan as our lord; our master, the one we obey.

The way we obey this command to repent is to confess Jesus as Lord.

This is what Jesus commissioned Paul to do as an apostle.

• in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God

I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:17-20

 

[mailmandan]

I’m covering it here because Jesus defines what it means.


Repent as it relates to salvation means to turn to God
(in submission to Him as Lord.)

If we are called to turn to God, then by default we are called to turn away from Satan as our lord; our master, the one we obey.

The way we obey this command to repent is to confess Jesus as Lord.

This is what Jesus commissioned Paul to do as an apostle.

• in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God

I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’
“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:17-20

See post #419 from the link below:

Post in thread 'Inherint contradictions teaching Faith Alone'

Mar 30, 2025

For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10:10

• with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

What is in the heart is expressed through the mouth.

Confessing Jesus as Lord is how we obey the Gospel command repent.

When we repent unto salvation (Acts 3:19; 11:17,18) we change our mind towards God and place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation. (Acts 20:21) Two sides to the same coin.

We turn to Jesus as our Lord when in the past Satan was our lord.

Those...

• mailmandan

 

[JLB]

I already covered this in post #423 from the link below:

Post in thread 'Inherint contradictions teaching Faith Alone'

Mar 30, 2025

Repent means turn to God in submission to Him as Lord, which plainly means turning away from Satan as our Lord.

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:19-20

We must not confuse the fruit of repentance (bear fruits worthy of repentance/do works befitting repentance) with the essence of repentance. (change of mind)...

• mailmandan

Confessing Jesus is Lord is how we repent are are saved.


The Bible is the best interpreter.


Post in thread 'Defining and Understanding Biblical Words and Terms'
https://christianforums.net/threads...g-biblical-words-and-terms.81363/post-1543899

 

[mailmandan]

Confessing Jesus is Lord is how we repent are are saved.


The Bible is the best interpreter.


Post in thread 'Defining and Understanding Biblical Words and Terms'
https://christianforums.net/threads...g-biblical-words-and-terms.81363/post-1543899

Bad semantics. Changing our mind and choosing to believe the gospel/place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is how we repent and are saved. (Acts 3:19; 11:17,18; 20:21) Confession is a confirmation of faith (Romans 10:8; 1 Corinthians 12:3) and not a work for salvation.

 

[mailmandan]

Believe - Trust, commit; submit to obey

Believing is faith and obedience which follows is works. Also, obedience which follows obtaining salvation through believing the gospel/placing faith in Jesus Christ is the fruit of salvation but not the root of it.

 

[JLB]

Bad semantics. Changing our mind and choosing to believe the gospel/place our faith in Jesus Christ for salvation is how we repent and are saved. (Acts 3:19; 11:17,18; 20:21) Confession is a confirmation of faith (Romans 10:8; 1 Corinthians 12:3) and not a work for salvation.

Sorry bro, but I believe what scripture says about the word repent and the way Paul understood what Jesus was saying.

Repent means turn to God.

That’s how one kingdom overthrew another kingdom in that day.

Bend the knee to the superior king and confess him as your king; ruler, lord, master. The one whom you will submit to and obey.

Repenting by confessing Jesus as LORD is how we are transferred out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God; into the kingdom of His dear Son.

 

[donadams]

To purify ourselves we obey.

Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit… 1 Peter 1:22

This is how we become born again, by obeying the Gospel which is to confess Jesus as Lord.


After we are saved, we confess our sins to be forgiven and cleansed.


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


Whether we obey His Gospel, His Commandments or His teaching, obeying Jesus Christ as our Lord is what we are called to do.


And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5:9

Eternal salvation is for those who obey Him.


This is what it means to be led by the Spirit.

Those who are led by the Spirit are sons of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14



JLB

not saved in this life

only a new creation in Christ by the grace of baptism, then we persevere abiding in Christ bearing fruit Jn 15:5 and must endure to the end to be saved mk 13:14 matt 24;13

born again is baptismal reference Jn 3:5 mk 16:16

perseverance:

If we died when we were justified we would have eternal salvation and security, but we must live many years so we must be the christian fauthful, and abide in Christ & bearing fruit. Jn 15:1-5 and endure to the end. mk 13:13 matt 24:13

1 John 2:25
And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.
(future) rom 13:11

It is the sin of presumption to say I have guaranteed perseverance or eternal security before I have endured to the end of my life.
(called to be faithful)

It is also presumption to say we cannot fall from grace. acts 1:18

gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (sin)

grave sin kills grace and separates us from God. gal 5:1, gal 5:4, gal 5:16-21

the blood of jesus gives life of grace, giving our action merit, & value before God. Jn 1:16-17, Jn 10:10, Jn 15:5, eph 2:1, eph 2:5

Jn 15:5 apart from Christ: "nothing"
Phil 4:13 with Christ: "all things"

 

[JLB]

Believing is faith

Nope.

Believe is a verb.

Faith is a noun.

Faith is something we receive from God.

Believe is the action we take so that the substance of the thing we are hoping for, becomes the reality we obtain.

 

[donadams]

What does this have to do with anything? Please define what you mean by "justified." That is central to everything.

please explain

awareness is knowledge, does being aware of God mean we have eternal life?

John 17:3
And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Matthew 19:16
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Keep the commandments.

Matthew 25:46
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

Mark 10:30
But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

Matthew 16:25
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

John 4:36
And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

John 6:54
Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Romans 5:21
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.


gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. (sin)

grave sin kills grace and separates us from God. gal 5:1, gal 5:4, gal 5:16-21

the blood of jesus gives life of grace, giving our action merit, & value before God. Jn 1:16-17, Jn 10:10, Jn 15:5, eph 2:1, eph 2:5

Jn 15:5 apart from Christ: "nothing"
Phil 4:13 with Christ: "all things"

 

[donadams]

Sorry bro, but I believe what scripture says about the word repent and the way Paul understood what Jesus was saying.

Repent means turn to God.

That’s how one kingdom overthrew another kingdom in that day.

Bend the knee to the superior king and confess him as your king; ruler, lord, master. The one whom you will submit to and obey.

Repenting by confessing Jesus as LORD is how we are transferred out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God; into the kingdom of His dear Son.

Scripture opposes the doctrine of “Faith alone”!

Mk 16:16 faith & baptism
Jn 3:5 water & the spirit
Jn 15:4 abide in Christ
acts 2:38-39 repentance & baptism
acts 8:36-38 faith & baptism
acts 22:16 name of the Lord & baptism
rom 10:10 faith & confession
1 cor 13:2 faith & charity
1 cor 13:13 faith, hope, & charity
1 cor 16:22 love of Jesus Christ
Rom 8:17 faith and suffering
2 Timothy 2:12
1 thes 1:3 faith, love, patience / 2 thes 1:4 / 1 Tim 6:11 /
Col 1:24 sufferings
Philemon 1:5 love and faith
Phil 1:29 called to suffer not faith alone
Titus 2:2 faith, love, patience
James 2:24 faith & works
Heb 6:12 faith & patience / rev 13:10
Rev 2:19 works, charity, service, faith, patience
Rev 12:17 testimony of Jesus & commandments
Rev 2:19 & rev 13:10 & Rev 14:12 commandments & patience
Three things are eternal! 1 cor 13:13

Faith, Hope, & Charity!

 

[mailmandan]

Sorry bro, but I believe what scripture says about the word repent and the way Paul understood what Jesus was saying.

Repent means turn to God.

That’s how one kingdom overthrew another kingdom in that day.

Bend the knee to the superior king and confess him as your king; ruler, lord, master. The one whom you will submit to and obey.

Repenting by confessing Jesus as LORD is how we are transferred out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God; into the kingdom of His dear Son.

Semantics. Just don't turn submit and obey into salvation by works. Faith in Jesus Christ (Acts 26:18) implied in repentance (Acts 20:21) is how we are.transferred out of the kingdom of Satan into the kingdom of God; into the kingdom of His dear Son. We must not confuse cause and effect.

 

[mailmandan]

Nope.

Believe is a verb.

Faith is a noun.

Faith is something we receive from God.

Believe is the action we take so that the substance of the thing we are hoping for, becomes the reality we obtain.

The Greek words for "pistis" and "pisteuo" are two forms of the same word. "Pistis" is the noun form, "pisteuo" is the verb form. Nothing in the root meaning of either word carries any concept of works. If you believe in/have faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, then you are trusting in Him alone to save you.

*Notice that believe (Acts 16:31) and faith (Ephesians 2:8) have the same end result. Salvation.

Now although this belief results in actions appropriate to the belief (to one degree or the other/all genuine believers are fruitful, yet not all are equally fruitful -- Matthew 13:23) the actions are NOT INHERENT in the belief.

 

[donadams]

The Greek words for "pistis" and "pisteuo" are two forms of the same word. "Pistis" is the noun form, "pisteuo" is the verb form. Nothing in the root meaning of either word carries any concept of works. If you believe in/have faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, then you are trusting in Him alone to save you.

*Notice that believe (Acts 16:31) and faith (Ephesians 2:8) have the same end result. Salvation.

Now although this belief results in actions appropriate to the belief (to one degree or the other/all genuine believers are fruitful, yet not all are equally fruitful -- Matthew 13:23) the actions are NOT INHERENT in the belief.

also must believe all Jesus said mk 16:16
eph is past tense and refers to the redemption accomplished by Christ apart from us
thks