Comments May 13, 2009
EXPLICIT BIBLE TRUTH
JESUS
Who is he
What is he
Why is he
Isaiah 28:10 For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: KJV
Be persistent!
Matthew 7:8 For everyone who keeps asking will receive, and the person who keeps searching will find, and the person who keeps knocking will have the door opened. ISV
TODAY’S Comments
âFaith and Worksâ
Many Christians believe that the book of James and the books of the Apostle Paul contradict each other regarding faith and works.
As usual; this is merely a miss-understanding of the text involved!
Please let me summarize and paraphrase!
James, under inspiration, is saying “The outcome of Godly faith is Godly works” or in modern English “where there is smoke there is fire”, James 2:17.
The Apostle Paul, under inspiration, is saying “Faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ leads to Godly works”, Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 7:17-20.
Godly faith and godly works are inseparable.
This does not mean that we live sinless lives but rather God has provided cleansing and restoration for all wayward Christians. We all sin from time to time even though the Scriptures encourage us not to sin, 1John 2:1. While we are in the flesh we struggle with the flesh, 1John 1:8-10, Romans 8:8-10&13.
God searches the heart and the mind. He cannot be fooled and He is never mistaken. Our faith is measured by what we do and not by what we say.
Our faith is measured before men by our Godly works, James 2:18.
All of our un-godly works are Hay, Wood, and Stubble, 1Corinthians 3:12-16, Matthew 7:17-23
Sin can lead to serious consequences including sickness and loss of mortal life only but never loss of spiritual life. Spiritual life is for those born of God and is eternal, 1st Corinthians 5:5, Revelation 2:21-25, 1st Corinthians 11:30
Without Godly faith there is no Godly work and without Godly work there is no Godly faith.
Walking with Jesus Christ, living a moral life and loving our neighbor are very simple and rewarding tasks. Walking with the World is very complicated, painful, and deadly.
1John 5:1 Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born from God, and everyone who loves the parent also loves the child.
1John 5:2 This is how we know that we love God’s children: we love God and keep his commandments.
1John 5:3 For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult,
1John 5:4 because everyone who is born from God has overcome the world. Our faith is the victory that overcomes the world.
1John 5:5 Who overcomes the world? Is it not the person who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
1John 5:18 We know that the person who has been born from God does not go on sinning (continually sin). Rather, the Son of God protects them, and the evil one cannot harm them.
My wife and I recently experienced this on a trip to the Southwest United States. Through trials and tribulation we are home and safe and prospering.
Some Christians break fellowship with God by living as the world lives being immoral. If they continually do this, not repenting they risk discipline that can result in mortal death but their spirit will be saved with loss of rewards in eternity.
1John 3:6 No one who remains (2Peter 2:22) in him goes on sinning (continually sins). The one who goes on sinning hasn’t seen him or known him.
1John 3:7 Little children, don’t let anyone deceive you. The person who practices righteousness is righteous, just as he (Jesus Christ) is righteous.
1John 3:8 The person who practices sin belongs to the evil one, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning. The reason that the Son of God was revealed was to destroy the works of the devil.
Matthew 15:7 Hypocrites (this is addressed to Hypocrites)! Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, saying:
Matthew 15:8 “This people draws near to Me with their mouth, and with their lips honor Me; but their heart holds far off from Me.
Matthew 15:9 But in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.” (Quoted by Jesus from: Isaiah. 29:13)
James 2:17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it does not have any works, is dead.
James 2:18 But someone may say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without any works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
James 2:20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow (this is addressed to foolish people), that faith without works is useless?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
James 2:22 You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.
James 2:24 You see that a man is justified by works (righteous works, James 1:27) and not by faith alone.
Romans 4:1 What, then, are we to say about Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh?
Romans 4:2 For if Abraham was justified by works (100% works of the Ten commandments), he would have had something to boast about-though not before God.
Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God,
Romans 4:21 fully convinced (having grown strong in his faith) that God was able to do what he had promised.
Romans 4:22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.”
Romans 4:23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone,
Romans 4:24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord,
Romans 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Christ Jesus is the only man that 100% obeyed God. Christ Jesus is the sin offering and the pattern for the Spiritual Person being built up in us. Romans 8:29, 1st Corinthians 15:47-49.
Hebrews 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered Isaac. The man who had received the promises was about to offer his unique son,
Hebrews 11:18 about whom it had been said, “It is through Isaac that descendants will be named for you.”
Hebrews 11:19 He was certain that God could raise people from the dead, and figuratively speaking he did get him back in this way
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his (God’s) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Ron
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