Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Does James 2:24 Teach Justification Unto Eternal Life by Works for Kingdom Saints?

James and Paul are on the same page, faith obedience has a crown in view.
Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
Jas 1:2  My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4  But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Jas 1:12  Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Thus the salvation of their souls in this context is in regards to a crown of life, not life.
Jas 2:16  And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas 2:21  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
Jas 2:22  Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
Jas 2:23  And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

Abraham was made righteous by faith in Gen.15 not in Gen.22. In Gen.22 Abraham was tried by God and the righteousness Abraham obtained was that of obedient faith, and thus Abraham is featured in Hebs. 11 as an over comer, one who is rewarded by God.
Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb 12:11  Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Without faith as a servant of GOD, it is impossible to please Him. This is not about initial salvation. Paul speaks of it here;
Rom 6:16  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
How can Paul write of service unto righteousness? The righteous walk follows the faith into Christ. If the faith is not then expressed in the service unto righteousness, then no crown.
2Ti 4:6  For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
2Ti 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

James and Paul both speak of walking as believers, going onto perfection, trying of faith, enduring to please God.

Thus our mid-acts brothers are confusing initial salvation and the worthy walk that follows.

The Jews believed, THEN they had to be water baptised, then they kept the LAW. If we follow Peter's words, repent then be baptised in Acts 2, and follow Peter's gospel in Acts 3Act 3:19  Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
we will never be trapped by this mixed arguing mid-acts keep stumbling upon and tripping others. Water baptism is not before Repentance, nor before the pricking in their hearts of the Holy Spirit. The laver in the tabernacle was placed AFTER the altar of sacrifice, being baptised into Moses (1Cor.10) was after the shed blood in Egypt.

James refutes the mid-acts arguments. James is about faith being followed by good works which is exactly what Paul says in Eph.2:8-10.

Stuart Allen's audio series on James A545 onwards on this page is rewarding, http://www.bibleunderstanding.com/allen4.htm

Blessings
Brian