From: spk@aber.ac.uk (Stephen Peter Kingston)
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.christia
Subject: Re: Heaven,
Date: 29 Sep 92 17:11:19 GMT
Organization: Computer Science Dept., University of Wales at Aberystwyth


 Steve Creps wrote:
> 
>    What about James 2:24 then, which says, "You see that a person is
> pronounced righteous by his works and not on account of faith alone."
>
Well my bible reads:

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

which sounds almost the same, but I would contest that James uses a 
different connotation to the verb "to justify" to Paul. James is not saying 
that man is saved by his works, but that his faith is made perfect through
them.

Look at the whole chapter. In verse 22 James has said that it was through 
works that faith was made * perfect *.  

Remember what James is alluding to - the time when God gave Abraham a 
promise that he would make a nation out of him, and Abraham believed God 
and that was credited to him as righteousness. Paul points out in Romans that 
this was when Abraham was justified (in the Pauline sense) by his faith. Through
faith alone was he saved at this moment.

Now James has quoted this same passage from the life of Abraham, but on the
surface he seems a little confused! James has quoted the incident when he 
offered Isaac on the alter, and then he seems to be saying that Abraham was 
saved by faith and this work.

This is in my opinion a misunderstanding of James' argument. 

James, I think, agrees with Paul that Abraham was saved when he believed 
God's promise. That was all there was to it. Abraham believed God and it 
was credited to him as righteousness. 

But, James tells us, there is more, because Abraham was also called a friend
of God, and that title was given to him through his "work" of offering Isaac.

What does he mean?

Well again, look at verse 22. Faith wrought works, and by works his faith was
perfected.

I say again, I believe that James is talking about what we, with our theological
hats on, call sanctification. James is saying that where there is faith there 
ought to be works too. 

When we are saved, by faith alone, we can no longer fall from our father's 
arms. Our father will never let us go. He will never revoke our sonship.

But what is our response? We could sit back and relax, knowing our future is
secure, but it is my experience that when a true work of God takes place 
within our hearts then we will respond to God out of gratitude. Our works 
are done, knowing that if we do not do them we are still saved, but if we do
do them then it will please our Father. 

If we thus do good works then something within the father's heart must 
skip with delight, and maybe he will call us his friends too.

>    Sounds like you think I'm talking about "works alone." 
No, I am aware of the Catholic position which I believe amounts to a faith 
plus works situation, which is why I contrasted this to "faith alone".

However, I feel that such a view robs us of the joy of working for the Lord,
for if you work merely to maintain your salvation then you live in as much 
fear as a muslim who attempts to achieve his salvation through good works 
(with a sprinkling of grace thrown in).

If you know that your sonship is secure then good works can become a joy, 
and we can know some of that freedom, as well as that peace of God which
Paul talks about.

-- 
Gweleis i rac neb nym gweles pop annwyl. ef diwyl yneges. Gweleis i pasc.
(I saw the one above all men,  he saw me;  he, the beloved of his people,
who fulfills his mission. I saw Easter.) "Yspeil Taliesin" ---Taliesin---
spk@uk.ac.aber --- spk%uk.ac.aber@nsfnet-relay.ac.uk --- Stephen Kingston
Comments: Gated by NETNEWS@AUVM.AMERICAN.EDU