I am sorry, but you can't use Paul to prove James. They write differently and use different metaphors. They look at the Christian faith from a different point of view. They do not contradict. I see your attempt to use Paul's unclear writings to twist the meaning of James very clear writings. Quite frankly, I am at a loss to explain how you come up with James as refering to "physical salvation". James will always be a thorn in the side of Protestant eigesis. Your explanation is not helpful to the context of James. Your misreading of Paul only confuses the issue.
Paul wrote nothing that was unclear about salvation.
If he did, then cite some scriptures that you have a problem understanding.
It can't be Eph.2:8 or Rom.4:3-5 to name just two.
Stop the smoke screen.
What James is referring to in James 2 is the growth of the believer, not his salvation.
You are ignoring the three times he says we are not saved by faith alone. THe word "saved" is pretty clearly pointing to the fact that he is talking about salvation!
Nowhere does James say that saved is referring to eternal salvation.
You are reading into it what you want.
Eternal salvation is not the issue being discussed in James 2, what is is faith being seen and producing fruit.
If a believer does not grow, the Lord removes him from this life (Jn.15:2, 1Jn.5:16 cf Acts 5:5)
Which life is that? The physical? NO! WHO is the way, the truth, and the LIFE? Which "Life" does John refer to? He is invariably speaking of the life in Christ - what we refer to as eternal salvation. Those who do not have Christ abiding in them have no life. No Christ. No salvation. This is not speaking of physical life, but spiritual.
Jn. 15:2 is speaking of taking away the physical life of the believer if he doesn't produce fruit.
If he does produce fruit, he is 'pruned' to produce more.
The life referred to in 1Jn. 5:16 is physical life, just as those who lost their lives in Acts 5 for lying to the Holy Spirit.
One can be saved eternally and still suffer the 'sin unto death'
I told you had a cultic method of interpretation of scripture, which you do. Any cult that wants to 'prove' a heresy, sticks to a few picked scriptures and ignores those that prove him wrong
I disagree with your interpretation of James and Paul. So I am of a cult and I use cultic methods of interpretation? You claim to know Christ when you feel you must stoop to such methods? I can certainly go to Paul to explain the Catholic point of view. However, James very clearly states that your position is wrong. Your inability to defend your position and go to more ambiguous Scriptures is not how one should seek the truth. If your stance falls on such clear Scriptures, why must you go to Paul, whom Peter says can be difficult to understand? Because, through subterfuge, you want to trick people into thinking your sola fide is found in the Bible.
Sola Fide is found in the scripture and is compared by comparing scripture with scripture.
Clinging to a few verses and ignoring clear scriptures that teach otherwise is cultic in its method.
So what part of Paul do you not understand when he says we are saved by grace, through faith not of works?
Paul states very clearly that works have nothing to do with one's salvation and James does not contradict that fact.
If you can learn to read my posts and those of other Catholics on this forum, you might actually find that WE do not teach that works without faith save, either. Without them, however, you have no faith. James clearly tells us that a faith without works is not a saving faith. Paul says the same exact thing in 1 Cor 13:2-3. He says faith to move mountains is worthless without love. These BOTH tell us that faith ALONE does not save. Dead faith, worthless faith, do NOTHING to save us.
And you might learn to read the book of Romans and Galatians and see you can't mix faith and works to get salvation.
Works have nothing to do with salvation.
James is speaking of a 'dead faith' one that is not producing fruit, not one that has anything to do with salvation.
One can have such a dead faith and still be saved as shown in 1Tim.2:11.
You are teaching a false gospel, friend. Without love, you are nothing. The ONLY command Jesus gave us is to love. NOT to have faith without love. TO LOVE OTHERS AS HE HAD LOVED US. Move that over in your mind and consider again your stance. Your stance does not include love. How can you then say you are following Christ when you do not even live up to His ONE command??? Your behavior here merely amplifies how much theology and action go hand in hand.
The greatest love I can show you is to tell you the true Gospel so you will be saved and not spend eternity in hell.
I gave you the facts and did not attack you personally.
First, I am part of a community that is spiritually dead, then I am part of a cult, but you didn't attack me personally? Ten years ago, I would have had some choice words for you, but by the grace of God, I have moved beyond these little games you play.
And none of those things were personal.
If you take them as such that is your problem, not mine.
You have received the truth, but have rejected it.
The Lake of Fire is going to be full of people repeating over and over again, 'faith without works is dead', people who thought they could do something to earn salvation.
You do not know the future, so kindly don't lecture me about it. For all you know, you might be occupying the Lake of Fire...
I know what the scriptures say about who will be in the Lake of Fire, those who reject the free gift of eternal salvation (Jn.3:36) and depend on their own works instead (Rom.9).
You have been warned (Tit.3:10)
Regards
Likewise.
I repeat, Scriptures themselves say that Paul can be difficult to understand. Do you discount what the Bible says? I am not surprised...
Nowhere does James say that saved is referring to eternal salvation. You are reading into it what you want. Eternal salvation is not the issue being discussed in James 2, what is is faith being seen and producing fruit.
Faith without works is dead. That has nothing to do with eternal salvation? Wow... I hadn't realized that the spiritually dead will be going to heaven.
Jn. 15:2 is speaking of taking away the physical life of the believer if he doesn't produce fruit. If he does produce fruit, he is 'pruned' to produce more.
Friend, you are mistaken again. Being cut from the vine does not talk about being killed physically. Those that wither from the vine because they have been cut off die physically? And those who remain on the vine do NOT die physically? You are clearly incorrect. I know many devout Catholics and Protestants who died. Does their physical death mean that they were cut off from Christ? See where your eigesis takes us?
Sola Fide is found in the scripture and is compared by comparing scripture with scripture.
I respectfully disagree with you.
So what part of Paul do you not understand when he says we are saved by grace, through faith not of works?
You are confused on what Paul means when he says "works". Read Romans 4:4 - it tells us what Paul means by "works". He is saying we cannot earn salvation. No "work" can force God to pay us back. Thus, salvation is a gift given. It is not earned. Yet, without love, we are not saved, because we have dead faith. Thus, as Paul says, faith without love is worthless - or, as James said - faith without works is dead.
One can have such a dead faith and still be saved as shown in 1Tim.2:11.
Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
I don't see it there, ftd.
The greatest love I can show you is to tell you the true Gospel so you will be saved and not spend eternity in hell.
By YOUR idea of being saved, I am already saved. Thanks for your concern, but by Protestant standards, I am "once saved, always saved". According to your standards, then, it shouldn't matter WHAT I do AFTER that! I can even become Catholic, because I am OSAS! Yippie!!! Whoopie, I got my bus ticket! AMEN!
I gave you the facts and did not attack you personally.
I see your name-calling as a personal attack. Yet, after three posts, no apologies. That says a mountain about how much "faith" you have. It is a dead faith because it has no works of love.
Regards