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To: af_vet_1981
I could post the entire book of James if you like. I was trying to post the most relevant passages. In spite of tradition, the chapter and verse markings are not inspired. Messiah and the Apostles did not use them when referencing scripture. They expected their listeners to allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate their hearts and minds with the words. Sometimes that made the heaters angry because they resisted the Holy Spirit.

Who ever claimed chapter and verse markings are "inspired"??? What they are is a help to finding them when you are supposedly teaching from them. You've been repeatedly asked to do this as a courtesy to those reading the threads so they more easily find them in the Bible. That you resist doing so under the guise of expecting listeners to "allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate" hearts and minds with the words first assumes the reader HAS already learned the Scriptures. That is a wrong assumption. You have already been challenged on the way you grouped Scriptures, intermingling them and trying to force them to say what they don't. I would think you'd want to avoid the appearance of deceit?

It seems to me the problem is believing both the Apostle James, who was an Apostle who was chosen from the beginning and learned from Messiah and witnessed his resurrection, and the Apostle Paul, who was chosen out of season as the Apostle to the Gentiles. There is no Sola Fide in the scriptures. All the Apostles must be believed and harmonized. Peter, the Apostle to the Jews, wrote in his second epistle that the epistles of Paul were hard to understand and that some would wrest them unto their own destruction. John wrote in Revelation that Messiah was looking at our works.

No, Peter said that SOME of what Paul wrote was hard to understand by those who were "unlearned and unstable" and it was those people who wrested these Scriptures (yes, they WERE Scripture) to their own destruction. Nothing Paul wrote - and he did write the majority of the New Testament books - would be in contradiction to any other Scripture because it was the SAME Holy Spirit who inspired ALL the writers. It is unmistakable that the grace of God has ALWAYS been what saved anyone and whatever works were done they NEVER brought about the salvation of anyone.

Those who insist our works save us or who say they "contribute" to our salvation when accompanied by faith, totally miss the meaning of GRACE. It is "NOT by works of righteousness which we have done but according to His mercy He saved us." (Titus 3:5) The passage I quoted from James 2:10 says that if we are guilty of even one sin, we are guilty of the WHOLE law. The wages of sin is death - all sin must be atoned by blood - but the gift (free gift) of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). We are justified by faith because of God's grace and not by our works because by works shall NO flesh be justified. (Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16; Acts 13:39; Rom. 9:30; Gal. 3:11, 24; Heb. 7:19).

I have no problem believing ALL of Scripture because it all points to Jesus Christ, who gives to us eternal life and we shall never perish, be cast out, be lost or plucked from His hands. People are free to believe whatever they want to believe, but ONLY trusting in Christ, receiving Him by faith, gives eternal life. Whatever good things we do can never make us righteous in God's eyes. No one may boast in God's presence on all the mighty works they did in Christ's name, because He will tell them, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matt. 7:23) Without the shed blood of Christ as our covering we are doomed no matter how good we have been - and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. (Phil. 3:9)

31 posted on 12/08/2014 5:47:07 PM PST by boatbums (God is ready to assume full responsibility for the life wholly yielded to Him.)
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To: boatbums
I have no problem believing ALL of Scripture because it all points to Jesus Christ, who gives to us eternal life and we shall never perish, be cast out, be lost or plucked from His hands.

The Apostle to the Gentiles tells us women will be saved if they continue in faith and works (ie., charity and holiness with sobriety).

The Messiah tells the believers in Sardis that he knows their works and they are not perfect before God. They are ready to die. Yet they are believers because He tells them to remember how they received and heard, and to hold fast and repent. Further, if they will not watch (He warns us to watch all through the Gospels and Revelation), he will come as a thief, the implication being they will be like the five foolish virgins. He further only promises not to blot out the names from the book of life to those who overcome. He is very focused on our works and our obedience to his commandments. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments and do His good works of faith and love.

For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.

And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead. Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

33 posted on 12/08/2014 8:39:36 PM PST by af_vet_1981 (The bus came by and I got on, That's when it all began.)
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