Right. And that denial runs contrary to what Paul says explicitly in the verse I've been putting in front of you.
Why would you think Paul would contradict what he had just finished saying?
What had Paul said up to that point in Romans that you think is contradictory?
Rather, it is the false gospel of works for salvation that is in error when one tries to make Scripture say God gives us eternal life based on our works when He so frequently says we are NOT saved by our works.
And if you view these passages with the view that "works" has but a singular meaning in every case, you're going to have difficulties explaining the verses without either ignoring some or twisting others around (like Rom. 2:6-7, Matt. 25:31-46, James 2:21-24).
The problem will be you will not be able to boast of that before God.
Recognizing as I do the Scriptural point of view that the works that are rewarded with eternal life are those done humbly in faith through grace, boasting is precluded.
If we were to go by your interpretation of Romans 2:6-7, where does Paul mention faith in that passage? You claim he is saying God will reward eternal life to those who have works of "well-doing", but that passage alone says nothing of faith. You have to gratuitously add that in order to twist it to match your view of faith plus works for salvation.
At the very opening of his letter (1:5) Paul speaks clearly of the "obedience of faith." I have no need to gratuitously add anything nor understand verse 2:6-7 as somehow being opposed to faith or lacking it.
Just what do you suppose Paul meant by those who "by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality"? Does not Hebrews 11:6 tell us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him?
The Gill commentary you cited to me describes these as "good works." Though "glory and honor" would necessarily mean to God's glory and honor, not our own. And like I said, the "God will render in accordance with works" Paul copies from his Teacher (Matt. 16:27; Ps. 62:12) and Jesus illustrates that principle in Matt. 25:31-46, where the Sheep are rewarded with eternal life in accordance with their works of charity (feeding the hungry, etc.).
I keep pointing out these verses; you keep ignoring them; then you ask me the same question as to what Paul meant. (eyeroll).
contradicting God's word that says our works are NOT what justifies us BEFORE God.
How can I be contradicting God's Word when God's Word says explicitly that works (understood properly) do justify us before God?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? [A rhetorical question for which the answer is "Yes."]
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23 and the scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness”; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. James 2:21-24
Pretty clear.
We've already discussed that James is talking about an observable faith before others. He said Abraham was justified by faith before God, but his works were evidence before others
Others? What others? Who was there when Abraham offered his son? It was just Abraham, God, Isaac and God's angel. There were no "others" there to witness this!!! No, only God saw this. And since James cites to the same verse as Paul (Gen. 15:6) we know that the Holy Spirit uses "justify" in the same sense of "credited with righteousness before God."
Faith is an inward disposition; "justified by faith" clearly means before God as only God sees the heart. But in the Protestant twist, one has to take a single sentence ("a man is justified by works and not by faith alone") and split it down the middle -- having "justified by works" mean "seen by other persons" and "justified . . by faith" as meaning "seen by God." That's just silly. A obvious forced reading.
You're offering up classic Protestant eisegesis, born of desperation to maintain "faith alone" in the face of Scripture that clearly refutes it.
Want to try one of the other Protestant textual manipulations to get around these verses? Have at it. I've seen them all. And they are all just as bad as this one you've trotted out.
The whole gist of this argument as presented in the OP is that the kind of faith that saves us is the kind that is obvious by the changed life and motives of the believer.
And on that I agree. And if one thereby says that to know if one indeed had a "true faith" one has to take account of the whole of a person's life, then I'd say I'm in agreement. Where I take issue is when it's claimed a person is "eternally saved" upon heeding the altar call. Maybe that person will exhibit a lifelong, true faith. Maybe he won't. Coming to faith in Jesus is a first and vital step; but it's not over then. The ultimate judgment will come when we stand before the Almighty. And at that time He says we will be judged according to our works. And that's how Scripture repeatedly states it; not that we will be judged according to whether we had a "saving faith." That may be implicit; but "works" is the explicitly stated criterion.
"Faith alone" isn't Scriptural.
James chapter 2, James wrote on the difference between a “professed” faith and a “possessed” faith.
If one believes he is saved or damned by his works , then one comforts oneself with the idea that “I am not as bad as my neighbor”
The Bible tells us “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” That is the inspired word of God . It does not say that some have fallen short and some are “close”
May I quote James to you?
Jam 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one [point], he is guilty of all.
So the thief is also a murder in Gods eyes.
No where does Jesus say or imply that one is saved by works.
The book of James was written to a converted church , not heathens seeking salvation . It tells them how their conversion is seen by the unsaved world . It is not about becoming saved or being saved. It is about the fruit of your salvation.
Jam 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jam 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
This is an amplification of the teaching of Jesus that we know a tree by the fruit it bears. It is how we know the saved from the unsaved. It does not declare that the man has faith ...but that he SAYS he has faith.
This addresses a hollow profession of faith , not a saving one .Can a hollow profession save him? NO, any more than works can save.This scripture says to the church that this faith is non existent , it is dead.
The bible is clear that it is God that gives the faith and it is God that ordains the works of the saved
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Hbr 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Phl 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
If the first five or six times you repeated this argument wasn't convincing enough, being condescending won't make it more so.
Faith is an inward disposition; "justified by faith" clearly means before God as only God sees the heart. But in the Protestant twist, one has to take a single sentence ("a man is justified by works and not by faith alone") and split it down the middle -- having "justified by works" mean "seen by other persons" and "justified . . by faith" as meaning "seen by God." That's just silly. A obvious forced reading.
How can it be "forced" when that is what the Scriptures repeatedly say? What is your interpretation of these passages:
You're offering up classic Protestant eisegesis, born of desperation to maintain "faith alone" in the face of Scripture that clearly refutes it.
Yet Scripture clearly does NOT refute it. What you offer up is classic - though I don't think original - Roman Catholic eisegesis born of desperation to maintain salvation by works (with a little bit of faith mixed in for show) and to ensure the power hold Rome has over its people. As long as threats of "mortal sin" for disobeying whatever Rome declares is de fide are hanging over their heads, Roman Catholics stay because of fear of losing their salvation. Catholicism offers a bait and switch program of "come to us for the "true" faith and be saved" but "you'd better stay and do everything we tell you to or you will go to hell". I choose Jesus. I'll trust in HIS promises and not rest upon a little stone when I have the rock on which my faith is built.