Justification: Through Faith alone?

I have seen many discussions on the theology of Justification and Salvation. Many Protestants, in particular, tend to believe that the soul can be saved through Faith alone, Sola fide, and doing good works plays no part is Salvation. This is reinforced in particular by the books of the New Testament like Romans and Galatians.

Other denominations, such as those in the Catholic, Orthodox, and Restorationist Churches think that one must both be Faithful and do good works. This is supported in particular by the Epistle of James.

here is a list of quotes supporting and opposing the Sola fide doctrine (from wikipedia):

Psalms 84:12: "O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you." Isaiah 64:6: "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment. And all of us wither like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." 2 Chronicles 20:20: "Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld..." Matthew 7:22-23: "Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" Luke 5:20:"When Jesus saw their faith, he said, "Friend, your sins are forgiven." " Luke 18:10-14:"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.' "But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God." Luke 23:40-43: "But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." " John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:18: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 6:28-29: "Therefore they said to Him, 'What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?' Jesus answered and said to them, 'This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'" John 5:24: "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." John 6:40: "For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:47: "I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life." Acts 10:43: "Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Acts 16:31: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." John 14:6: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Acts 26:18: "...that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me..." Romans 1:17-18: "Therefore the just shall live by faith. The wrath of God is indeed being revealed from heaven against every impiety and wickedness of those who suppress the truth by their wickedness." Romans 3:28: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." Romans 4:5: "But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Romans 5:1: "...having been justified by faith..." Romans 10:9: "That if you shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 11:6: "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." Romans 14:23: "...and everything that does not come from faith is sin." Ephesians 2:8-10: "For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them." Philippians 3:9: "and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith." Galatians 2:16: "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." Galatians 2:21: "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." Galatians 3:1-3; 9-14; 21-25: "O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you; did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? ... So then they who are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. Because as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: because it is written, 'Cursed is every one that does not continue in all things that are written in the book of the law to be done'. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, 'The just shall live by faith'. And the law is not of faith: but, 'The man that does them shall live in them'. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangs on a tree. So that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.... Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, certainly righteousness should have been by the law. But the Scripture has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up from the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Therefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. Galatians 3:8: "The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith..." Galatians 5:4,5: "Christ has become of no effect to you, whoever of you are justified by the law; you are fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." Titus 3:5: "...he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit..."

Matthew 5:48 (part of the Expounding of the Law within the Sermon on the Mount): "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (compare Imitatio dei) Matthew 7:21 (part of the Sermon on the Mount): "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." Matthew 7:24-27 (part of the Sermon on the Mount): "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." Matthew 12:36-37: "I tell you, on the day of judgment you will have to give an account for every careless word you utter; For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 16:27: "For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father's glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done." Matthew 19:17: ""Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."" Matthew 24:10-20 (part of the Olivet discourse): "Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Matthew 25:31-46 (part of The Sheep and the Goats): "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.' They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?' He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." Matthew 28:19-20a (part of the Great Commission): "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Luke 8:21: " But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it." Luke 10:25-28: "On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."" John 5:29: "And will come out--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." Romans 2:6,7; 13: "For he will repay according to each one's deeds. To those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; for it is not those who hear the law who are just in the sight of God; rather, those who observe the law will be justified." Romans 2:16: "on the day when, according to my gospel, God, through Jesus Christ, will judge the secret thoughts of all." Galatians 6:7b-9: "A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." 1 Corinthians 10:12: "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 13:2-3: "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." 1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive recompense, according to what he did in the body, whether good or evil." James 1:22: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 2 (excerpts): "... What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? ... Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, James 2:24: "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone." Phillipians 2:12-13: "... work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For God is the one who, for his good purpose, works in you both to desire and to work." 1 Peter 1:17: "Now if you invoke as Father him who judges impartially according to each one's works, conduct yourselves with reverence during the time of your sojourning." 1 John 2:3-7: "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old one, which you have had since the beginning. This old command is the message you have heard." Revelation 14:12-13: "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and hold fast to the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Write this: Blessed are the dead who from now on die in the Lord.’ ‘Yes,’ says the Spirit, ‘they will rest from their labours, for their deeds follow them.’ Revelation 20:13: "All the dead were judged according to their deeds." Revelation 22:12: "Behold, I am coming soon. I bring with me the recompense I will give to each according to his deeds

You say:
“Abraham was not saved by the keeping the Ten Commandments, he didn’t have them.”
There were sinners since the serpent enticed Eve and most certainly during the time of Abraham (Gen 13:13 … men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the LORD exceedingly. ) And surely you must know what sin means.

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

So we conclude that yes, as we all know, there was sin and breaking of Hashem’s 10 commandments in Sodom and Gemmorah during the time of Abraham (1997 before zero) . There was wickedness and sin also during the time of Noah which was 2349 years before zero. Because of the sin Hashem destroyed mankind except for a remnant that were left behind known as the Noah family. Hashem’s 10 commandments and his Sabbath are perpetual. That means they don’t end.

Exo 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
Exo 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Exo 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

You obviously have missed the whole point of my post concerning the Abrahamic land covenant and the teaching of Scripture. The verse that you use, Eph 2:9-10 is perfect. Keep reading verses 11 and 12.
Eph 2:11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;
Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Don’t you understand that he’s talking about the land called the “commonwealth” of which they were aliens since 721 before zero when they were cast out for idolatry. They were under the curse of the law. Their forefathers and later the heirs became “strangers from the covenants of the Promise” which was the promise made to Abraham of the land covenant.

Thanks for pointing that out and helping to reaffirm what I said. In summary, in Ephesians, Paul is talking about the land covenant and it ordinances of curses and blessings. In James 2: 10-26, James is talking about the 10 commandments. They’re talking about 2 different things.

I have a very simple yes or no question. Can you enter the kingdom and not keep the 10 commandments? Can you murder, steal, break the Sabbath, etc? Remember James 2:10, in reference to 10 commandments, says you break one , you break all.

Please answer the question before we continue.

Blessings in your search for TRUTH.

‘You obviously don’t know or don’t care about what the Bible says about not trying to obey or better still, keeping Hashems 10 commandment law.’

No, I understand that NO ONE, save Christ has ever kept the Law. Remember, trying doesn’t matter, one sin, you have failed. We know, that Elijah and Moses, are the only two humans for sure that went to heaven as they were with Christ during the Transfuguration. Was Moses sinless? no, Eligah? no, Abraham, no, Peter, no, Paul, no, Xone, no. I put myself in there as an equal among them as a sinner. I might even be better than the Apostle Paul, I haven’t killed believers, not that it matters to God. The point being even the greatest men and women of the Bible FAILED to keep the commandments. I’m sure they usually tried to, but in the end they too failed.

Since Moses and Elijah are in heaven, it must be a place for sinners. What kind of sinners? Repentant sinners who rely/ied on the perfect sacrifice of Jesus or the promise thereof.

‘trying to obey’

Of course I do, but I don’t. Same again as Paul. Same as all mankind.

There is no salvation in the Law, only death for sinners. Only death for those such as you...and me. Satan loves that you are seeking salvation in the Law, even he knows it isn’t there.

Through the gift of faith, from Jesus the author and perfecter of the same, granted by the grace of God freely given I am a member of His Kingdom and an heir to his heavenly throne. All works of mine are as ‘filthy rags’. I merit salvation through the works of the Son of God, not my own.

As this is Holy Week, your comments remind me of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin who sought/gained the the death of the Creator of the world. And the hopelessness of Peter after he had denied his Savior. Your path has that same hopelessness. One slip, one errant thought, you are doomed. Without the forgiveness offered by Christ there is no escape from the Law. Your efforts already have been futile. The Law condemns you...and me.

‘The consequences are much graver that you seem to realize.’

On the contrary, I know the consequences of sin, violation of the Law. It is death. I see the Cross on which the Creator died and paid that penalty for once for all. I also see the empty tomb as Jesus defeated death for once for all and paid the penalty for sin for once for all. The perfect Sacrifice, the only Sacrifice for sin that Father recognizes.

‘Blessings in your search for TRUTH.’

Thanks, but I have already found Him that is the TRUTH, may you do also.

You say:
The point being even the greatest men and women of the Bible FAILED to keep the commandments. I’m sure they usually tried to, but in the end they too failed.

Of course we all sin and transgress the law. There a major difference, however, between those who try to keep the law, even though they stumble and repent. And there are others, which you give the impression that you are one of this group, that just don’t care about the 10 commandments and feel that they, as you proclaim if I remember, are no longer valid and only faith saves. This is a major fault and is not Biblical teaching. Hashem knows the heart and only he determines whether you are sincerely trying to obey his Sabbath commandment and the all the rest, or if you’re using the “only faith saves” and “we’re now under grace” doctrines as a crutch to do whatever you so please and make void the law. Perhaps I need to remind you what Paul says concerning this type of logic. By the way, when he says “under the law” he is not directly referring to the 10 commandment law. He is refering to the law of ordinances contained in curses (Torah). See Deut. 28:15, etc. and Galations 3:13.

Rom 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As these verses clearly show, I hope you don’t ignore them, the death of Yeshua (as you seem to believe when you say “On the contrary, I know the consequences of sin, violation of the Law. It is death. .. Jesus defeated death for once for all and paid the penalty for sin for once for all,” does not allow you to break his 10 commandments which is the definition of sin. Unless you prefer eternal death. If Yeshua defeated death, then why does Paul in Rom 6:15 that “God forbid” that we sin which is commandment breaking. Who is right you or Paul? Show me one verse that says I’m free to sin because Yeshua died and “paid the penalty for sin for once for all”. That is not Biblical. I’de like for you to show me the exact verse that says that. It is false doctrine and contrary to Scripture. The verse does not exist. The word penalty doesn’t even exists in the King James New Testament.

I’ve noticed for the 2nd time, you seem to totally and deliberately ignore Scriptures, that I’ve presented. Before going any farther, what does this verse, which I’m repeating, mean to you in simple terms?

Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Blessings in your search for TRUTH.

‘And there are others, which you give the impression that you are one of this group, that just don’t care about the 10 commandments and feel that they, as you proclaim if I remember, are no longer valid and only faith saves. This is a major fault and is not Biblical teaching.’

I am sorry if I gave the impression that I don’t care about the Ten Commandments. I try, but recognize that I will fail. I am no longer under the curse of the Law because of my faith in Christ. Not something I earned, it was a gift.

‘Show me one verse that says I’m free to sin because Yeshua died and “paid the penalty for sin for once for all”.’

I can’t. Free to sin, nope. Going to sin yep. If you think you aren’t sinning you’re wrong.

‘Unless you prefer eternal death. If Yeshua defeated death, then why does Paul in Rom 6:15 that “God forbid” that we sin which is commandment breaking. Who is right you or Paul? ‘

Jesus hasn’t defeated death and the grave? Paul said paraphrasing “Should we sin so grace increases? God forbid.” Paul would agree with me, since I am in agreement with him.

‘Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’

Exactly. Are you relying on your efforts to keep the Law for your salvation? Accept the gift.

‘Show me one verse that says I’m free to sin because Yeshua died and “paid the penalty for sin for once for all”. That is not Biblical.’

Free to sin? No. Show me the verse that shows you can keep the Law. Or that keepers of the Law receive salvation on their merit.

‘Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.’

It means that those who keep the Lord’s commandments are blessed, that they have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

Christ kept the Law for me, as he did for you.

‘the 10 commandments and feel that they, as you proclaim if I remember, are no longer valid.’

No.

‘only faith saves’

Faith in Christ....absolutely yes.

Not one fully human person is in heaven because he kept the Law. Why? Because only Jesus kept the Law.

You said
“I also see the empty tomb as Jesus defeated death for once for all”

Where does it say that? I want to read the verse that says he defeated death for all.

You say:
Christ kept the Law for me, as he did for you.

How can he keep the Law for me? Which verse says that? It isn’t even logical. Are you writing your own Bible?

Since you believe that “only faith saves” , I guess you’re calling James, speaking of the works of the law of 10commandments, a liar in the following:

Jam 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Is James, in your opinion, saying that works is not necessary? Only faith is important and saves? Please answer using Biblical verses to substantiate your answers. Answers like “he kept the law for me” are not Biblical and are false.

You say:
Show me the verse that shows you can keep the Law. Or that keepers of the Law receive salvation on their merit.

Yes, with Hashem all is possible including keeping his commandments which he says are not grievous. Notice he says “that we keep” . If it weren’t possible to keep the commandments, he would say it.

1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Receiving merit you ask? Plenty of verses available. Here’s a couple.

Rev12:17 speaks of the remnant of the woman, the true church. They are the ones who keep his commandments and have the testimony of Yeshua. Yeshua can not keep the commandments for you to get in. He doesn’t give free passes.

The remnant make it to the kingdom and they’re commandment keepers. I’ve already showed you Rev 22:14. On your own merit, if you don’t keep the commandments, you don’t get in. The verse is very easy to understand. Furthermore, it mentions nothing about faith, but James 2:18-20 takes care of the faith issue.

Concerning Rev 22:14, it’s very clear that if one doesn’t make a priority of keeping the commandments, then his chances are slim to none of entering the kingdom. Yeshua is not responsible for your little red wagon. He did not keep the 10 commandments so you or I would be free to break them. What are you saying “Christ kept the Law for me, as he did for you.” How can he keep the law for me?? That doesn’t even make sense. You know the Bible mentions the severity of adding things to Scripture that are not Scriptural. The reason he obeyed the law was so that he would be presented as a perfect sacrifice as he entered the Holy heavenly sanctuary before his Father. Remember he told Mary not to touch him because he had not yet ascended to his Father. Had he sinned he would not have been accepted and thus would have lost his Kingly heirship to the earthly Kingdom according to the Abrahamic covenant. Moses disobeyed the command given to him and he wasn’t permitted to enter the land of milk and honey. The same thing will happen on this coming 2nd Exodus. Many disobedient to the law will not enter the Kingdom on earth. Just like the the disobedient Sabbath breakers and idolators who died during the 40 years in the desert. Only their offsprings, that were born in the desert, entered.

You haven’t shown me what I previously asked for. You made a statement and I want to know where you got it from. Again I ask. Please answer so we may continue.

Show me one verse that says I’m free to sin because Yeshua died and “paid the penalty for sin for once for all”. That is not Biblical. I’de like for you to show me the exact verse that says that. It is false doctrine and contrary to Scripture. The verse does not exist. The word penalty doesn’t even exists in the King James New Testament.

Blessings in your search for TRUTH

‘Where does it say that? I want to read the verse that says he defeated death for all.’

1 Cor chapter 15.

‘How can he keep the Law for me? Which verse says that? It isn’t even logical. Are you writing your own Bible?’

Not keep, kept. Unless you are a non-believer in Christ’s atoning work. IJohn 2:1-2 Or you are not of this world. Are you contending that YOUR keeping of the Law will gain you salvation? Good luck with that. Romans 4:13-25

‘Is James, in your opinion, saying that works is not necessary? Only faith is important and saves?’

Whose works? Yours? Or the works “which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Eph 2:1-10 Apparently you believe you should be credited for those ‘works’? You are the Sovereign now? Do you credit yourself or Jesus for your Faith? How about grace, are you the only human who truly has earned it? Not a gift for you? Your works are a sack of rags.

‘Answers like “he kept the law for me” are not Biblical and are false.’

Really? Your righteousness and keeping of the Law are what you are relying upon? How else does one satisfy the requirements of the Law? With the wages of sin being death, do you intend to overcome that by yourself? No? Are you sinless? No one is justified by the Law. How is a just God going to deal with your sin without Christ? IJohn 2:1-2 Romans 2:28 Romans 3:20

‘Yes, with Hashem all is possible including keeping his commandments which he says are not grievous. Notice he says “that we keep” . If it weren’t possible to keep the commandments, he would say it.’

Too late, you have already transgressed the Law, probably many times, but once is enough as the Law brings wrath.
You contend that isn’t your case? Nice talking to you Jesus. Didn’t know you were a FReeper. Get real. Romans 3:22-24. Or perhaps you are just calling God a liar. 1John 1:8-10 Which is it?

‘The remnant make it to the kingdom and they’re commandment keepers. —’Rev12:17 speaks of the remnant of the woman, the true church. They are the ones who keep his commandments and have the testimony of Yeshua. Yeshua can not keep the commandments for you to get in. He doesn’t give free passes.—’The remnant make it to the kingdom and they’re commandment keepers. I’ve already showed you Rev 22:14. On your own merit, if you don’t keep the commandments, you don’t get in. The verse is very easy to understand. ‘

Please...Romans 3:20 Romans 3:13-14.

‘Concerning Rev 22:14, it’s very clear that if one doesn’t make a priority of keeping the commandments, then his chances are slim to none of entering the kingdom. Yeshua is not responsible for your little red wagon. He did not keep the 10 commandments so you or I would be free to break them. What are you saying “Christ kept the Law for me, as he did for you.” How can he keep the law for me??’

I would hope at this point that it is clear that no one has kept the Law. Yet by faith we uphold the Law. Romans 3:31
Moses (already covered) and Elijah (another who doubted God on occasion) were with Jesus at his Transfiguration. Elijah a great prophet didn’t keep the Commandments. Nor David a ancestor of our Lord...a catastrophe at commandment breaking yet saved because of faith. How were they justified by the Law? What are they doing in heaven?

‘How can he keep the law for me?? That doesn’t even make sense. ‘

I’m not surprised. How about if I said ‘He became sin for us’? That wouldn’t seem to make sense either. Jesus was delivered over for our sins, He has already paid the price. Believers are ‘good’ with God because of Christ. Romans 5:6-11.

‘Moses disobeyed the command given to him and he wasn’t permitted to enter the land of milk and honey.’

Yet Moses is in heaven. How did a disobedient murderer get to heaven? By his merit? God didn’t allow him to enter th promised land on earth. He didn’t obey the Commandments and he got them personally from God. Are you a greater man than he? Deut 34:10-12 Yet God Himself buried Moses. Deut 34:5-6.

‘Show me one verse that says I’m free to sin because Yeshua died and “paid the penalty for sin for once for all”.’

I never said you were free to sin, just that you will continue to sin as you have from birth. Not to mention your original sin, the ‘gift’ bestowed on all creatures since the Fall. I think the fact that Jesus has atoned for the sins of the world including yours are covered in the verses 1John chapter 2, as well as the Romans citations.

‘I’de like for you to show me the exact verse that says that. It is false doctrine and contrary to Scripture’

No, it is not false doctrine. What you have proposed through your reliance to keep the Law yourself is what is false. It also has no place with Christ. It is self- deception, 1John 5-10, brought to you by the father of lies. “If you say you have no sin you deceive yourself and the truth is not in you,” The Law shows us our sin. No one will be justified by the Law, it really is that simple. The rest of your arguments seem to point towards a non-reliance on Jesus. That is the shame here.

You say:
Not keep, kept. Unless you are a non-believer in Christ’s atoning work. IJohn 2:1-2 Or you are not of this world. Are you contending that YOUR keeping of the Law will gain you salvation? Good luck with that. Romans 4:13-25

First, which law are you referring to? Ordinances or 10 commandments? OK, let’s rephrase it. If he kept the 10 commanment law for me, then am I free to sin or break the 10 commandment law since he is my advocate? I’m contending that his death is not a free pass to disregard the law of the 10 commandments but to disregard the curses of the law from which he redeemed us. This is the part you fail to understand. Gal3:13. And yes, if you disregard the 10 commandment law, as I’ve shown you before, you are not going into the city. Rev 22:14; 1 Jo 5:3; Romans 6:15. Just because you have an advocate with the Father is no license to disregard his commandments. Although repentance is available, but Hashem knows the heart. These works of the big 10 are crucial and must not be taken lightly. You seem to want to ignore all the verses I’ve shown you.

You say in reference to James 2
“Whose works? Yours? Or the works “which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Yes, James is speaking of my works. You’re trying to twist the Scriptures to suit your agenda. In verse 18 he is talking about current works of the law. That means obeying. Sounds like you’re saying he’s preparing us to obey in the future. You are talking in riddles. Works, in reference to the 10 commandments, is how we are justified and how we will be judged. Verse 24. Read James 2 about 10 times without trying to twist it to suit your agenda about how “faith alone saves”.

You say:
Eph 2:1-10 Apparently you believe you should be credited for those ‘works’? You are the Sovereign now? Do you credit yourself or Jesus for your Faith? How about grace, are you the only human who truly has earned it? Not a gift for you? Your works are a sack of rags.

What works are you referring to? You don’t realize that there are 2 types of works. Works of the laws of ordinances which were abolished at the cross and works of the big 10. My faith is of my choosing. Yeshua doesn’t choose my faith. Nobody earns grace. You keep voluntarily breaking the 10 commandments and you’ll find out where grace and faith lead you. Grace is a gift. And like any gift, one can receive it or reject it. You keep breaking the big 10 voluntarily and you fall from grace. You think repentance will be ticket out everytime? Good luck. Let me add that in Romans 3:20,24; 11:5,6; Ephesians2:11-15 (ordinances of the law); Galatians 2:16; 3:13. All referring to the curses of the law and the ordinance of circumcision relating to the land covenant. The works of the law of ordinances such as circumcision is the work that we are not justified under. In none of these verses or the ones you mention are we justified by works of circumcision. Yeshua’s saints, who enter into the gates, definitely perform good works and keep his 10 commandments. Works of the circumcision law ordinance are of no significance.

Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Rev 14:13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

How can anyone read these last 2 verses and say that “only faith saves”? Do you even make an attempt to keep the 7th day Sabbath of the 10 commandments? Or do you depending only on faith?

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.

Blessings in your search for TRUTH.

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