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To: Quix; Alamo-Girl; betty boop; Amityschild; Brad's Gramma; Captain Beyond; Cvengr; DvdMom
I don't think you are saying anything new in this post compared to the previous post, so let me just make a general remark: the second part of James 2 is dedicated to the question of faith without works and declares such faith dead. It concludes squarely by saying that faith alone does not save. You cannot amplify, obfuscate, or use bigger fonts to get away from this.

That there is a real faith opposed to fake faith is true. The two are distinguished by the fact that man with real faith also does good works. So that sophistry about "real faith" does not prove that we are saved by faith alone. We are saved by faith that also produces good works, which is real faith. We are not saved by faith alone. You could, in sophistry, say that we are saved by real faith alone, but then you just substituted "faith and works" with "real faith" and stepped outside of the terminology chosen by the inspired writer of the Scripture.

A few additional remarks.

Another Protestant obfuscation is to say that faith automatically produces good works so it is faith that saves and works just automatically follow. This is also an empty sophistry. First, nowhere does the Bible say so. You can, of course, conclude from many passages, as well as from reason, that it is usually works and not naked faith that we see. This is a lesson one might derive from Hebrew 11. But Hebrew 11 -- or any other passage you might point to -- does not say that we are saved by faith alone. It says that we are saved by faith and freely chosen works of obedience and charity (examples: Hebrews 11, Matthew 25).

Mat 25:21-46 merely notes the same Biblical truth. SAVING FAITH IS FOLLOWED BY EARNEST WORKS DONE OUT OF A GOD-BIRTHED-FAITH-FILLED HEART/SPIRIT/MIND. Those without Saving faith have no works to earn anything

This is a good example of you reading one thing and thinking another. Nowhere does Mat 25:21-46 mention any kind of faith. In fact, it mentions the opposite: the just, in Verses 37-39 express absence of faith, -- they are surpised that the good works they did had anything to do with Christ. They are saved by their works. And conversely, the foolish virgins also have faith int he coming of their groom -- since they, too wait for him eagerly (Mt 25:3,8). Their fault which cost them the union with the Groom was lack of preparedness, a form of good works.

If you want me to comment on one particular point in your lengthy post that you feel I swept aside without comment, please point it out.

454 posted on 07/11/2010 11:00:41 AM PDT by annalex (http://www.catecheticsonline.com/CatenaAurea.php)
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To: annalex
Thank you for sharing your insights, dear brother in Christ!
474 posted on 07/11/2010 9:45:34 PM PDT by Alamo-Girl
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