Yes, I believe God is saying through James that if a man does not have any works (again, meaning obedient lifestyle), then he does not have the true faith, he has a useless, dead faith.
But after i started to church, religion took over and i quit doing those things that i had been doing, i started thinking that i had no part with people that did not go to church.
But after i got into the Bible a little more i realized that i had been living a life that God would more likely have approved of before i started going to church than i was after i started going to church, because i was trying to make a religion out of it, and of course i had a lot of help from the church on that part.
Abraham was called a friend of God because he was counted righteous because he showed God his faith by his works, but even his works was not enough, he still had to follow Jesus into glory as the rest of Gods early men of God did.
I do not have time to look up the scripture but, but i believe it says something to the affect that none are worthy, we can only be saved by the blood of the lamb.
Since every church has a different doctrine, every one can be wrong, but every one can not be right, so it has to be a personal faith in God and in his son.
The duty of the church was to spread the gospel to all the world and the gospel has been taught in all of the world.
If it was to be taught by only one denomination we would only have one church, the churches that have taught the gospel are teaching the gospel in spite of all of their false doctrine.
I have only come into contact with one church that i mostly agree with and they do not say they are the only true church and in fact they will tell you that you do not even have to go to church to be saved.
They do not collect Tithes and do not believe Christian churches have the commandment nor the authority to collect them.
Could tithes have something to do with other churches telling people they needed to come to church to be saved?
Just my idea and have a great day.
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>I agree, and i also was saying that before i started to church i was pretty good at doing what God wants us to do, as doing unto others as you would have them to do unto you.
But after i started to church, religion took over and i quit doing those things that i had been doing, i started thinking that i had no part with people that did not go to church.<
Well, it is real easy to get our focus on pleasing others instead of God, but truly, we’re the ones who choose to do it, no one makes us. Today our churches are full of unbelievers. The tares are even in the pulpit teaching false doctrine and blindly leading others. The only way to know the difference between the false and the true is to know the Word of God.
An old lady told me when I first became a Christian in 1979 that Christians had a relationship, not a religion. She was right, of course. I am thankful I was told that at the beginning of my Christian walk.
>Abraham was called a friend of God because he was counted righteous because he showed God his faith by his works, but even his works was not enough, he still had to follow Jesus into glory as the rest of Gods early men of God did.<
Abraham was justified, or counted righteous, or declared righeous, when he BELIEVED God’s promises in Genesis 15. [Genesis 15:6: “Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.”
James (2:23) is saying that in Genesis 22, when Abraham went to sacrifice Isaac, the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS,” and he was called the friend of God.
He was already justified by faith. But getting his son ready for the sacrifice as God told him SHOWED that his faith was real, not dead or worthless. In that regard, he was justified [SHOWN to be righteous] by works and not by faith alone. The whole point being that if a person says he has faith in God through Jesus Christ, he will have a righteous life (evidence of his faith) that proves his righteousness.
>Since every church has a different doctrine, every one can be wrong, but every one can not be right, so it has to be a personal faith in God and in his son.<
Yes, personal faith in God’s only provision for our salvation—the Lord Jesus Christ. And then we must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:18, by studying His Word.
I know it’s hard to find a church where Jesus Christ is the focus and God’s Word is believed as Truth without error. But there are still a few around. There’s no perfect church, right?! There are tares in every assembly I suspect. If I found myself in a church that didn’t adhere to the Bible, I’d start running!
>I have only come into contact with one church that i mostly agree with and they do not say they are the only true church and in fact they will tell you that you do not even have to go to church to be saved.<
Well, church attendance is certainly not a requirement for salvation, only one way is—grace through faith, as Ephesians 2:1-10 says. But believers are told not to forsake assembling together, so I would definitely make it a point to meet with other believers for Bible study, prayer, and worship if I couldn’t find a decent church.
>They do not collect Tithes and do not believe Christian churches have the commandment nor the authority to collect them.
Could tithes have something to do with other churches telling people they needed to come to church to be saved?
Just my idea and have a great day.<
Well, I wouldn’t doubt that it is the motive of some that saw that.
Yes, tithes were for Israel under the Law. The church, that is, the body of true believers, are to give generously, as 2 Corinthians 9 says.
Philippians 4:23 to you