[DouglasKC]

You can puff your self up in your self righteousness all you want but no matter how many times I give this verse to the law teachers and preachers they strangely never respond back.

Well maybe because you start off with an insult! :-)

Before I place that scripture here when ever in the New Testament when it says Obey Christ is means to obey the Gospel, to believe on the Gospel... that is what is implied. Ohh yeah ? I heard it all, some will say " but, but, the demons believe also " really ? yes they believe that Jesus is the Christ, but they will and can never believe on the Gospel because they were never " ORDAINED " unto eternal life.... opps, that's another Scripture the Arminians can't seem to explain, and yes I do believe in election.

Okay....with you so far...though James himself makes the case that belief in God isn't enough by using the demon example:

Jam 2:18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Jam 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Matthew 5:20 (Authorized (King James) Version) 20. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Try to get your brain and your self righteousness around this one. Most of the time the law preachers, teachers and Arminians don't answer that one and are strangely quit. Hey ? if Obeying God and keeping the law perfectly would get you in good stead with Christ ? then ? all the Pharisees and Scribes law preachers and all would be best of buddies with Christ right ? Isn't that what your advocating here ?

No not at all.

The problems with scribe and Pharisees is that they did NOT believe in Christ. At all. They had no faith. They thought that good works ALONE, without Christ, were good enough for salvation. That's not even close to being true.

[American Constitutionalist]

" Well maybe because you start off with an insult! :-) "

Or hurt pride..... after all didn't Jesus say that offenses will come ?
What you see as a insult is speaking the truth.

[American Constitutionalist]

Yup, griding that old " WORKS " salvation axe aren't you ?
You see that's the law preachers and Arminians how shall I say ? Stumbling block " because they never see far passed their self righteousness to see that it actually means, working faith, not faith based on works, or salvation based on works.
You know, work ? as in physically exercise like taking the handle of a water pump and actually move it to get the water out.
Hey we can go around in circles in a revolving door for hours but I degress.
What is James saying here ?
Put your money where your month is instead of blabbing your month off.
If you read the whole chapter then you will get the crux and context in which James was alluding to.
He's taking about phonies, you know ? the same one's who are the religious Pharisees.
In mode of rebuke James was givng a rebuke like Paul gave to Peter when Peter sat with only the Jews when eating.
Read the first few verse.
James rebukes those who give the best seats to the rich but tell the poor to sit in a more harsh setting.
He goes onto talks about if a brother or sister comes to you in destitude and ask for help ? and they only say ? go in peace and be warmed ? and you don't give a crap about that person ? where is your faith ? where is the love of Christ in your heart ?

[American Constitutionalist]

You see ? you totally slip over that verse I gave you and give me a totally different verse that the Armainains hold as their sacred James chapter 2 doctrine.
You see ? once again, the law preachers and teachers totally avoid that verse because they have no way in their man made doctrine to explain it away.

[American Constitutionalist]

" The problems with scribe and Pharisees is that they did NOT believe in Christ. At all. They had no faith. They thought that good works ALONE, without Christ, were good enough for salvation. That's not even close to being true. "

WOW !! perhaps your finally seeing the light, the truth.

WORKS can't save you, or keep you, so then ? there has to be something else to salvation.