[metmom]

Excellent!

Thanks for posting that.

Indeed, justification by faith is NOT a new concept.

Even Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Justification, imputed righteousness, occurred long before the Law was given.

[Zuriel]

(from the post) “If Abraham was not justified by works, how was he justified? The apostle goes on to tell us how: What does scripture say? (that is, about how Abraham was justified). Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (Rom. 4:3; Gen. 15:6). Abraham, then, was justified by faith. Paul and James do not contradict each other: good works follow justification.”

**Even Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Justification, imputed righteousness, occurred long before the Law was given.**

That happened long before the Law was given alright. Abraham had done a LOT of calorie burning believing before Gen. 15:6. You do realize that God’s words from Gen. 15:6 are a ‘ways down the road’ from Ur of the Chaldees?

By that time Abraham, under God’s command, had traveled at least 400 miles the old fashioned way (with a complicated entourage, and tasks to perform daily. Put up tent. make fire. Take down tent. Put out fire. etc.).

Arriving in Bethel, he built an altar (without going to Menards), which wasn’t just to look at.

Then, AFTER Gen. 15:6, is verses 7-11 where Abraham is again promised the land, but NOT without following MORE commands (more work) for Abraham.

But, the ‘saved without works’ line is built upon the same erroneous teaching as the ‘Abraham believed and did nothing’ to receive the promise, line of thought.

That method is to ignore the scriptures that tell the WHOLE story. People will pull one verse from the story of the Paul, Silas, and the jailor, and avoid the following verses that tell of the instruction in the Word, and the baptisms that took place.

Not only is Acts loaded with inconvenient truth for those that think one doesn’t move a muscle to be saved, it is the ONLY book that SHOWS souls going through the rebirth process.

People use the thief on the cross for salvation doctrine, ignoring the words in Hebrews 9:16-18 that tells us that “a testament is of force after men are dead”.

The thief was not under the Lord’s rebirth commands, for he was not dead yet.

Acts 2:38 is the completely spelled out command from God on how to be born again. It’s the new and living way.

[1010RD]

If faith is sufficient alone why did Jesus Christ command further ordinances like baptism and the laying on of hands?

Faith is just the beginning, the starting point.

[boatbums]

Indeed, justification by faith is NOT a new concept. Even Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. Justification, imputed righteousness, occurred long before the Law was given.

It was only when the self-assured religious and self-declared pious men started fiddling with the gospel that perverted and accursed versions started appearing. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. In order to be saved we must admit our utter inability to save ourselves and deserve eternal separation from God because of our sins. We come to the throne of grace and fall upon the mercy of God who saves us by His undeserved grace. Our part is receiving the gift of eternal life by faith - believing that He has done and will do what He said He would. No one may boast in His sight. It is ALL by His grace. All those to whom God has revealed the good news understood and understand this and it is STILL the truth.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)