Justification By Works

[Eternally Grateful]

One has faith, But they are adding works. An in doing so negate grace.

Ok, faith aloners have never and never will acknowledge the difference between unsaved and unjustified self-righteousness, vs believing and doing God's righteousness for salvation and justification with God.

Scripture in Romans teaches no man is saved nor justified by our own works, which is self-righteous and not by the faith of Jesus, and Scripture in James teaches no man will ever be saved nor justified by faith alone, which is dead being not the righteousness of Jesus.

Faith alone saves no man, because no man is justified by faith alone without works: No man is saved by God through faith, that is not justified with God by works.

There is no thing as faith alone my friend. The mere fact you keep saying it proves you have no understanding of what faith is

We are saved by GRACE through faith

You people ignore grace and want to insert your works.

Once again, If it is grace it is not of works.

It CAN:T BE BOTH.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Romans refutes the legalistic mindset of faith plus works being require.

I.e. being saved by faith is separate from being justified by works: The salvation of God by faith needs no justification with God by works.

In order to be saved by faith alone, man must make separation between salvation and justification, even as they try to make difference between faith and works.

God does not: there is no having the faith of Jesus, when not obeying the faith of Jesus.

Them with the faith of Jesus are always obeying Him in the heart and in the body.

You missed pauls whole point. Your really no different than those jews.

We are saved by Grace, We are justified by faith. Our whole being made right with god is based on his work. And our faith in him to change us.

Works are a byproduct of that faith in Christ.

But we must also add works (be it circumcision, Baptism, Takin The lords supper. Doing works of the law. Or works of the church) something...

It's called doing the righteousness of God at all times, even as He is righteous, without which no man is justified in their faith by God.

If we are not being justified with God by doing His righteousness, we are not being saved by God through His faith, because the faith we are trusting in is our own and not the faith of Jesus, that obeys Him in all things:

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Gods standard is still perfection. You still miss the mark of that standard. And as such, You can work until your blue in the face. You will still fall way short.

Adding all these works to the grace of God is negating the very grace that God came to save you with. Your in effect saving yourself and telling God look at you and what a great person you are. Sadly the law has failed to train you. You refuse to see your desperate situation.

Its funny how both have one standard.

It's funny how faith aloners can never just say doing His righteousness. Like its funny and strange language to them.

There is no such thing as faith alone. I told you this once already and proved it. Hence every time you utter this nonsense in regards to my belief it will be ignored. And considered a non answer

And so, are you doing the righteousness of God at all times?

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Are you as He is in this world?

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Is your heart pure as His is?

Did Abraham do righteous at all times? How about David? How about Peter? How about Paul?

I purify myself by the word. Not by my actions.

Sadly, if it were up to me, I would be lost. I pray one day you realise this basic gospel truth yourself

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Jesus said it is finished.

He finished opening the way of cleansing and saving a soul to be justified of God.

Once we believe and confess His name, our work begins to work out our salvation to be justified of Him.

He did not say I did my part,, now you do yours.

Yes, He does:

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.

By receiving the faith of Jesus, we are given the power of God Himself through His perfect seed, which is Christ, to become His sons:

them with power to overcome all flesh, even as He did in the days of His flesh, by exercising His power to purge our hearts of lust and cleanse our hands of unrepented sins and trespasses.

Faith aloners want to trust in faith alone and deny their part in becoming sons of God: Even as their faith is dead, so is their part in their own salvation.

And they think the willful humility of being ever-ready to declare their own impure heart being still with lust of the world, and carnal lives still with sins of the flesh, is somehow 'humbling themselves' before God:

Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility...

Only them that do their part in their salvation of God, will ever obtain His eternal salvation and have their part in the first resurrection of the blessed in Christ Jesus, who doeth His righteousness at all times:

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Non answer

You cal me a faith a loner again I will place you on ignore. I will not play kids games with a self righteous person who refuses to listen to what others say

 

[robert derrick]

There is no thing as faith alone my friend. The mere fact you keep saying it proves you have no understanding of what faith is

We are saved by GRACE through faith

You people ignore grace and want to insert your works.

Once again, If it is grace it is not of works.

It CAN:T BE BOTH.

We are justified by faith.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified.

You seen then how that by your justification of faith without works falsely speaks against Scripture, that declares no man is justified nor saved by faith without works, being dead and alone:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Your own faith is unjustified by Scripture, even as your own salvation is unjustified by doing the righteousness of God, even as He is righteous.

The faith I speak of is justified as the faith of Jesus that saves, because that faith believes Him and His eternal salvation according to His written word only, not according to my own faith alone, nor yours.

Your really no different than those Jews.

Your faith is not only dead and alone, being apart from Scripture, but is also plainly hypocritical:

You call one 'friend' and then turn to accuse them that believe Scripture as written, to be unbelieving Jews that had Jesus crucified. You therefore also accuse the apostle and the One giving him the Scripture to write.

Accusing Jesus of being a liar about the salvation and justification of God, is what the unbelieving Jews of old did, before having Him crucified for rebuking their unrighteousness as unjustified with the God of Israel.

Both your faith and your accusation are false, the one being dead alone, and the other being from dead faith alone.

Put me on ignore as you like, since I cease to have any more personal fellowship with those who begin falsely accusing the brethren, except they repent, not on this thread, nor on any other.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Faith aloner zealots are the self-righteous, who justify themselves by their own dead faith alone, as well as judge others accordingly, especially them that preach doing the righteousness of God at all times to be justified with God.

 

[robert derrick]

There is no thing as faith alone.

True, there is no such thing as faith alone that saves, but there certainly is the faith alone that man trusts in for salvation, which Scripture needs to rebuke as dead and not justified of God.

You people ignore grace and want to insert your works.

And once again we see how faith aloners will never ever simply acknowledge the difference between works of men's righteousness without faith, and works of God righteousness by faith.

Once again, If it is grace it is not of works. It CAN'T BE BOTH.

It is both believing and obeying that is by grace, and so both salvation and justification are by grace: believing by grace to be saved by God, and obeying by grace to be justified with God.

Faith aloners believe in a grace that is blind to obeying God, even as their faith is dead to God.

We are justified by faith.

And so we see how faith alone lies openly against Scripture in order to justify themselves by faith alone:

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

Works are a byproduct of that faith in Christ.

God doesn't have 'byproducts'.

The product of faith alone is deadness of soul, even as the wages of sin is death.

And as such, You can work until your blue in the face. You will still fall way short.

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.

Going on still in their trespasses and falling way short in their sins is the hallmark of faith alone hypocrisy.

And so we see plainly how the unrighteous try to justify themselves by faith alone and mock the righteous, thinking that if all were unrighteous as they, they would then be justified with God.

The flood in the days of Noah proves that wrong, as with the Lord's return, who will come upon all the unrighteous as a thief in the night:

For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

Instead of the righteous repenting of God's righteousness, it is the unrighteous that need repent of their unrighteousness in all things pertaining to God:

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Did Abraham do righteous at all times?

Incredible. Absolutely incredible: Faith alone is dead and the eyes of faith aloners are blind to their own ignorance of the Scriptures:

But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!

The answer of Scripture of course is yes:

Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.

Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.

And so we see how faith alone is for the carnal minded who have no sense of simple Scripture as written, nor any regard for the Spirit of the Word, and instead like to make humanistic arguments with righteousness of God.

They play these silly games as children of disobedience, knowing nothing of the doctrine of Christ according to the Scripture, since they know none among themselves that do righteousness at any time, much less at all times, being themselves the unrighteous and unjustified of God.

I purify myself by the word. Not by my actions.

Wherefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable unto thee, and break off thy sins by righteousness, and thine iniquities by shewing mercy to the poor; if it may be a lengthening of thy tranquillity.

Purity is as purity does.

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Faith and works work together to perfect the faith to do the righteousness of God at all times: faith alone without works is never made perfect, and them that trust therein never become the sons of God that obey Him in all things for the eternal salvation of Jesus.

Faith aloners know just enough Scripture to twist themselves into anti-Scriptural knots and hang themselves thereby:

But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

This certainly includes them that lie and offend against the littlest of the Lord's Scriptures, for which He shed His blood on the cross to have written in this world.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

We are justified by faith.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified.

You seen then how that by your justification of faith without works falsely speaks against Scripture, that declares no man is justified nor saved by faith without works, being dead and alone:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Your own faith is unjustified by Scripture, even as your own salvation is unjustified by doing the righteousness of God, even as He is righteous.

The faith I speak of is justified as the faith of Jesus that saves, because that faith believes Him and His eternal salvation according to His written word only, not according to my own faith alone, nor yours.

Your really no different than those Jews.

Your faith is not only dead and alone, being apart from Scripture, but is also plainly hypocritical:

You call one 'friend' and then turn to accuse them that believe Scripture as written, to be unbelieving Jews that had Jesus crucified. You therefore also accuse the apostle and the One giving him the Scripture to write.

Accusing Jesus of being a liar about the salvation and justification of God, is what the unbelieving Jews of old did, before having Him crucified for rebuking their unrighteousness as unjustified with the God of Israel.

Both your faith and your accusation are false, the one being dead alone, and the other being from dead faith alone.

Put me on ignore as you like, since I cease to have any more personal fellowship with those who begin falsely accusing the brethren, except they repent, not on this thread, nor on any other.

And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

Faith aloner zealots are the self-righteous, who justify themselves by their own dead faith alone, as well as judge others accordingly, especially them that preach doing the righteousness of God at all times to be justified with God.

dude. you continued use of james out of context is your downfall.

The people james spoke to DID NOT HAVE FAITH. hence they were never saved by faith

They had mere belief. Not all belief is faith, the demons believed but they did not trust (faith) hence why they are lost.

Again, there is no such thing as faith alone.

Your strawman is useless

 

[farouk]

I'm personally not very familiar with him. So from my perspective, if he is convinced and trying to genuinely debate Scripture with people then that is fine. I would hate for him to be genuine with people and then we be mean towards him. I am just not very familiar with him.

People are just too quick in their replies. They don't think about what they are engaging with. It's a fault on their end. Just because I'm not preaching justification by works I must be preaching justification by faith?

Where is Grace and Christ in that?

Hi @Rudometkin Good to engage seriously with the Word and discuss it; but when it goes round and round in circles with slogans, etc., it's no longer profitable, right?

 

[robert derrick]

dude. you continued use of james out of context is your downfall.

The people james spoke to DID NOT HAVE FAITH. hence they were never saved by faith

They had mere belief. Not all belief is faith, the demons believed but they did not trust (faith) hence why they are lost.

Again, there is no such thing as faith alone.

Your strawman is useless

Until you repent of being a false accuser of the brethren, I have nothing more to say to you personally.

 

[robert derrick]

The people James spoke to DID NOT HAVE FAITH. hence they were never saved by faith.

Once again we see how faith aloners care nothing for Scripture as written for the truth of God's salvation, but only what they want to wrest out of Scripture for their own self justification of unrepented sins in this life.

Scripture of God is not written to unbelievers that make no claim of faith in God.

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. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

Scripture in James is speaking to them that have confession of faith only, professing themselves Christians, while denying Him by their continued sins of the flesh. They are unjustified hearers and professors of being Christian only.

Faith alone is for the unrighteous trying to justify themselves through twisting of Scripture for their own personalized salvation.

They do not have the faith of Jesus in the heart to obey Him for His own eternal salvation.

But they have plenty of professorship in false teaching of Scripture to justify themselves thereby.

 

[robert derrick]

If you really believe Paul & James were saying the same thing, then explain this below.

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

So James is not talking about the faith in Jesus Christ for salvation as if needing works, but the faith in God's Providence that if any one says that they have faith in God to provide to the poor, they better be leading by example and not using that faith to get out of helping the poor.

See post # 88 at this link to this thread; Justification By Works

So James is not talking about the faith in Jesus Christ for salvation as if needing works.

Scripture in James is showing how faith needs works to be faith at all: living faith that is not dead.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Dead faith alone is vain faith that saves no man:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Dead faith alone is vain faith that justifies no man.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

That is why Scripture says plainly that the just shall live by faith.

The just do not have faith to hear and talk only to justify themselves without doing the works of God.

 

[robert derrick]

This does not put a smile on my face. Just when I had thought the Lord was working, it seems you were working to go back to defending your belief.

So be it.

The only thing that was working at the time was learning exactly what you believed. I stated plainly all along that I was not believing it, but only appreciating your honesty.

I also applauded your ability to have a unique view of Scripture and able to follow it through different Scriptures of the Bible.

That does not mean that I agreed with it as inspired of God.

However, in the end your effort to disassociate the faith for salvation from Scripture in James 2 is proven false, since God shows plainly He is speaking of the faith to be saved by in James 2.

Unfortunately, you refuse correction of Scripture, and fail to even address it.

That, I do not applaud at all.

 

[Christ4Me]

So James is not talking about the faith in Jesus Christ for salvation as if needing works.

Scripture in James is showing how faith needs works to be faith at all: living faith that is not dead.

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Dead faith alone is vain faith that saves no man:

What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Dead faith alone is vain faith that justifies no man.

Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

That is why Scripture says plainly that the just shall live by faith.

The just do not have faith to hear and talk only to justify themselves without doing the works of God.

Sharing faith in God's Providence to others needs works because those who profess that faith to the poor, should lead by example.

How do you apply these verses to mean?

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

Romans 4:1What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin. 9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.

Paul's words do not align with James words only because James was rebuking the church for their abuse of the poor in getting out of helping the poor by voicing their faith in God to provide to the poor without leading by example for the poor.

Paul is not talking about faith in God's Providence that requires an example by those who profess it to others, but faith in Jesus Christ without works because after having believed in Him, we are saved for why we can rest in Him.

By adding works to that faith in Jesus Christ to obtain salvation by, is actually denying Him that we are saved since having believed in Him and thereby denying Him as God our Savior.

 

[PinSeeker]

The people James spoke to DID NOT HAVE FAITH. hence they were never saved by faith. They had mere belief.

See, now, this is not true. Sorry, EG, no offense intended. James's letter is addressed to "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion"... To brothers in Christ (even to us, by extension) ~ whom he addresses as sinners somewhere between 15 and 20 times in his short letter, by the way. So, being brothers in Christ, they did have saving faith (and we do, too, of course), which is a God-given thing (Ephesians 2), the assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 8:1).

Not all belief is faith, the demons believed but they did not trust (faith) hence why they are lost.

True. Really, even atheists believe in God, know Who God is. Paul is very clear about that in Romans 1. They just deny Him in unrighteousness; they have exchanged the truth for a lie. You see this all through the Bible, actually, like Psalm 10:

"For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God' ... he says in his heart, 'God has forgotten, He has hidden his face, He will never see it' ... Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, 'You will not call to account'?"​

You can see in that, clearly, that the unbeliever says there is no God, but then acknowledges Him, convincing himself that God will not do what He says He will do... he denies God even in his heart, in unrighteousness, just like Paul says.

Again, there is no such thing as faith alone. Your strawman is useless

Yeah... You know, EG, I'm starting to think that RobertDerrick creates all these strawmen without even realizing it. He kind of trips himself up, so to speak. Maybe that's not totally the case, but, well, let's take this "faith alone" thing:

Now, this may sound picky, like mere semantics, but it's very important. Rather than "by faith alone," we should actually state this as "through faith alone." Yeah, 'by' and 'through'... what's the difference, right? Well, there's actually a huge difference. I can go into it in detail, but I think that's probably not necessary; I think everyone here, if they just think on it a bit, will see the difference. We are not saved by faith, but through faith, as Paul says in Romans 3:22, 4:13, and 11:20, Galatians 2:16, 3:14. and 3:26, and Ephesians 2:8 (there are several others, but that should be sufficient). Contrastingly, we are not saved through grace, but by grace... by the grace of God.

RobertDerrick is really not that far off, he just... well, trips himself up, so to speak, by misusing words, in several cases, this being one of them. Another is in not realizing (intentionally or no) the similarities and differences between unredeemed sinners and redeemed sinners, the main similarity being that both are still sinners... :) ... and the main difference being that redeemed sinners are saved and predestined to be conformed to Christ and will be, without fail, because it is by God's power that these folks are kept in Christ and walk in the Spirit to the end, and unredeemed sinners are not.

Grace and peace to you.

 

[farouk]

See, now, this is not true. Sorry, EG, no offense intended. James's letter is addressed to "the twelve tribes in the Dispersion"... To brothers in Christ (even to us, by extension) ~ whom he addresses as sinners somewhere between 15 and 20 times in his short letter, by the way. So, being brothers in Christ, they did have saving faith (and we do, too, of course), which is a God-given thing (Ephesians 2), the assurance of things hoped for (Hebrews 8:1).


True. Really, even atheists believe in God, know Who God is. Paul is very clear about that in Romans 1. They just deny Him in unrighteousness; they have exchanged the truth for a lie. You see this all through the Bible, actually, like Psalm 10:

"For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the LORD. In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek Him; all his thoughts are, 'There is no God' ... he says in his heart, 'God has forgotten, He has hidden his face, He will never see it' ... Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, 'You will not call to account'?"​

You can see in that, clearly, that the unbeliever says there is no God, but then acknowledges Him, convincing himself that God will not do what He says He will do... he denies God even in his heart, in unrighteousness, just like Paul says.


Yeah... You know, EG, I'm starting to think that RobertDerrick creates all these strawmen without even realizing it. He kind of trips himself up, so to speak. Maybe that's not totally the case, but, well, let's take this "faith alone" thing:

Now, this may sound picky, like mere semantics, but it's very important. Rather than "by faith alone," we should actually state this as "through faith alone." Yeah, 'by' and 'through'... what's the difference, right? Well, there's actually a huge difference. I can go into it in detail, but I think that's probably not necessary; I think everyone here, if they just think on it a bit, will see the difference. We are not saved by faith, but through faith, as Paul says in Romans 3:22, 4:13, and 11:20, Galatians 2:16, 3:14. and 3:26, and Ephesians 2:8 (there are several others, but that should be sufficient). Contrastingly, we are not saved through grace, but by grace... by the grace of God.

RobertDerrick is really not that far off, he just... well, trips himself up, so to speak, by misusing words, in several cases, this being one of them. Another is in not realizing (intentionally or no) the similarities and differences between unredeemed sinners and redeemed sinners, the main similarity being that both are still sinners... :) ... and the main difference being that redeemed sinners are saved and predestined to be conformed to Christ and will be, without fail, because it is by God's power that these folks are kept in Christ and walk in the Spirit to the end, and unredeemed sinners are not.

Grace and peace to you.

Hi @PinSeeker What James is basically saying, if there is professed faith without any evidence, then it's not true faith anyway.

 

[Christ4Me]

The only thing that was working at the time was learning exactly what you believed. I stated plainly all along that I was not believing it, but only appreciating your honesty.

I also applauded your ability to have a unique view of Scripture and able to follow it through different Scriptures of the Bible.

That does not mean that I agreed with it as inspired of God.

However, in the end your effort to disassociate the faith for salvation from Scripture in James 2 is proven false, since God shows plainly He is speaking of the faith to be saved by in James 2.

Unfortunately, you refuse correction of Scripture, and fail to even address it.

That, I do not applaud at all.

You open the OP by comparing Paul's words against James words and then nulling and voiding Paul's words in favor of faith needing works as taking it out of context of what that faith James was really talking about.

If you cannot align Paul's words of faith without works with James' words of faith needing works, it is because you are not rightly dividing the word of truth in what that faith was that James was talking about.

 

[PinSeeker]

By adding works to that faith in Jesus Christ to obtain salvation by, is actually denying Him that we are saved since having believed in Him and thereby denying Him as God our Savior.

Well, either that or denying that Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to accomplish our salvation... or at least that we need Christ plus something we contribute to gain salvation. But yes, that's right.

Grace and peace to you.

 

[PinSeeker]

Hi @PinSeeker What James is basically saying, if there is professed faith without any evidence, then it's not true faith anyway.

Exactly.

Grace and peace to you, farouk.

 

[Christ4Me]

Hi @PinSeeker What James is basically saying, if there is professed faith without any evidence, then it's not true faith anyway.

@Eternally Grateful @PinSeeker

To clarify...

What James is basically saying, if there is professed faith in God to provide for the poor without any evidence, then it's not true faith anyway.

If we say we are working for our salvation, then faith is made null and void as if God is unable to save those who believe the preaching of the cross.

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.... 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

That is how the Gentiles believers were born again by believing the words Peter had spoken.

Acts 10:43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. 44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Not by any works of righteousness which we have done since the Gentiles were saved before water baptism or even confessing Him with their mouths, but by His mercy.

Works does have its place for it is profitable unto men but not for obtaining salvation les we deny Him a sour Savior by those works.

Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

Until you repent of being a false accuser of the brethren, I have nothing more to say to you personally.

Until you repent and confess the people James spoke to had no faith period. They had mere belief. Then there is nothing more to say.

 

[Christ4Me]

Well, either that or denying that Christ's sacrifice was sufficient to accomplish our salvation...

I cannot see the above statement can align with the one below. If something is needed from us other than to believe in Him to be saved, then that puts salvation out of His hands into our hands and one may wonder how much that little something from us is required and that list can grow.

or at least that we need Christ plus something we contribute to gain salvation. But yes, that's right.

1 Corinthians 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Grace and peace to you.

May God bless you and keep you. May He shine His face upon you & give you His peace.