Justified by Works

[GracePeace]

Walking by faith is not "works".

"Works" is "a righteousness of my own"; walking in faith is God's righteousness (Ro 1:17; 14:5,23).
"I was abundant in labors above them all, yet, not I, but the grace with me."
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
"[Christ] came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near."
Since walking in faith is not "a righteousness of my own", but God's, justification thereby is "grace" not "works".
Faith is counted as righteousness--but it is God's righteousness we enter.
Jeremiah 23:6 says one of Jesus's Names will be "God Is Our Righteousness".
So, walking by faith fulfills the Law, and is justification by God's righteousness (Ro 2:6-16,26,27; 8:4).
Also, the believer who does not walk in faith is "condemned" (Ro 14:23).

When the Galatians believed a false Gospel of "works", what was Paul's solution?
Was it "believe in Christ alone"? No.
Instead, he instructs them to serve one another by faith working through love.
So, it's obvious Paul didn't believe in "faith alone", but "walking in faith" also.

Then, what's the difference between being under Law and serving others by faith?
Doesn't the Law also tell you to love your neighbor?

The Law directs attention to self, Grace directs attention to Christ.
The Law directs attention to self to condemn self's sinfulness.
Looking to the Law/self is turning from Christ; looking to Christ is turning from the Law/self.
Grace : "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God."
Law : "You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ..."
Whose righteousness you have depends on who you behold/trust--self or Christ.
To serve others by faith Christ authors differs from Law, therefore.

Consider : Paul "anathematizes" preachers of Circumcision (Ga 5:11).
However, he had Timothy circumcised, yet was not an "accursed" false teacher.
Why? Because Paul did it "because of the Jews in the region".
Paul was serving the Jews, trying to open a door leading to their salvation.
Paul abode with Christ, and sought to bring others to Christ.
Paul's circumcising Timothy proceeded from Christ for the Jews' salvation.
Paul focused on God, and sought to prove God's goodness, not self.
Paul loved God, not himself, because God loved him first.

Thus, what makes something a "work", one's own righteousness, is who performs it.
Walking by faith is God performing the righteousness to reveal Himself.
"Yet not I but the grace with me."
Walking in faith is looking to Christ, not self--God's righteousness, not our works.

Therefore, again, justification by walking in faith is "grace" not "works".
James taught so.

Paul calls marriage or celibacy "each man's gift".
So, a man's marrying or celibacy is his walking in faith, his "gift" of grace.
Walking in faith is "the gift of righteousness"--not our works, but God's.

So, Ro 2 can say "doers of the Law will be justified" without violating "justified by grace".
The Gentile believers who walk in God's righteousness by grace are "doers of the Law".
They will be justified--walking by faith is not a righteousness of one's own, but God's.

"New Perspectivists" argue "works" refers to Jewish laws (eg, circumcision).
"We're not justified by Jewish practices," is their interpretation of "not by works".
That doesn't work : Ro 3 "by works of Law comes the knowledge of sin".
Yet : Ro 7:7 the fact that coveting is sinful becomes known by the Law.
So, "works of Law" encompasses the entirety of the Law's commands.
Not just unique laws to Jews (eg, circumcision)--all of the Law's demands.

Then how can we be justified by being "doers of the Law"?
Because the works that justify come from God, as a gift, for His glory, not self.
That's the difference--God's righteousness or man's righteousness.
"Works" is man's righteousness, grace through faith is God's righteousness.

So, yes, we are justified, as James says, by walking in faith--it's not a contradiction of "grace not works".
Paul uses "works" technically.
It seems James is correcting people who've misunderstood Paul.
It seems James uses "works" in a less technical way.

 

[bro.tan]

Walking by faith is not "works".

"Works" is "a righteousness of my own"; walking in faith is God's righteousness (Ro 1:17; 14:5,23).
"I was abundant in labors above them all, yet, not I, but the grace with me."
"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."
"[Christ] came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near."
Because walking in faith is not "a righteousness of my own", but God's, justification thereby is "grace not works".

When the Galatians believed a false Gospel of works, what was Paul's solution?
Was it "believe in Christ alone"? No.
Instead, he instructs them to serve one another by faith working through love.
What's the difference between being under Law and serving others by faith?
Doesn't the Law tell you to love your neighbor?
The Law directs attention to self, to condemn sinfulness.
Looking to the Law/self is turning from Christ; looking to Christ is turning from the Law/self.
"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God."
"You who are trying to be justified by the law have been severed from Christ..."
Whose righteousness it is depends on who you behold--self or Christ.
Thus, to serve others by faith Christ authors differs from Law.

Paul had Timothy circumcised, yet he was not an accursed false teacher.
Why? Because Paul did it "because of the Jews in the region".
Paul was serving the Jews, trying to open a door so they might be saved.
Paul's circumcising Timothy proceeded from Christ for the Jews' salvation.
It wasn't because Paul sought justification by Law.

Thus, what makes something a "work", one's own righteousness, is who performs it.
When we walk by faith, that is God performing the righteousness.
"Yet not I but the grace with me."
If we do works, even good ones, without faith, we are condemned (Ro 14:5,23).
Faith is looking to Christ, not self.
God's righteousness, not our works.
"Not I but Christ."

Therefore, to say we're justified by walking in faith is "grace not works".
It's not us.
James taught so.

Paul calls marriage or celibacy "each man's gift".
So, man's walking in either of these is his "gift" given by grace--not his "work".
Walking in faith is "the gift of righteousness"--not our works, but God's.

Thus, Ro 2 can say "doers of the Law will be justified" without contradicting "grace not works".
The examples of doers it gives are Gentile believers who walk in God's righteousness by faith.
Walking by faith is not a righteousness of one's own, but God's.

Some claim "works" refers to Jewish practices like circumcision.
"We're not justified by becoming Jews," is their conclusion.
That doesn't work: Ro 3 "by works of Law comes the knowledge of sin".
Ro 7:7 says the fact that coveting is sinful is known by the Law.
So, "works of Law" encompasses the entirety of the Law's commands.

Then how can we be justified by being doers of the Law?
Because the works that justify come from God, as a gift, not self.
That's the difference--God's righteousness or man's righteousness.

So, yes, actually, we are justified, as James says, by walking in faith--and it's not a contradiction of "grace not works".
Paul uses "works" technically.
It seems James is correcting people who've misunderstood Paul.
It seems James uses "works" in a less technical way.

The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22). DON'T FOOL YOURSELF! If we really have faith in Jesus our actions will prove it. If Jesus is our Lord then we will obey him. Even a child will obey a parent, by getting good grades in school, for the reward of a new bicycle. The child cannot earn money for the bicycle, but instead must act upon their faith to receive the free gift. We must do the same to receive eternal life. "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 2:20).

 

[GracePeace]

The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22). DON'T FOOL YOURSELF! If we really have faith in Jesus our actions will prove it. If Jesus is our Lord then we will obey him. Even a child will obey a parent, by getting good grades in school, for the reward of a new bicycle. The child cannot earn money for the bicycle, but instead must act upon their faith to receive the free gift. We must do the same to receive eternal life. "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 2:20).

Yeah, I agree, I just needed more of an answer, because there are so many other truths in Scripture that require answering.

 

[GracePeace]

The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22). DON'T FOOL YOURSELF! If we really have faith in Jesus our actions will prove it. If Jesus is our Lord then we will obey him. Even a child will obey a parent, by getting good grades in school, for the reward of a new bicycle. The child cannot earn money for the bicycle, but instead must act upon their faith to receive the free gift. We must do the same to receive eternal life. "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 2:20).

Acting on the faith is the "gift".
Our acts of faith are Christ's acts, not our works which would pertain to our own righteousness--walking in faith is God's righteousness (Ro 1:17).
Therefore, on the Day of Judgment, those who are doers of the Law are justified as a gift by walking in faith--Christ's acts, not our own.
Eternal life is a "gift" "in Christ", because people are slaves of righteousness in Christ, not slaves of sin (whereby death was given to them as a paycheck) (Ro 6:17-22), because the body of sin was crucified and brought to nothing (Ro 6:6), and the Law of the Spirit of Life is "in Christ" (whereas the Law of Sin was in the flesh), but to "remain" (1 Jn 2:28) "in Christ" requires both faith and walking in faith (1 Jn 3:23,24), so there is no condemnation for those "in Christ" (Ro 8:1), but we see that the one who does not remain in Christ, by not walking in faith, does suffer condemnation (Ro 14:23).

 

[bro.tan]

Acting on the faith is the "gift".
Our acts of faith are Christ's acts, not our works which would pertain to our own righteousness--walking in faith is God's righteousness (Ro 1:17).
Therefore, on the Day of Judgment, those who are doers of the Law are justified as a gift by walking in faith--Christ's acts, not our own.
Eternal life is a "gift" "in Christ", because people are slaves of righteousness in Christ, not slaves of sin (whereby death was given to them as a paycheck) (Ro 6:17-22), because the body of sin was crucified and brought to nothing (Ro 6:6), and the Law of the Spirit of Life is "in Christ" (whereas the Law of Sin was in the flesh), but to "remain" (1 Jn 2:28) "in Christ" requires both faith and walking in faith (1 Jn 3:23,24), so there is no condemnation for those "in Christ" (Ro 8:1), but we see that the one who does not remain in Christ, by not walking in faith, does suffer condemnation (Ro 14:23).

Paul said in (Gal. 6:) (v.3) For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. (v.4) But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

The book says let every man prove his own work, and if your work is good then you will rejoice in it. (v.5) For every man shall bear his own burden. That’s right; every man must bear his own burden. You mean you thought that all you had to do was confess the name of Jesus and that was it? Brothers and sisters you must work to get salvation. (v.7) Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. God is not to be played with. Whatsoever you plant, that’s what you are going to reap. Be it good works unto eternal life, or evil works unto eternal damnation. The choice is yours, and your works belong to you.

 

[GracePeace]

You mean you thought that all you had to do was confess the name of Jesus and that was it?

Please do me a favor and show me where I have ever said anything even approaching this.

 

[GracePeace]

You mean you thought that all you had to do was confess the name of Jesus and that was it?

Look at the title of the thread.

 

[bro.tan]

Look at the title of the thread.

What I said is to be understood according to the title and the word of God. The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22). DON'T FOOL YOURSELF! If we really have faith in Jesus our actions will prove it. If Jesus is our Lord then we will obey him. Even a child will obey a parent, by getting good grades in school, for the reward of a new bicycle. The child cannot earn money for the bicycle, but instead must act upon their faith to receive the free gift. We must do the same to receive eternal life. "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 2:20).

 

[GracePeace]

What I said is to be understood according to the title and the word of God. The bible says, we must not only be a hearer of the word, but a doer of the word also (James 1:21-22). DON'T FOOL YOURSELF! If we really have faith in Jesus our actions will prove it. If Jesus is our Lord then we will obey him. Even a child will obey a parent, by getting good grades in school, for the reward of a new bicycle. The child cannot earn money for the bicycle, but instead must act upon their faith to receive the free gift. We must do the same to receive eternal life. "FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD” (James 2:20).

Guy, the title says "justified by works", so you're not arguing against me. Lol

Proverbs 18
13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

 

[bro.tan]

Please do me a favor and show me where I have ever said anything even approaching this.

peace in the might name of Jesus....If we speaking the same message, then praise God. If not then let's allow the Bible to speak, so we can both be on the right path or road to salvation.
Jesus warned us that the road to salvation is straight and narrow and that only a few of us will find it. Many are traveling down the wrong road, which leads to destruction. This is because many of us have heard about salvation but few of us want to do what is necessary to get salvation (many are called but few are chosen). (Matthew 7:13, 14) Many contend that Jesus did it all and now all we have to do is have faith.

 

[GracePeace]

peace in the might name of Jesus....If we speaking the same message, then praise God. If not then let's allow the Bible to speak, so we can both be on the right path or road to salvation.
Jesus warned us that the road to salvation is straight and narrow and that only a few of us will find it. Many are traveling down the wrong road, which leads to destruction. This is because many of us have heard about salvation but few of us want to do what is necessary to get salvation (many are called but few are chosen). (Matthew 7:13, 14) Many contend that Jesus did it all and now all we have to do is have ffaith.

Here's a "tip" on how you can know whether we speak the same message: actually READ the thing you're "responding" to before responding to it.

Proverbs 18
13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

 

[Behold]

"work's.... "doing stuff"...... "keeping commandments"...... "trying to be good"..... all of this is how Self Righteousness tries to Justify "self".
This is Religion, or in the context of Christianity, this is "Legalism".
Its "self saving"..

Whereas, God's only way of Justifying you, that HE offers.... = is though The Cross of Christ.... John 14:6
This is where God's Grace, as the blood and death of Jesus, meets the believer's : Faith, and our, your "FAITH is counted by God as (Christ's righteousness) on our behalf.

So, a deceiver, who may not be a real Christian, or is a deceived Christian, who is "fallen from Grace" will teach.."you are to DO all THIS, so that GOD will have you and keep you based on your performance".


Whereas someone who is born again, and isn't deceived, will only teach...."God's Grace (The Cross of Christ) is why you can come to God as a sinner and be forgiven all your sin, and given the new birth by God's Holy Spirit".

So, reader, learn to HEAR the differences between the 2 "gospels", and 2 TEACHERs.

 

[GracePeace]

"work's.... "doing stuff"...... "keeping commandments"...... "trying to be good"..... all of this is how Self Righteousness tries to Justify "self".
This is Religion, or in the context of Christianity, this is "Legalism".
Its "self saving"..

Whereas, God only way of Justifying you, is though The Cross of Christ.
This is where God's Grace, as the blood and death of Jesus, meets the believer's : Faith, and our, your "FAITH is counted by God as (Christ's righteousness) on our behalf.


So, a deceiver, who may not be a real Christian, or a deceived Christian, who is "fallen from Grace" will teach.."you are to DO all THIS, so that GOD will have you and keep you".


Whereas someone who isn't deceived, will teach...."God's Grace (The Cross of Christ) is why you can come to God as a sinner and be forgiven, and given the new birth".

So, reader, learn to HEAR the differences between the 2 "gospels", and 2 TEACHERs.

Nope, if it were selfish works, it would pertain to "a righteousness of my own", but Paul says "God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17) (thus "each man must be fully convinced in his own mind" (Ro 14:5), or else he is sinning and is condemned (Ro 14:23)), such that he says, "yet not i but the grace with me" (1 Co 15), and "Christ came and preached to you" (Ephesians), so that when the minister went to preach to them, it was Christ. When we walk in the spirit, that is God's righteousness, not our own, thus it is not "works", which corresponds to our own righteousness.

You are mistaken--understandably, since Scripture is hard to understand, but mistaken, still.

 

[GracePeace]

"work's.... "doing stuff"...... "keeping commandments"...... "trying to be good"..... all of this is how Self Righteousness tries to Justify "self".
This is Religion, or in the context of Christianity, this is "Legalism".
Its "self saving"..

Whereas, God's only way of Justifying you, that HE offers.... = is though The Cross of Christ.... John 14:6
This is where God's Grace, as the blood and death of Jesus, meets the believer's : Faith, and our, your "FAITH is counted by God as (Christ's righteousness) on our behalf.

So, a deceiver, who may not be a real Christian, or is a deceived Christian, who is "fallen from Grace" will teach.."you are to DO all THIS, so that GOD will have you and keep you based on your performance".


Whereas someone who is born again, and isn't deceived, will only teach...."God's Grace (The Cross of Christ) is why you can come to God as a sinner and be forgiven all your sin, and given the new birth by God's Holy Spirit".

So, reader, learn to HEAR the differences between the 2 "gospels", and 2 TEACHERs.

Only doers of the Law will be justified on the Day of Judgment (Ro 2:6-16)--those who walk after the Spirit fulfill the Law (Ro 8:4)

 

[Behold]

Nope, if it were selfish works, it would pertain to "a righteousness of my own",

Paul said that all his works to try to be justified before God, all his lawkeeping, all his self effort, is "dung".

And that is the same for you, @GracePeace .

See, the very mind that thinks...."'"well my righteousness, my works, are as good as JESUS, so, God will accept my performance, my good deeds". ........."Of course He will........ and now let me go and tell everyone on the forum all about myself as i SEE ME ME ME ME">..

Sure you can do that in your next 55 posts and Threads.
Many do that.. and that level of Pride that would try to tell other people that "my good works" are good enough, as if they are equal to The Son of God's righteousness....

A.) The Cross of Christ says...."don't believe it'".

So, the Pride, the glaring pride that is found by trying to elevate your works as if they are on the same level as Jesus's sinless life and finished work on the Cross, is the worst sort of Religious Heart and Mind.

Avoid them.

Now, we are to give our lives to God, as our "reasonable service",, as our DISCIPLESHIP>... but that is only because God has accepted us for eternity ONLY = based on our Faith in what Jesus has done for us, that allows God to accept us and keep us.

 

[bro.tan]

Guy, the title says "justified by works", so you're not arguing against me. Lol

Proverbs 18
13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Here's a "tip" on how you can know whether we speak the same message: actually READ the thing you're "responding" to before responding to it.

Proverbs 18
13If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Shame on me then

 

[GracePeace]

Paul said that all his works to try to be justified before God, all his lawkeeping, all his self effort, is "dung".

And that is the same for you, @GracePeace .

See, the very mind that thinks...."'"well my righteousness, my works, are as good as JESUS, so, God will accept my performance, my good deeds". ........."Of course He will........ and now let me go and tell everyone on the forum all about myself as i SEE ME ME ME ME">..

Sure you can do that in your next 55 posts and Threads.
Many do that.. and that level of Pride that would try to tell other people that "my good works" are good enough, as if they are equal to The Son of God's righteousness....

A.) The Cross of Christ says...."don't believe it'".

So, the Pride, the glaring pride that is found by trying to elevate your works as if they are on the same level as Jesus's sinless life and finished work on the Cross, is the worst sort of Religious Heart and Mind.

Avoid them.

Now, we are to give our lives to God, as our "reasonable service",, as our DISCIPLESHIP>... but that is only because God has accepted us for eternity ONLY = based on our Faith in what Jesus has done for us, that allows God to accept us and keep us.

You really are missing the point.

"Accepted us forever": if that's the case, how is Matthew 18 possible?

The guy is forgiven, so he's a believer, born of God, then, bc of his sinful behavior, after being born again, God rescinds the forgiveness, and tosses him into hell. No, your message is not Biblical. It has contours, aspects, of truths, but it simply isn't coherent and consistent with the texts.

Matthew 18
23Because of this, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. 24As he began the settlements, a debtor was brought to him owing ten thousand talents.f 25Since the man was unable to pay, the master ordered that he be sold to pay his debt, along with his wife and children and everything he owned. 26Then the servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Have patience with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything.’ 27His master had compassion on him, forgave his debt, and released him. 28But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii.g He grabbed him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ 29So his fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you back.’ 30But he refused. Instead, he went and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay his debt. 31When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and recounted all of this to their master. 32Then the master summoned him and declared, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave all your debt because you begged me. 33Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had on you?’ 34In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should repay all that he owed. 35That is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

 

[GracePeace]

Paul said that all his works to try to be justified before God, all his lawkeeping, all his self effort, is "dung".

And that is the same for you, @GracePeace .

See, the very mind that thinks...."'"well my righteousness, my works, are as good as JESUS, so, God will accept my performance, my good deeds". ........."Of course He will........ and now let me go and tell everyone on the forum all about myself as i SEE ME ME ME ME">..

You don't know the material. You do not know the things you are saying.

It's only "a righteousness of my own", "works", "dung", if it is done in fear: "a righteousness of my own from the Law" (Pp 3:9) is "works of the Law" by which "no flesh will be justified, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin" (Ro 3:19,20, 7:7), and being "under Law" is described as "slavery" (Galatians 4:21-5:1), and "slaves" invariably work with fear (Ro 8:15), and God won't do His works as long as there is fear, because it pertains to boasting in self (Judges 7:2+), thus, the issue is not an absence of works, because, when we walk in the Spirit, and give thanks (Ro 14:5,6), those are not our "works", or "a righteousness of my own", but "God's righteousness from faith to faith" (Ro 1:17), God's works. It's an issue of the absence of fear in the work.

To that end, your ignorant lie that "God accepts us forever in Christ" does a good job (ie, your ignorant lie makes it so that ignorant people who believe it are not afraid, thus God can work), but that doesn't change the fact that it simply is not reality. You are devoid of knowledge, and you cannot help people who know something about Scripture.

 

[Behold]

Only doers of the Law will be justified

-
That's not Christianity that you are selling @GracePeace

CHRISTianity, is.,. "no one comes to the Father, but by ME", Jesus said. John 14:6

You just denied this...... and replaced Jesus with your Law Keeping., again.

Do you not even understand that "The Born again are not under the Law, but under Grace"?

Has your cult not informed you that the Bride of Christ, the born again Believers, are only found in the NT, under a NEW Covenant?

See, the Law you are obsessed on, is OLD TESTAMENT,....the Law came by MOSES... and the NT has come... and Jesus is the author of a NEW COVENANT, that is the Grace of God found in The Cross of Christ.

Listen, the Law demands righteousness, that you can't provide, because "ALL have sinned".. = Yes, YOU.. .So, you as a SINNER trying to keep the law that defines you as a sinner, is a foolish ,religious, self righteous game does not end well for that player, after they die.

Comprehend? :

Instead, Go to God through Christ, and find God's Justification for the SINNER, as : "while we were YET SINNERS,.. .Christ died for US".

See that?

That is where you find God and Salvation and eternal life,, and never do you find justification before God based on Law, Lawkeeping, or commandments or commandment keeping.... as the Law was given to show you that you are a SINNER< needing to Be forgiven..
And God provided this, strictly as "Justification by Faith"... based on the Shed Blood and Death of Jesus on the Cross.

 

[GracePeace]

-
That's not Christianity that you are selling @GracePeace

You are utterly without knowledge:

Romans 2
13For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be declared righteous.

14Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15So they show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts either accusing or defending them 16on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus,b as proclaimed by my gospel.