In this article we will look at what God’s word teaches concerning our plans and list making. James gives us wisdom instruction on how the child of God should live out his or her daily life and our perspective on the future. Genuine faith knows we do not know what is best. You can purchase the workbook in James over in the Conforming to the Truth Shop.
Week:1~Genuine Faith Knows, Considers, and Does Not Doubt
Week 2~Genuine Faith Accepts Responsibility for His Sin and Repents
Week 3~ Genuine Faith Never Uproots the Word of God
Week 4: genuine Faith Understands God’s Grace Makes Us All Equal
“You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”James 2:24 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the Law.” Romans 3:28 ” Nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” Galatians 2:16
What is going on here? Is James and Paul in a theological debate? Is the Bible contradicting itself? Let me borrow the words of the Apostle Paul, “May it Never be.”
Clearing Up Wrong Thinking
We find ourselves in a passage of Scripture that has men everywhere standing in double-mindedness. One camp teaches justification by faith alone. Which is true, however, what they mean is we can sit back on our laurels and do nothing. While another camp teaches works, works, works. We must work for our salvation.”
My question is, which one is it?” I am sure it is yours as well. We can go to the Scriptures and study them in context and find the correct answer. Which leads me to a very important truth!
“Scripture never ever contradicts itself.” Let me say it again, “Scripture never ever contradicts itself!”
The flesh muddies the water. Remember the two mind sets I mentioned earlier? Before you and I can study the word and make any sense of it, we must understand this truth. God’s word is true, clear, and without contradiction.
If there seems to be a contradiction, it is with the one studying, not the word of God!
There is no doubt that it is work to study God’s Word! You and I must dig and pray as we work through it, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance into all truth.
It is all in the Meaning of Words in Context!
Now that we know we can stand on and rely on the truthfulness of the Bible let’s see how James and Paul complement each other’s teaching on justification. I am pulling out a few of the questions I asked in lesson 5 of our James Study, to help pull this truth together.
The first thing to remember is always stay in the context of the book you are studying.
Second, we need to understand the meaning of the word the author uses in the context in which he uses it. The Scriptures uses the word justified in two different ways. The meaning depends on the context in which the writer wrote.
- One use of the word Justified is this~ To show to be right or righteous.
- A second use of the word Justified is this~ To cause someone to be in a proper or right relation with someone else.
Let’s Do Some Homework
I have a little home work for you. Go get your Bible and look up the following passages and answer the questions that follow. {At the end of this post you can subscribe to join in on our study and receive the entire lesson if you like.}
Using the definitions of justified I mentioned above read and then answer the questions. Go I will be here when you get back!
- Read Romans 3:20-26. Which definition of justified is used in the Romans passage? Who is the One who justifies according to this same passage?
- Read Romans 3:27-30. Which definition of justified is Paul using in these verses? Who is the Justifier according to these verses?
- Read Matthew 11:19. Which definition of justified is Matthew using in this passage?
- Read Luke 7:35. Which definition of justified is Luke using in this passage?
- Read James 2:18-26. Which definition of justified is James using in this passage?
How did you do? Does the definition and the Scriptures help you understand this truth better?
Further Explanation of Justified
Here is a definition of justified I found @precept.org. I hope it helps you to understand better the work God does for us.
“Justified: as used by Paul in Romans (where 14 of 39 NT uses are found) dikaioo had primarily a forensic (legal) use meaning that one is declared righteous, acquitted. It is important to understand that dikaioo is not a process but an act. Justification is what God does when a sinner repents and believes on Christ. God does not “make” a sinner righteous (“make” implies an ongoing process) but declares them righteous at that moment. Justification is a once-for-all event that never needs to be repeated, is never altered and is never revoked nor rescinded. Justification is a change in a man’s relation or standing before God which has to do with relations that have been disturbed by sin, and these relations are personal. It is a change from guilt and condemnation to acquittal and acceptance. As already stated justification in the sense just described is by faith alone in Christ alone apart from works.”
Loving Working Faith
” Faith Worketh through love.”Galatians 5:6
The definition above is what Paul uses when he teaches on justification by faith alone. James uses dikaioo, justified, in the sense to show to be righteous. He uses two examples from the Old Testament to explain this truth. One example is Abraham and the other Rahab. James 2:21-26.
Abraham and Rahab believed God and their God-given faith was working with their works. James explains their faith was perfected by their works. He is teaching that Abraham and Rahab’s faith was genuine faith. Their faith showed what they believed.
Genuine faith is a loving working faith. Our works show the world our love for God. Let’s not find ourselves only hearers of the word. Let’s find ourselves doers of the word. Doers who look intently at the law of liberty and abide by it!
PLEASE STAY CONNECTED:)
Thank you for stopping by the blog today!
I would love for you to join my blog community for weekly and monthly newsletters, freebies, and exclusive discounts. And join me on Facebook as we build a community of women cultivating the mind of Christ through in-depth Bible Study.
