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To: redleghunter; CynicalBear; metmom
James 2: 23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.(KJV)

Can you explain why James stated the above after discussing dead faith and works?

Yes, sure. The passage is:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, offering up Isaac his son upon the altar? [22] Seest thou, that faith did co-operate with his works; and by works faith was made perfect? [23] And the scripture was fulfilled, saying: Abraham believed God, and it was reputed to him to justice, and he was called the friend of God. (James 2:21-23) James correctly points out that Abraham was not saved by faith alone: He offered his own son for sacrifice God seemed to ask. I might add, he also crossed a desert by faith. Both are acts of faith that are also heroic deeds. As St. James explains that a living faith cooperates with works and is perfected by works.

You confusion stems from the fact that the Protestant view the passage in Roman 4 as a prooftext of salvation by faith alone. Of course, it isn't. All St. Paul is saying that Abraham was saved by his mental disposition, -- his faith -- even before he was circumcised, and the Romans likewise can be saved without going through circumcision. Paul is not discussing faith in relation to good works but faith in relation to Jewish Law.

Romans 11 that you cite states the Catohlic doctrine that salvation is by grace alone and grace is not of works.

3,057 posted on 12/23/2014 7:30:33 PM PST by annalex (fear them not)
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To: annalex
Romans 11 that you cite states the Catohlic doctrine that salvation is by grace alone and grace is not of works.

 
 
 
 

 
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.


John 6:28-29
Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?
 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."


1 John 3:21-23
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.


James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
 

 
 
 

3,129 posted on 12/24/2014 5:26:57 AM PST by Elsie ( Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: annalex; redleghunter; metmom
>>Was not Abraham our father justified by works<<

It amazes me how the meaning of scripture has been twisted. The quote above comes from James 2:21. Let's look at the word for word translation from the Greek.

James 2:21 Abraham the father of us not my works was justified having offered Isaac the son of him upon the alter.

And then the next verse.

James 2:22 you see that his faith was working with the works of him and by his works his faith was completed.

The actions (works) that Abraham took by laying Isaac on that alter was simply the end result of the faith Abraham had. True faith always has the result of acting right or good works. However, it is not the works that justify. It is the true faith which is only exhibited by the works that justifies. Paul states that clearly in Romans 4.

Romans 4:2 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.

And again in Romans 5.

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

It's faith that justifies. The works are only a result of proof of that faith.

3,146 posted on 12/24/2014 6:19:53 AM PST by CynicalBear (For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus)
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