James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
That refers to this verse in Genesis......
Genesis 15:1-6 And he (Abraham) believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
God's call on Abraham was in chapter 12. There is not much recorded interaction between God and Abraham until this passage in chapter 15.
Genesis 15:6 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
This incident occurred BEFORE ANY action on Abram's part.
Scripture clearly says here that Abram was declared righteous simply based on the fact that he believed God.
This verse is also repeated elsewhere in Scripture so that indicates it's significant and God wants us to get the message.
There is also these passages that show that works do not save.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Jesus never denied that mighty works were done.
Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
So Catholics are stuck here. Either they are right and we have to earn our place in heaven with our actions, IOW works, or Scripture has contradicted itself. Either the Catholic interpretation of James is wrong, or Scripture contradicts itself.
Are you going to tell us that Scripture contradicts itself?
Which is more likely? Scripture contradicting itself or a wrong interpretation because a verse is taken out of context, is being used as a stand alone *proof* without considering the passage in which it's found?
Because pulling verses out of their context is a sure recipe for error.
Oh my! Another keeper for my desktop files. Beautifully posited, Lady.
It has been explained MANY times but Catholics ignore it and just focus on ONE verse, taken out of context because James also says this......
James 2:23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
That refers to this verse in Genesis......
Genesis 15:1-6 And he (Abraham) believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
God's call on Abraham was in chapter 12. There is not much recorded interaction between God and Abraham until this passage in chapter 15.
Genesis 15:6 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
This incident occurred BEFORE ANY action on Abram's part.
Scripture clearly says here that Abram was declared righteous simply based on the fact that he believed God.
This verse is also repeated elsewhere in Scripture so that indicates it's significant and God wants us to get the message.
There is also these passages that show that works do not save.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Jesus never denied that mighty works were done.
Luke 18:9-14 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’
But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
So Catholics are stuck here. Either they are right and we have to earn our place in heaven with our actions, IOW works, or Scripture has contradicted itself. Either the Catholic interpretation of James is wrong, or Scripture contradicts itself.
Are you going to tell us that Scripture contradicts itself?
Which is more likely? Scripture contradicting itself or a wrong interpretation because a verse is taken out of context, is being used as a stand alone *proof* without considering the passage in which it's found?
Because pulling verses out of their context is a sure recipe for