Yoshua
Well-Known Member
Hi Jo,I think there are so many, it would be hard to limit the number to use. Romans 3;28 V James 2;24 to start with. The issue of faith and works. Jesus said Justification = F+W while Paul states it's F-W. Another is about feeding the poor. Matthew 25; 31-46 while Paul writes in 2Thess 3; 10 that those who don't work should not eat. Shall we continue???
The only admonitions about women in church are from Paul. The only discussion of gays, and this is very open to interpretation is by Paul. Christ NEVER taught this. There is tons but but that is a start Yoshua.
We should study the context well here. It seems that they are contradicted with each other. In Eph. 2:8-10, it was clearly stated that we are not saved by good works instead we are saved by faith. The good works/work here is the result of our faith with God. Christian should be seen with good works caused by faith.
Eph. 2:8-10
8. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9. not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
In v.14, What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him? James is demonstrating if a man has faith, but has no works, how could faith save him. He used this to illustrate what is faith without works. He did not say--faith cannot saved.
James then used the analogy of a brother or sister without clothing, and need of daily food by giving them the necessary things for their body, then they would be complete. Therefore, James showed us the importance of having faith incorporate with good works. It does not mean that work without faith can saved.
15. If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food,
16. and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that?
17. Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself
In v. 17, James concluded that faith without works is dead being by itself. That is a dead faith—an unreal faith. He displayed his reasoning by this kind of analogy "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." James examined the two kinds of faith, the dead faith and the alive faith. This is the reason why in v.19, that even the demons believe in God, and not faith in God. Demon does not trust in God, they only believe that there is God. True faith transforms life.
James used Abraham as an example from what he is implying. In the first place, he should not use Abraham as an example if he is contradicting with Paul’s justification by faith. James is saying that if a person is genuinely saved by faith, there should be good works in a person’s life. He does not teach that works are necessary for salvation.
21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22. You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected;
23. and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness," and he was called the friend of God.
24. You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
James end his statement about faith, and that is what he is trying to convey. In v.24, he is saying that faith is always there as credited to righteousness. The “man is justified by works” means by Abraham’s faith with God, he showed his faith by his works (physical act). People look at the external (works), but God sees our heart (faith). How can we show our faith if it is not accompanied by our works which people usually see?
The Judgment
31. "But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit on His glorious throne.
32. "And all the nations will be gathered before Him; and He will separate them from one another, as the shepherd separates the sheep from the goats;
33. and He will put the sheep on His right, and the goats on the left.
34. "Then the King will say to those on His right, `Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
35. `For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in;
36. naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
37. "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink?
38. `And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You?
39. `And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40. "And the King will answer and say to them, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'
41. "Then He will also say to those on His left, `Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels;
42. for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink;
43. I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
44. "Then they themselves also will answer, saying, `Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?'
45. "Then He will answer them, saying, `Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'
46. "And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
2 Thess.3:10-12
10. For even when we were with you, we used to give you this order: if anyone will not work, neither let him eat.
11. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.
12. Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to work in quiet fashion and eat their own bread.
I don’t think that this contradicts with Matthew’s message about mercy by feeding and giving drink to those who are thirsty. In 2 Thess. 3:10-12, God is not favored to a lazy person. In the above messages before v.31, the parables showed that a lazy person cannot bring success to life, instead the talent was given to the one who has ten talents.
Matt.25:26-30
26. "But his master answered and said to him, `You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I scattered no seed.
27. `Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.
28. `Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'
The Bible does not teach us to do nothing (as in lazy). It is emphasized in v.11 “For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies.” From the start of humankind, God told Adam that he shall work to eat.
Gen. 3:18-19
18. "Both thorns and thistles it shall grow for you;
19. By the sweat of your face
You shall eat bread,
Till you return to the ground,
Because from it you were taken;
For you are dust,
And to dust you shall return."
Thanks