Faith and Works

I have been gone for quite a while, but I wondered how things were going here, so I decided to stop in and see. What I find is that after a year, the debate is still going strong over faith and works, I.E., which is relevant or more important.

The answer is simple. All that is required for anyone is one of three possible steps, since the answer is the same.

1. read your bible
2. ask God, believing you shall receive the answer
3. both of the above

Notice I didn't say "argue doctrine". In every church I have seen or attended, I find it highly interesting what they have to say, or more interesting what they just flat-out ignore. Faith and works is an interesting topic since churches hop on one side or the other and declare a doctrine for their members. What did christ say?

Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

You know, what was true of the Pharisee and the Sadducee of old was true of anyone who did the same thing, then or even today. We don't have the luxury of setting God's rules or his terms. God does.

Now, what did God's spirit say through scripture?

Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
Jas 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Jas 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Jas 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

If faith without works is dead, then also works without faith is dead also, for you truly are not saved by works of the law either.

Rom 9:30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
Rom 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
Rom 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
Rom 9:33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

But we have a problem with both views. (The following is usually NEVER quoted, or if so, is applied to someone else.)

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

This is Christ himself speaking. I would expect everyone who claims to believe in him to listen to him, at least, and believe that he understood what he was talking about.

What is the missing factor? What in scripture is not applied here to reconcile all of these things, since picking and choosing scripture for convenience is not an option? Since iniquity is sin, or lawlessness, however you wish to say it doesn't change that, what are we missing?

Mat 22:36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.
Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Everything else hangs upon these two commandments, commandments now written on our hearts.

What is missing is love.

There are people here on both sides of the equation that refuse to love each other. What will be their end if they refuse to stop?

That outcome was warned of us in Mat 7.

1Co 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
1Co 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

Charity, as used here is not giving to the poor as some teach, though it should be obvious from verse 3. The greek word (g26) translated to charity is agape, or love. Since the KJV was translated, the definition of the word charity was truncated, or shortened.

1Co 13:8 CharityG26 neverG3763 faileth:G1601 butG1161 whetherG1535 there be prophecies,G4394 they shall fail;G2673 whetherG1535 there be tongues,G1100 they shall cease;G3973 whetherG1535 there be knowledge,G1108 it shall vanish away.G2673

Example:

Joh 13:35 ByG1722 thisG5129 shall allG3956 men knowG1097 thatG3754 ye areG2075 myG1698 disciples,G3101 ifG1437 ye haveG2192 loveG26 one to another.G240 G1722

Notice that love in the second half of the verse is the same greek word, G26.

The works that Christ wants and that James references are works of love. It should have been evident when reading James, but is sometimes overlooked.

Jas 2:15-17 above.

I am not debating doctrine. I don't need religion to understand Christ or HIS doctrines and neither do you.

1Jn 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
1Jn 2:27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

By the way, those verses are almost never quoted as well, though a parallel verse below is often quoted in many churches.

Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Let me exit with this: Whatever shingle or denomination you go to, if you have the spirit within you, then you are my brother as assuredly as if we came from the same mother. For we are of the same family, sons of the living god. It doesn't matter to me if our doctrines differ, as Christ is able to fix any of our differences. He is your judge, not me, also, he is my judge not you.

If someone judges you, count it as no importance, for that is what it is worth. If Christ judges you, as he has already done, he will teach you and show you what he wants changed within you.

In the name of Yahshua (Jesus), let love, wisdom, peace, and joy be with you all.

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Faith and Works