James 2: Claiming salvation without works

[Ghada]

The error of James 2 is not about claiming any faith without works, which in Bible principle is called dead, but rather is specifically about claiming to have the faith of the Lord Jesus, without doing His good works.

2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

The subject of James 2 is about having the faith of Jesus, not about having any faith at all.

Trying to say James 2 is only about having dead faith without any works, is an error and a diversion from the specific rebuke in James 2: It is against having one's own faith in God, that is not the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, because it has not the good works of Christ.

2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

They do have faith in God, but any such faith without doing His will, is judged dead to God. It is condemned as having one's own faith alone. It's their own faith alone, not the faith of Jesus. And therefore they are trusting in their own faith alone, apart from doing His good works, to save them.

2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Ps 12:3-4
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

And so, the faith they do have in God cannot save their own soul, because it is not the saving faith of Jesus, that is always doing those works pleasing to the Father.

James 2 is not as some try to say, only about claiming to have faith without works, which is dead being alone.

James 2 is specifically about claiming to be saved by one's own faith apart from Christ's works, which is dead being apart from Jesus Christ.

Therefore, anyone preaching any gospel of having salvation only by faith alone, apart from doing Christ's good works, is preaching one's own gospel alone of being saved by having their own faith in God, apart from the saving faith of Jesus.

Anyone on earth having faith without works, has dead faith. Anyone naming the name of Christ and having faith without doing His good works, has faith dead to God.

 

[Josheb]

The error of James 2 is not about claiming any faith without works, which in Bible principle is called dead, but rather is specifically about claiming to have the faith of the Lord Jesus, without doing His good works.

2:1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.

The subject of James 2 is about having the faith of Jesus, not about having any faith at all.

Trying to say James 2 is only about having dead faith without any works, is an error and a diversion from the specific rebuke in James 2: It is against having one's own faith in God, that is not the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ, because it has not the good works of Christ.

2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

They do have faith in God, but any such faith without doing His will, is judged dead to God. It is condemned as having one's own faith alone. It's their own faith alone, not the faith of Jesus. And therefore they are trusting in their own faith alone, apart from doing His good works, to save them.

2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

Ps 12:3-4
The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is lord over us?

And so, the faith they do have in God cannot save their own soul, because it is not the saving faith of Jesus, that is always doing those works pleasing to the Father.

James 2 is not as some try to say, only about claiming to have faith without works, which is dead being alone.

James 2 is specifically about claiming to be saved by one's own faith apart from Christ's works, which is dead being apart from Jesus Christ.

Therefore, anyone preaching any gospel of having salvation only by faith alone, apart from doing Christ's good works, is preaching one's own gospel alone of being saved by having their own faith in God, apart from the saving faith of Jesus.

Anyone on earth having faith without works, has dead faith. Anyone naming the name of Christ and having faith without doing His good works, has faith dead to God.

The problem with this op is that James is writing to and about the already-saved. He is writing about the salvation of the saved and when you neglect that fact you abuse God's word. James is NOT in error.


Start over and render James correctly.

 

[Arial]

Therefore, anyone preaching any gospel of having salvation only by faith alone, apart from doing Christ's good works, is preaching one's own gospel alone of being saved by having their own faith in God, apart from the saving faith of Jesus.

Anyone on earth having faith without works, has dead faith. Anyone naming the name of Christ and having faith without doing His good works, has faith dead to God.

It is impossible to have the faith necessary for salvation----which is a trust in the person and work of Jesus alone to save, also called in Scripture being in Christ----without that faith producing good works. It would of necessity produce the fruit of that faith. And these good works of obedience do not come all at once but are ongoing as the branch grows in understanding and wisdom. And this too is the work of the Holy Spirit in the one who has this faith. He sanctifies us, conforming us into the image of Christ while we await the fulness of our redemption at His second coming.