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Before we begin, please take note of the following guidelines for proper understanding, as follows:
·The following signs differentiate the thereafter [+] from theretofore receiving grace [-], and in both conditions: theretofore or thereafter [±] receiving grace.
· What is the Grace preached by Paul? Click>>> here
Bible quotes:
[-] “For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God—not by works, lest any man should boast.” (From Paul: Ephesians 2:8-9) [+] “Ye see then how by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” (From James: James 2:24)From the above quotes, some quarters seem to be putting Paul and James with the 12, in contention with one another, but were the two apostles’ staging two separate points from the other? Are there two Gospels of God being taught in the Church? Let’s see the facts.
Paul’s View Point
Paul wrote in his letter:
[±] "Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also." (Romans 3:28-29)On that basis, my premise is whenever he mentions the word "work" in his letters; he is basically referring exclusively to the prescribed works done in the Mosaic Law. Let’s widen our scriptural scope to find the Biblical context on that premise. Paul wrote in Colossians 2:16-17, as follows:
[±] “…And having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. 16 Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or concerning a festival, a New Moon, or a Sabbath. 17 These are a shadow of the things to come, but the body that casts it belongs to Christ.… "We can find those mentioned above only in the provisions of the Law. But what is the rationale for the above passage, why did he say that? Let us search for the key to unlock this. Paul wrote In Galatians 3:25:
[+] "But after faith has come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.”Every Sabbath, the Jews traditionally go to the synagogue to study the Torah. They study and meditate on it that they may fulfill the righteousness provided in the Law. Hence, it is alluded to as the schoolmaster. However, as already been said, the flesh is weak since it is under the control of sinful nature, and so, no matter what man does, he cannot fulfill the Law. (Romans 7:14-20) Hence Paul, from the above passage seems to be saying: now that faith [in Christ] has come, it has replaced the schoolmaster so that the righteousness from the Law can actually be made manifest in those who have faith. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans 8 (see Romans 8:3-4) whereby the words in verse 4 was written as follows:
+] “…that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Apparently, Paul was talking about the Law, together with its ordinances, that has been replaced by the Spirit, (John14:26) put in charge in its place. As has been said in another place in scripture, Hebrews 10:1:
[±] “For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come and not the very image of those things”... is, after all, only a foreshadow and not the real thing.
To establish my premise on the exclusivity of Paul’s contention against works of the Law, I hereby present Paul’s faith with deeds: (1 Corinthians 9:27)
[+] “But I keep control of my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I should be a castaway.” James’ View Point
On the part of James, he admonishes Faith with deeds [works] in his letter: (James 2:21-23)
[+] “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” I believe the only way to resolve the matter in finding out whether Paul and James were indeed in contention with each other is to compare their teachings. Nevertheless, knowing there is only one Spirit, and only one gospel unto salvation, this then is the premise I will pursue from this point on in the discourse: there is only one solid teaching concerning Paul and James and the rest of the apostles as well.
If so, then this ought to show in James' letter.
To begin with, it will be noted that it was on the faith of Abraham that James rooted his argument on Faith with works. Coincidentally, it is the very same passage alluded to by Paul in his discourse on faith without works of the Law. (Paul in Romans 4:3 & James in James 2:23) And I quote from the OT their basis: (Genesis 15:6)
“And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” Let us have a background first on the foregoing, At the time of Abraham, the Law was not yet established for it came by way of Moses, some 400 years after the time of Abraham. Hence, it can be said that the prevailing standing unto salvation at the time of Abraham is faith without the works of the Law; thus Paul used Genesis 15:6 as his main argument on faith without works in Romans 4:3. However, James’ argument on the same basis was on a different plane; the act of Abraham proved his faith genuine in Genesis 22:1-18. As we can see both of them were rightfully saying the truth based on what should be understood on faith in connection to salvation:
*That salvation is gained by faith proved genuine apart from deeds [works] of the law. *
To finally establish that their teachings do not contend with the other, below are quotes from their letters about the Law:
Paul says…
3 For I testify again to every man who is circumcised, that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. (Galatians 5:3)14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Galatians 5:14)While James says…
8 If ye fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself,” ye do well. (James 2:8)10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend on one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)Now compare the quotes above from both men, and conclude for yourself.
Considering the fore goings, it is now easy to see that James was admonishing deeds of faith aligned with Paul’s writings in Ephesians 2:10:
[+] “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath beforehand ordained, that we should walk in them.”Hence, their teachings were in line with each other. This has been established by the very example that James used in his letter; which serves as an elaboration of the very example used by Paul (Romans 4:1-3, cf. James 2:21-23) where the Law was not yet put in place in Genesis 15:6. This rationale aligns with the examples of faith recounted in the Book of Hebrews; (Hebrews chapter 11) which were mere deeds of faith, not of the Mosaic Law.
Let me close this with Paul’s written objective concerning his ministry, see below "faith with deeds": (Romans 15:18)
"For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the *obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed...*"Sorry to say but I never found the words “By Faith Alone” anywhere in scripture... it must have been merely a delusion.
For further reading, choose How to Have a Relationship with God from the posts on display below. (Tap... "See All")
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