Reaction #1
This is a pretty good post. Just a couple of things are missing. Repentance of sins was not mentioned according to Acts 3:19.
v.19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
Then once saved, you must have good works, they go hand in hand according to James 2:14-17.
v.17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, "Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well"—but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?
So you see, faith by itself isn't enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.
TBP Reply to Reaction #1
Thanks first for the compliment, and I do agree with you regarding those two details, however, you and I differ slightly in our views on repentance and works, and this is why I have not mentioned them in the post.
Repentance is completed when a person responds to the gospel. The moment the person is saved, they are utterly forgiven and so the act of receiving Jesus Christ is an act of repentance. Thereafter, as one grows in sanctification and holiness through the lead of the Holy Spirit, one will have remorse in moments of weakness and return to God with a humble spirit.
It is also in this life-long journey of growing in the Lord that one will naturally obey His Word and inward instruction of the Holy Spirit and do good works that was ordained by the Lord. However, these good works have absolutely nothing to do with salvation. Salvation is through faith in Christ alone. There is no works that must be done to earn salvation or earn credits with God. Paul speaks strongly of this in Galatians chapter 1 and chapter 5. I also quote Ephesians,
Eph.2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Reaction #2
I do believe that James shows that they go hand in hand. If after being saved you don't have works, your faith is dead, and a dead faith can not save you………
TBP Reply to Reaction #2
James is written to the Jews who are part of the Kingdom program. He does not address his letter to the Gentiles (saved by the Grace gospel).
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
On the other hand, Paul writes to Gentiles under grace and says that the cross-work of Christ is all sufficient and that no works are counted for salvation. The only works left are those 'good works' that are done by the lead of the Spirit unto love and glory of God.
Rom.11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Eph.2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph.2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Just my view of things.
Reaction #3
I can see how you are trying to make this passage go away or not be applicable to all believers. But the Bible is its own best interpreter, and we are told plainly that once in Christ we are all the same to God. There are not some instructions from Paul to Gentile believers and other instructions to Jewish ones as you are suggesting, such thinking is nonsense. Galatians 3:27-29
27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes.[a] 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile,[b] slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children[c] of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you.
TBP Reply to Reaction #3
My intention is not to argue it out with you, but I do enjoy the back and forth as there is capacity to learn from each other. Nevertheless, I'll just say one thing regarding that scripture you quote.
By the time Paul writes Galatians, the Jewish Kingdom program has temporarily ended. Paul writes Galatians shortly after Acts 15. In Acts 15 we have the council meeting in Jerusalem where the apostles and Paul meet to weigh up the Kingdom and Grace gospels. (Remember that at this time a transition was taking place; the Jews were being blinded and God was increasing His blessing on the grace program to the Gentiles). According to Peter's own words, he says that Jews will now be saved in like manner as Gentiles,
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they [are].
With this expression, Peter quite literally "locked" the Kingdom gospel (with the keys Jesus gave him in Matthew 16:19) until the tribulation when it would be reactivated again. (IE: The kingdom program will be reactivated at the tribulation, since the grace program ends at the rapture of the Body of Christ). Since the Kingdom program is locked, and the Jews blinded, the grace gospel took precedence. It is therefore that Paul now says that there is no more Jew and Gentile, slave and free, etc,… because the Kingdom program had been temporarily ended. (In the Kingdom program, Jews were preeminent and above the Gentiles. Jews were first, then Gentiles; but now not any more).
So, I'm not ignoring the passage or trying to make it go away. James was relevant to the Jews under the Kingdom program. But when this program was cut off (by God; Romans chapters 9–11), the doctrine of this program was also temporarily nullified, since it belongs to the Jews. The doctrine of the Grace program, AKA: the mystery program (Rom.16:25) that was not prophesied or revealed in the O.T. or 4-gospels, is now the program in operation which is based on a new grace doctrine provided by the pen of Paul in his 13 epistles. This is the doctrine for us today as the members of the Body of Christ, and this is the doctrine that announced Jews and Gentiles are equal in Gods eyes, until the tribulation when their program is reactivated.
I do not reject James as doctrine, but it is not written to the Body of Christ. It belongs to Israel and the Kingdom dispensation. We can learn from it, but it is not written or addressed to us today. Paul's letters are our instructions today.
Hope that clarifies my view.
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