Contradictions - Faith With or Faith Without Works
Romans 3:28 in the New International Version
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"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"James 2:20 in the New King James Version
[This is the 3rd lesson of this series]
This message is actually more important to a believer than an unbeliever, but because it is added to the long list that people hold on to, to justify their stand that the bible is unreliable, and the reason they don't believe it, we have to discuss this matter in the public square.
I want to add though that I find it amusing that some unbelievers seemingly spend more time studying the bible (although more to find what's wrong with it) and talking about it than many believers. They spend more time trying to justify their unbelief than some believers do to justify their beliefs.
Although I'm not raining on their parade, at the rate some of them are going, they will be believers in due time. The Word of God does not return void, it will accomplish what it was intended to do.
Contradiction
So some of these people do say that these verses of Scripture show a contradiction between what Paul wrote in Romans (and in other letters he wrote) and what James wrote (James was the brother of Jesus).
Now we will not even talk about how people (both believers and unbelievers) love to cut and paste verses or take them out of context. And we will not delve in matters of what the purpose of the letters were or to whom it was written to, what the conditions were at the time and other relevant matters. Sometimes these just bore some people and they don't want to listen.
Anyway while at the surface it does look like a contradiction, it actually isn't. And although we already mentioned several times in other lessons that God is spiritually discerned, the explanation to show this isn't necessarily a contradiction, is easy enough. We do not need to pull out a host of bible verses and deep spiritual insight which as mentioned, does not work with most people anyway.
Paul's View
What everyone believes in is normally slanted towards their predispositions and biases. Unbelievers will tend to justify their unbelief, and believers with what they believe in.
Paul was once a legalistic, works based religious leader who knew the religious law better than most. And he was proud of it.
His old way was believing that we earn our salvation, spiritual brownie points and people's admiration through works. Meaning he believed that people are justified when they do good deeds, do what the law says, give to the poor, do good works, be a Martha (busy with ministry work), pray how many times a day, pray for a long time, memorize Scriptures, fast, don't eat certain food, and do all these things that will make them look pious and religious, and good in the eyes of others.
James' View
James on the other hand, was the younger brother of Jesus. He wasn't a religious man. He didn't believe in Jesus. We can't blame him, he grew up with Jesus, they slept in the same house, ate the same food, did the same chores.
Then all of a sudden, Jesus is this Messiah everyone is talking about. But for him, He is still the Jesus He played games with. Jesus wasn't recognized in His own hometown, much less in His own house, to James, He is and will always be the familiar elder brother.
Resurrected Christ
All these changed when Jesus resurrected from the dead, just as He prophesied He would do. And this wasn't a one time thing, after Jesus resurrected, He showed Himself to hundreds of people for a period of 40 days, doing both natural things people do, and the supernatural.
And this culminated on that Pentecost Sunday when the Holy Spirit whom Jesus promised He will send in His place, did come and in power. Jesus is no longer limited to being with them when He was in the same room as them. Jesus was from then on with them in spirit, 24/7, everywhere they go. He was true to His word, as always, and in this instance that He will not leave them as orphans, that He will not leave them or forsake them, and that He will be with them until the end of time.
James then finally believed. You see for certain people, it takes awhile for them to believe.
And when he did, he showed his faith by doing the things he didn't do when Jesus was still with them in the flesh. Basically what he is saying is that, when you say you believe, people have to see the evidence through the works that you do. Meaning you aren't all talk. But you aren't just showbiz either.
With Paul, and the religious leaders they were all work for show. They thrived on performance based theology. They are the "look at me" crowd. Look how we look somber and suffering, this is because we fast. Listen to us pray at the street corners, see how righteous we are. Look at the amount we give to the poor and drop in the donation box, tell others how generous we are. Listen to the Scripture readings we have memorized and all our works of mercy, have you ever seen anybody else better than us?
Paul didn't want to be associated with that fake, for show, showbiz world, religious crap anymore. His faith is now based on Christ and His finished work, not on the good things that he does. Religion is me, me, me. Christianity is about Christ.
To Paul, the good works that he do is because of Christ, the Author and the Finisher of His faith. And not because of personal gain, personal interest or personal agenda. In fact, He said, everything he learned prior to Christ is rubbish.
Christ showed him the way, the truth and life. James and all the others who gave up their lives for what they believed in, saw the same. Christ is legit, He is the real deal. They left everything for Him and His cause. A Christian is one who becomes less as Christ becomes more.
With Paul, and the religious leaders they were all work for show. They thrived on performance based theology. They are the "look at me" crowd. Look how we look somber and suffering, this is because we fast. Listen to us pray at the street corners, see how righteous we are. Look at the amount we give to the poor and drop in the donation box, tell others how generous we are. Listen to the Scripture readings we have memorized and all our works of mercy, have you ever seen anybody else better than us?
Paul didn't want to be associated with that fake, for show, showbiz world, religious crap anymore. His faith is now based on Christ and His finished work, not on the good things that he does. Religion is me, me, me. Christianity is about Christ.
To Paul, the good works that he do is because of Christ, the Author and the Finisher of His faith. And not because of personal gain, personal interest or personal agenda. In fact, He said, everything he learned prior to Christ is rubbish.
Christ showed him the way, the truth and life. James and all the others who gave up their lives for what they believed in, saw the same. Christ is legit, He is the real deal. They left everything for Him and His cause. A Christian is one who becomes less as Christ becomes more.
From Paul's Letter to the Philippians
Image Credit: jeffrandleman.com
Contradictions (the Series)
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