d taylor
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- Oct 16, 2018
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I think it's an extreme and misguided view of Ephesians as the text is contrasted by St Peter and Saint James. At the end of Ephesians 2 (from which you quoted):
20 built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; 22in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
The reason I have sighted these verses is because it says "Build upon the foundation of the Apostles," and in this we are reminded that we are building a Church, not just telling ourselves that we believe. It's "through faith so it would seem that we must respond to the call of free salvation. We respond with faith. We don't tell ourselves we believe and go back to the corner drugging and prostitute thinking that we are believers.
The Bible is a big book and there are many chapters and verses. It seems to me a bit extreme to believe that Ephesians 2 is the only thing we must consider when interpreting scripture. Scripture does not go against scripture but one must go through all of the gospels and epistles, comparing and contrasting them to get the bigger picture. Meaning that there is more to living a Christian life than simply "believe."
It's saved "through faith," so let's see what the NT has to say about faith:
James 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
Is this statement of James (the brother of Christ) to be completely disregarded?
Galatians 2:20 - I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Meaning, that one must LIVE in faith, not just believe but LIVE which would seem to indicate that we must act in faith in order to be faithful
1 John 5:4- For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
This verse would seem to indicate that the granting of faith to us by God, should be applied to our lives to overcome "the world." It doesn't (to me) indicate that one must only believe they are saved but they must also strive to "overcome the world."
Hebrews 11:7 - By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
This verse seems to clarify that Noah took action in faith, he didn't simply believe that an ark would be built but he had the faith to build an ark. This highlights that faith we show and prove and it is practical for not only the afterlife but the world we live in now. As Noah's faith (granted by God), drove him to build the ark, we must also through faith (granted by God), live and take action through that faith.
As St James said:
James 2:18-22 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without [a]your works, and I will show you my faith by [b]my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is [c]dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Did St James the brother of Jesus have no clue what he was talking about or should we take this scripture as a lesson?
Not to keep beating a dead horse but in light of these scriptures, is only belief required or faith? Secondly, should our faith be alive or dead? See, this is the problem with an individual, according to their own interpretation of scripture found their own church or denomination with no consensus as to the merit of their interpretation. I feel more comfortable with the interpretation of the early church fathers who's bishops from across the known world found a consensus on how the word is to be interpreted. One (or many) churches base their interpretation of scripture on their own understanding when the Bible clearly says "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight." I prefer to lean on the understanding of the global community of bishops instead of one man who had some new ideas on how to interpret the Bible.
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James is addressing believers and warning them to not let their faith become dead faith. That does not mean they are no longer a born again child of God if their faith becomes dead. There is not a single verse giving any indication of this.
The verse addressing can dead faith save him. Is not addressing Eternal Life salvation, this is addressing a physical life salvation that God will give the believer who is faithful and serving God. If the believer is not living an active faith, God may let the believer loose their earthly life.
Paul speaks to this:
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long suffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.
Paul states The Lord delivered me, that is the same as saying The Lord saved me.
Plus the verses in James you posted
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
Are addressing the justification before men. God knows what men believe and who has believed in Jesus for Eternal Life. God does not need to see mans works to know whether a person is a believer or not.
But men can not see into a mans heart to see if a person is a believer. So man needs to see believers action or works to see is this person a believer. If the believer has a alive active faith, then man can believe this person must be justified or must be a believer in Jesus.
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