men's bible study (2)

We are about to enter one of the most controversially debated texts in the Bible.

When we ask most protestant people the following question, “are you saved by faith or works?” There is normally a resounding FAITH!

So when Martin Luther speaks of this text of Scripture, he suggested: “I wish it were never written!” So why?

Well because it relates to the overall man and where works are fashioned in Salvation.

Let’s read our text:

James 2:21–26 ESV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Positional Righteousness - how we stand before God. — “this is in reference to how one stands before God.” — David Platt

So this is referring to the imputed righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Practical Righteousness— how we live before God. So our day to day which is an outflow of our relational connection to Christ.

So, those who are righteous in Christ flesh out a righteous life.

So we are looking at two different things: and Paul does not differ from James.

We must unpack the fullness of what James is saying.

James 2:21 ESV

21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

Literally — James has been speaking about how we walk as brethren.

How do we live this Christian life and flesh out Christ before the world?

James 2:22 ESV

22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;

Let’s compare this passage to Romans 3:28

Romans 3:28 ESV

28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

and then go back to vs. 24.

Vs. 24 says justified by works and not by faith alone.

But Romans 3:28 says faith apart from works.

The book of Galatians points to areas where men are trying to prove their righteousness in a religious course of action.

So Paul speaks negative and James speaks positive.