Justified Faith (Gal 2:5-16; Jam 2:14-26)

1. The Holy Scriptures- the OT and NT in their entirety- are inspired by the Holy Spirit, without error in what they affirm, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice. The Holy Scriptures contain all things necessary to salvation.

John 20:30–31 “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John 21:24–25 “This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.”

2 Timothy 3:14–17 “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2. The second birth- the new birth- supersedes the first birth. (Gal 2:15-16)

Righteousness is more an issue of grace than heritage. The Church is to embrace faith in Christ over lineage in birth.

3. Justification- being declared right and acceptable in the presence of God- only comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the law (legalism). (Gal 2:16)

“works of the law” = legalism = self-salvation by keeping the commandments.

justified- dikaioo- declare righteous, vindicate, set right.

4. Context and comparison are your golden tickets for biblical interpretation. (See back of insert)

The Bible is the best interpreter of the Bible. It cannot mean something to us that it did not mean to them.

5. Paul declares justification by faith. James demonstrates justification of faith. James describes the fruit of faith that Paul describes. (Gal 2:15-3:6; Rom 3:21-31; Jam 2:14-26)

(1) Context of surrounding verses or passages.

(2) Context of letter/book as a whole.

(3) Context of references and their relation to the author’s main point.

(4) Comparison of word choice and theme to writings of the same author, where applicable.

(5) Comparison of word choice and theme with other authors of the same testament.

(6) Comparison of word choice and theme with other authors of the entire Scriptural narrative.

5,600 words in Greek, 8,600 words in Hebrew, 200,000 words in English. If we wish to express a new concept, we pick a different word.

Justification According to Paul:

(1) Denouncement of seeking justification according to the works of the law. (Gal 2:15-21)

(2) Additional requirements nullify grace and gospel (Gal 1:1-10)

(3) Abraham is referenced in his belief in God his counting of righteousness. (Gal 3:1-6 [Gen 15])

(4) Paul ties justification to doctrinal declaration and the order of salvation. (Rom 3:21-31, 8:29-30)

(5) “Justified” in the NT is used for two purposes: validate nature/action and describe change in status.

(6) Justified in the OT is used to declared clean/right or vindicate a person/action as true.

Justified According to James:

(1) Faith without works is dead and useless. (Jam 2:14-24)

(2) Failed charity within the church. (Derived theme)

(3) Abraham’s faith was completed and Scripture was fulfilled by his willingness to sacrifice Isaac. (Jam 2:21-24 [Gen 22])

(4) James ties justification to the validation of faith that produces works and is secure in the end. (Jam 2:14-20)

(5 and 6) same as above

Observations and Concluding Thoughts:

Paul is justifying the reception of Gentiles into the church without circumcision. James is discussing failed charity within the church. They’re talking about two entirely different subjects that uses entirely different vocabulary throughout the respective letters.

Paul = “works of the law”/James = “works”

Revisit word options above.

Paul is talking about the historical nature of a theological gospel. Paul’s statements of justification pertain directly to soteriology- doctrines of salvation. James deals with the practical nature of justified faith is justified by works.

Paul directly handles the source of justification; James directly handles the effects of justification.

For James, faith and works are connected concepts, NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. your works are defined in reference to your faith. it’s always faith then works. Works never precedes faith in sentence structure.

Abraham:

Paul references Abraham’s faith (Gen 15). James references Abraham’s work (Gen 22). His faith was completed by his works. Gen 15 is fulfilled by his obedience in Gen 22. Abraham’s justified work was evidence of his justified faith.

Paul declares justification. James demonstrates justification. If a sinner can get into relationship with God only by faith (Paul's justification), the ultimate validation of that relationship takes into account the works that true faith will inevitably produce (James’ justification).

Jam 2:24 is a summary answer to q14. It is not to be inferred that James held to a justification by works without faith. Such a misunderstanding is so abhorrent to his doctrine on the inseparability of these two that it did not occur to him to rationalize or guard against it.

James establishes “faith alone” as the misunderstanding of a faith that has nothing behind it, a belief that produces nothing. This, by his argument, would not be considered faith.

Paul uses faith as a dynamic relation. For Paul, faith is intimate union with Christ as Lord, and since the faith is in a lord, that necessitates obedience and a following of authority. Paul’s letters vehemently reject a “faith” that does not live in accordance with the Holy Sprit.

Rom 3:21-31 (v28)

the law and prophets bear witness to Christ, the righteousness of God through faith to all who believe.

All have sinned, false short, and are justified by grace through Christ, put forth to pass over formed sins.

It was to show present righteousness that he may be the justifier of the one who has faith. God is the one who justifies the circumcised and uncircumcised.

Do we overthrow the law by this faith? NO! we uphold it. The justified faith leads to lawfulness.

Paul just gone done recounting how he approached Peter, who stood condemned because his proclamation of faith did not match the outworking of his conduct.

Order of salvation- conversion, justification, sanctification. Justification leads to sanctification. You cannot have justification that does not lead to sanctification, meaning biblical salvation cannot be a declarative statement that does not lead to transformed disposition. God works for us and to us. The works done through us become evidence of the work done in us, which ultimately points to the work done for us.

6. Faith is the belief of correct doctrine, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the discipline of a holy life. (1 Pet 1)

Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline.

Faith is actualization over acknowledgment or achievement.

ARTICLE VIII – GOOD WORKS We believe good works are the necessary fruits of faith which follow justification, though they cannot remove our sins or advert divine judgment. Good works which spring from a true and living faith, however, are pleasing and acceptable to God for through them faith is made evident, as a tree is discerned by its fruits.