Paul is writing about one heart. Both the Gentile, not under the law, and the Jew, under the law, are dead in their sins. Neither can be justified because sin has killed them and the law cannot save them.
The heart of man is desperately wicked. It never seeks after God, indeed it cannot.
redneck, you are stumbling over your inability to understand Paul's legal argument, which he builds from chapter 1-8. I urge you to fully study this entire argument rather than cherry pick and thus miss the entire argument.
Reconciling Paul, Hebrews and James
Discussion in 'Baptist Theology & Bible Study' started by Martin Marprelate, Sep 4, 2021.
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George Antonios Well-Known Member
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Word: dikaiow
Pronounce: dik-ah-yo'-o
Strongs Number: G1344
Orig: from 1342; to render (i.e. show or regard as) just or innocent:--free, justify(-ier), be righteous. G1342
Use: TDNT-2:211,168 Verb
Heb Strong: H974 H2135 H6663 H7378 H8199
1) to render righteous or such he ought to be
2) to show, exhibit, evince, one to be righteous, such as he is and wishes himself to be considered
3) to declare, pronounce, one to be just, righteous, or such as he ought to be
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar?
24 Ye see that by works a man is justified, and not only by faith. Ja 2
13 for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified: Ro 2
1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him.
24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Ro 3
33 Who shall lay anything to the charge of God`s elect? It is God that justifieth; Ro 8 -
All words, no matter the language, have meaning in the context they are used. Any dictionary will give you a list of possible meanings.
So the word “justify” in Paul’s writings is focused on a forensic, or legal, justification in a law court. God “justified” us, declares us not guilty in a legal sense, based on our faith in Christ and not by any works we do,
The way James uses the word “justify”, in context, gives the sense of validation. The works we validate our faith. So faith (which alone brings salvation) is validated by a transformed life that includes works.
I think James may have seen future Baptists. We are convinced good works do not save us and many seem determined to prove it.
peace to you -
The first says “to render…..innocent”. That’s the context of Paul’s use.
The second says, “to show or exhibit…one to be righteous”. That’s the context of Jame’s use.
That is how I reconcile the passages.
peace to you -
23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Pet 2
6 who will render to every man according to his works:
If God is going to judge the hard and impenitent hearts by their works, then He is bound to be righteous in His judgement and also judge the circumcised hearts that have the law written therein by their works. Doesn't matter whether they're Jew or non-Jew.
7 to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life:
8 but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation,
9 tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek;
10 but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek:
11 for there is no respect of persons with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law;
13 for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified:
14 (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them);
16 in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ. Ro 2
What's good for the goose is good for the gander. -
…..If God does not declare us innocent (justify us) based on faith in Christ, clothing us in His righteousness, but judges us on our works…. then salvation by grace through faith is a lie.
and none are righteous, all fall short, all stand condemned…
The works shall be judged and all shall fall short, but those who put their faith in Christ shall be declared innocent, based on His work on the cross and not anything we did.
That’s Paul’s message, in context.
peace to you -
12 So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. Phil 2
14 (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
15 in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); Ro 2
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Gal 5 -
These works do not save, but are the result of salvation. Is that right?
If so, I agree with you, as long as we agree the works do not contribute to our salvation and do not make us righteous before God.
peace to you -
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But what is the second half of the verse?
..."but, the free gift of God is eternal life."
What is that free gift?
Faith is the free gift. Faith, which alone justifies us in trusting that Jesus imputed righteousness is applied to us who believe. -
But we can disagree.
Thanks for the civil discussion.
peace to you -
In Romans 9:30-33 we read:
What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works.They have stumbled over the stumbling stone, as it is written, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Here we see Paul confirming that we are justified by faith alone. Our works reveal our failure to keep the law. Thinking we can be justified by works is the very thought that is a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to God. -
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The word “grace” means unmerited favor.
You spoke of regeneration occuring prior to faith and suggested it was during this “time” of being regenerated that works merit the salvation that follows. Is that what you believe?
I believe that is a misunderstanding of the purpose of regeneration. God Holy Spirit regenerates us so that we may understand and believe the truth of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and respond with faith.
Once we have accepted Christ by faith, we are in-dwelt by Holy Spirit Who enables us to do the works God has prepared for us.
peace to you -
10 For we must all be made manifest before the judgment-seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 2 Cor 5
Maybe the unscriptural teaching of justification by faith 'alone' has left you ill prepared, skewed you, by not considering the works part of our justification, which God through His grace has also given us the hearts to do.
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