Originally Posted by
dberrie2000
There is but one mention of "faith alone" in the entire Biblical text:
James 2:24---New American Standard Bible (NASB)
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
In the gospel of Jesus Christ--there is neither Jew nor Gentile:
Galatians 3:26-29---King James Version (KJV)
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
According to Paul--this is the standard:
1 Corinthians 7:19---King James Version (KJV)
19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
IOW--the "works of the Law"--IE, circumcision, etc--is no longer required. The gospel of Jesus Christ revolves around keeping His commandments--not rituals such as circumcision.
Whoever one believes Paul or James was writing to--they both taught the gospel of Jesus Christ. That is the only way to harmonize the scriptures.
When Paul used the terms "works"--"works of the Law", "Law", etc--that was a reference to certain rituals under the Mosaic Law--not the gospel.
When we accept that--the scriptures harmonize.
When James used the term "works"--he was referring to acts of obedience to the gospel.
As Peter stated--Paul was hard to understand--and I believe it is due to his uses of terms.
Paul believed there was no obedience outside of obeying the commandments:
Galatians 5:19-21---King James Version (KJV)
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Could you reveal to us how you believe one could avoid Paul's testimony of condemnation above--and not obey the commandments?