James' Teaching On Justification: Before Men Or Before God?

[dwight92070]

See #342

 

[dwight92070]

Titus said: Belief itself is a work.

Titus obviously not only doesn't acknowledge what a work is, but he also does not acknowledge that Jesus is using figurative language in John 6:29: "This is the work of God of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." Of course he knowingly "interprets" this in a way that fits his preconceived doctrine.

Jesus is NOT calling belief a work here. He is saying that the work of God that a non-believer must "do" to please God - is not a work at all, but it is to believe in Jesus.

Paul confirms this in Romans 3:28 "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law."
Also Romans 4:2-5. Look at verse 5: "But to the one who does NOT work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness."

 

[Red Baker]

@Titus

It proves I answer if I want to.

It proves that you cannot, at least show that you can be honest. If it was me not answering your questions, you would let everyone know.

Blind men are oblivious to being refuted.

Who know that better than you? You are proving that to be very true. Fine, I'll not ask again, but I will address Matthew 16 more in depth for any young true lover of the truth, seeking to be more perfect in God's word.

 

[Titus]

See #342

All works done in salvation are not our works.
They are Gods works for He authorized them.
If they were our works then we would be inventing our own conditions for salvation.

Yes belief is a work.

You ever been in the military?

When your Sargent gives you an order do you do what he orders?
Or does he work those commands?

All commandments are worked/obeyed my the soldier being given the command.

Belief in Jesus is a direct command given by God.

Disobedience is a work of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-21.

Paul teaches Titus not to practise works of the flesh,
Titus 1:16,
- they profess to know God but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient and disqualified for every every good work

Do you see how Paul taught Titus denying who Jesus is, is a work of disobedience?
Notice also Paul,teaches Titus that by not believing they disqualify themselves from good works.


Paul is contrasting a work of disobedience with unbelief.
Therefore Paul is teaching unbelief is a work of disobedience.

Then the opposite is also true.
Since unbelief is a work of disobedience.
Belief is a good work.

Titus 1:16,
- they profess to know God but in works they deny Him being disobedient
- and disqualified for every good work( like obedient faith)


Unbelief disobedient work.
Belief obedient work.

Working Gods commandments is obedient faith.
1John 3:23-24,
- and this is Gods commandment that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another

Can you work Gods commandments without doing a work?

Can you disbelieve without doing a work?
Can you obey the commandment to believe without doing a work?

John 6:28-29 is a literal work. It's not imaginary.
The Greek words used by Jesus are literal not figurative.
To say they are changes Jesus teaching into something He never taught.

These same Greek words are used in these verses. Notice they are literal.
Matthew 5:16 - that they may see(literal) your good works erga

Revelation 20:12 - judged according to their works(literal) erga

Romans 4:2 - Abraham justified by works(ergon)

Conclusion: John uses the word ergon. So Jesus used the literal word ergon - this is the work of God...

Do you think faith is not a literal work of God?
- that you believe
Do you think God is not working a literal work in us when we believe?
Or is God working a work in us when we believe just figuratively?

 

[Titus]

John 10:37-38,
- if I do not do the works of My Father do not believe Me
-but if I do them, even thou you do not believe Me believe the works

God did literal works that He might work faith in us.