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

You talking to the wrong person, as I have already explain myself on this subject. That being said, I will add that infants are pure and innocent as you are saying. If you believe they are, then let me ask you a question: Why did God command Israel to destroy infants when they destroy nation? Do you believe there were no infants destroyed in the flood? Of course there were. Your religion (coc) has major problems on a lot of doctrines that we shall expose as we go forward.
I meant to say: "will add that infants are NOT pure and innocent as you are saying."
 
@Titus
How does one get saved in Christ?
By calvinism they do nothing. They were handpicked for nothing they could do would put them in Christ.
The Bible does not teach this.
You folks just cannot get away from calling others faith "Calvinism" when they teach unconditional election by grace. Why do you not take what I believe and teach and prove it unbiblical with the scriptures, and if one has the truth, it will expose error, without name calling ~you must interject Calvinism into your argument and the reason being, is that you have no other strong points to use other than that, because you know that Calvinism is a hated teaching by most, especially so by those who preach conditions to be met, before one can be saved from their sins and condemnation, so you folks just cannot stop yourself. You asked:

"How does one get saved in Christ?" A awkward question you are asking. How does one get into Christ, or how does one become a child of God ~ would be a more intelligent biblical question. Let me give you a bible answer to the latter, and actually the first as well.

Ephesians 1:4​

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

Ephesians 1:5​

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

Ephesians 1:7​

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

2 Timothy 1:9​

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

"According to"....Agreeing; harmonizing and 2. Suitable; agreeable; in accordance with. It signifies a state of agreement, conformity, or correspondence between two things, or a reference to a source or authority
All the saved are in Christs body, which is His church.
Ephesians 5:23,
- for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church and He is the Savior of the body/church
All of the elect have been part of Christ's body from eternity, there has never been a time when they have not been view by God as not part of Christ elect body, he being the head and they his members. How else are you going to understand such scriptures and there are many more, but for now:

Ephesians 2:5​

“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”

There has never been a time God did not view us in Christ, never ~ Legally speaking. Practically, yes, some were in Christ before others, but not legally.
The elect in Ephesians did not get In Christ the way Bakers religion teaches.
Chosen in Christ, per Paul. The only way you and your false cult believes one is in Christ is though water baptism. Water Baptism puts one into the religion/faith of Christ only, nothing more. We shall consider Romans 6:1-4 later.
Galatians 3:26-27,
- for ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus
for( Greek word gar, means heres the reason why)
for as many of you as have been baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ

Romans 6:3,
- know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christwere baptized into His death

How then did the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:3 get IN Christ?
Acts 19:1-7
- Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus(the Ephesians) and finding certain disciples he said unto them,
- have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed they said unto him we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit
- and Paul said until them unto what then were ye baptized and they said unto John's baptism
- and Paul said unto them, John veily baptized with the baptism of repentance saying untomthe people that they should believe on Him which should come after John, that is on Christ Jesus
- when they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus

The Ephesians were baptized Into Christ.
Notice they did not even have the Holy Spirit when they first believed.

Before they met Paul they were already believers in Jesus but not saved without the Holy Spirit.

Verse 4,
- then said Paul John(Apollos taught the same message as John)
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance saying unto the people that they should believe on Jesus which should come after John, that is on Christ Jesus

When they heard that they were baptized into Christ were all the spiritually blessings are.
Coming back to make a separate post on these scriptures.
 
@Titus
The elect in Ephesians did not get In Christ the way Bakers religion teaches.
God foreknew who would be in Christ long ago because He knew who would by their freewill choose to obey the gospel.
The apostle John said that you and your false religion is a lie.

John 1:13​

“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Do I need to give more proof? John rules out three main sources men would claim that plays a part in the new birth. Man's will, the will of another man desiring folks to be born again, and blood as many of the Jews and modern day fundamentalist's believes that the Jews are God chosen people simply by the fact they are Jews by nature.
Romans 6:3,
- know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christwere baptized into His death
Water baptism does indeed put us INTO Christ, into his rellgion/faith/teachings, etc. When one is baptized, he is confessing that he believes the record God gave of his Son and he is making a commitment to live according to the teaching of the word of God conceding Jesus Christ.

1st Peter 3:21​

“The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”

The like figure.​

There are two figures or pictures here – the ark in the previous verse, baptism in this verse. A figure is a symbolic picture representing something in reality (Romans 519; Hebrews 9:9. The adjective like indicates the figure of baptism is similar to another figure in context. The adverb also in this first clause further confirms at least two things being considered. Noah’s ark and water baptism are two figures: both are a picture of salvation in Christ. Most translations and commentators have only one figure – the ark is a figure of baptism! They have a vested interest in baptism not being a figure – for most are baby sprinklers.

There are four requirements for a scriptural baptism, and this one verse teaches three of them. The three requirements taught here are the proper subject, mode, and design of baptism. It is amazing to see what modern translations have done to corrupt all three requirements.

Baptism is a figure of resurrection, as the verse’s grammar requires, and as the Bible teaches. The grammar, by ignoring the parenthetical element, connects the figure to resurrection. Bible baptism, which is immersion or submersion, is a picture of burial and resurrection. Paul thoroughly identified the burial and resurrection figure of water baptism (Romans 6:1-5). Without this understanding of baptism = resurrection, you have no hope with 1st Corinthians 15:29.

Whereunto even baptism.​

Having introduced Noah and the ark for several reasons, Peter applied its figure to baptism. To this point in 1st Peter 3:18-22, no reader could know where he was going until these words.

Doth also now save us.​

The adverb also in this first clause further confirms at least two figures are being considered. The ark literally saved from water; Jesus literally saved His elect from the second death. The ark figuratively saved by figuring Jesus; baptism figuratively saves by figuring Jesus. How does baptism save? It saves figuratively, because baptism has been defined as a figure. There is real salvation in Jesus Christ’s resurrection mentioned in this verse (Romans 4:25). Baptism pictures that resurrection in a figure by its burial and rising again from water. There is no real saving efficacy, power, value in baptism, for the next clause confirms it. When the Bible says baptism washes away sins (Acts 22:16), it only does so figuratively. A good conscience answering God in baptism is evidence of eternal life (Mark 16;16). The will and works of man are entirely rejected as having any role in eternal life whatsoever.

Not the putting away of the filth of the flesh.​

A very damning and destructive heresy in church history is the premise that baptism saves. Once you accept this premise for your reasoning, then you will corrupt so much more truth. Since water may not be available for an immersion, you will invent sprinkling or pouring. Since many died in infancy, heretics comforted mothers by baptizing their babies, and the consistent Presbyterians doing this will also stuff the Lord’s Supper in their little mouths. Since infants miscarry, and they hold to original sin, they also use intrauterine baptism. Since Campbellites baptize believers, they deny original sin for the age of accountability. Since Mormons require a Mormon baptism, they invented baptism for dead relatives. Baptismal regeneration or salvation is a terrible lie that has corrupted “Christianity.” Modern translations and commentators show a profane perversity by corrupting this point. They must at all costs maintain the RCC heresy and premise that baptism saves the soul. Therefore, when they find God denying their profanity, they alter His words like in Eden. They change the words filth of the flesh … to … dirt of the body in words or meaning. The terms here define, demand, and prove design of water baptism – no means of salvation. Water baptism does not remove or take away sins or sin nature in any literal or real way.

The condition for baptism is a good conscience, which requires maturity and regeneration! A bad conscience is under condemnation and guilt of sin without remedy (Hebrews 10:1-3). A good conscience must hear and believe the true gospel of forgiveness and justification.

By the resurrection of Jesus Christ.​

Proper baptism, burial and resurrection in water, is a figurative picture of Jesus’ resurrection. The connection here defines, demands, and proves the mode of water baptism – immersion. Baptism must be a figure of salvation in Jesus Christ, for that is what is written thus far. Baptism must be a figure of Jesus Christ’s resurrection by connection to this last phrase. Only baptism by immersion has a figure or picture of any kind at all of body resurrection.
 
@Titus
How then did the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:3 get IN Christ?
Acts 19:1-7
- Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus(the Ephesians) and finding certain disciples he said unto them,
- have ye received the Holy Spirit since ye believed they said unto him we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Spirit
- and Paul said until them unto what then were ye baptized and they said unto John's baptism
- and Paul said unto them, John veily baptized with the baptism of repentance saying untomthe people that they should believe on Him which should come after John, that is on Christ Jesus
- when they heard this they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus
You asked again: "How then did the Ephesians in Ephesians 1:3 get IN Christ? " One more time, listen carefully:

Ephesians 1:4​

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

We were chosen IN CHRIST, before the foundation of the world. Can words be any clearer spoken? Water baptism only places the NT saints into the religion/faith/teachings of Jesus Christ, which the OT saints did not enjoy this phase of salvation that NT saints enjoy, which is the true biblical meaning of Mark 16:16.

Mark 16:16​

“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.”

Every child of God under the NT and the religion of Jesus Christ, enjoys a salvation (in a practical sense only) that not many OT saints knew much about, with so much more light we are living under the NT, post Christ's death and resurrection, to sit upon David's Throne waiting until his Father make all his enemies his footstool. We know the reality, and truth of all those OT symbolical meanings. The word saved in Mark 16:16 is practical only, proven by the last half of Mark 16:16, which only those who do not believe are condemned, not those who have never be baptized, which are millions of believers. Water baptism when scripturally obey, just adds proper KNOWEDGE to those who ae being baptized.

The forty-year time period of about 30-70 A.D. was the time of reformation and transition from the law and prophets to the kingdom of God, in which both covenants operated side by side, until the Old Covenant vanished away with the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple of God, and the Jewish people

John the Baptist, introducing the time of reformation and this profound transition, was sent from God with the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins in preparation for the promised Messiah and Saviour of Israel

John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ even though Christ did not baptize anyone (John 4:2). John the Baptist baptized the apostles of Jesus Christ ( Acts 1:21,22; John 1:35-42; etc.)

The apostles, and all other persons baptized by John, were not rebaptized, since it was before Christ death and resurrection, no need for them to be rebaptized.

Jesus and His apostles preached the same message of repentance with an identical baptism to that of John which was a preparatory and anticipatory view to the kingdom of God being established with power and the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, under a glorified Lord and Christ.

We may easily answer our Lord’s question regarding the authority of John’s baptism; for it was from heaven by Divine appointment, its reception fulfilled all righteousness, and it was never repeated (Matthew 3:15; 21:23-27; Luke 7:28-30; John 1:6; etc. )

John was authorized by God to initiate Christian baptism, so far as it went prior to Pentecost; but he had no authority to appoint other administrators to perpetuate his baptism; and he was to decrease as Christ was to increase (Mark 1:5; Luke 7:30; John 3:26-34; etc. )

Our Lord’s official work of baptizing with the Holy Ghost began at Pentecost ( Mark 1:8; Acts 1:5; 2:33-38; 8:12-19; 10:44-48; 11:15-17; 15:7-11; Hebrews 2:3,4)

The administrative authority for baptism was fully changed at Pentecost, based on the glorified Lord Jesus Christ, from that of John to that of Christ and His apostles (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:14-20; Acts 2:36-38; 5:14)

The identifying formula for baptism changed at Pentecost, based on the glorified Jesus Christ ( Matthew 28:18-20; 19:5; 22:16, etc. )

Apollos, knowing only the baptism of John, that is, being baptized by John before Pentecost, was not rebaptized before going to Corinth (Acts 18:24-28; Hebrews 7:14)

Apollos taught the things of the Lord at Ephesus, knowing only John’s baptism; so his baptisms lacked both the administrative authority and identifying formula in use since Pentecost.

The twelve disciples at Ephesus, whom were baptized unto John’s baptism and had never heard of the Holy Ghost, likely by Apollos, were rebaptized by Paul in the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 19:1-7). Their baptism by Paul did not make them anymore saved from sin and condemnation, more than they were, but it did INCREASE their knowledge of Christ's religion and the knowledge of a gift that they had, but needed to understand how to tap into that gift, which Paul showed them.

Baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus still required apostolic authority for the gifts of the Holy Ghost during this special, transitory period of time (Acts 8:16).

Proving all things to hold fast only the good is Christ’s order, and it was kept well by the church of Ephesus later in trying false apostles (Revelation 2:22).

There is one baptism – one true baptism, and all others are counterfeits of the true and are to be rejected. There is no more a plurality of acceptable baptisms than there are acceptable Lords (1st Corinthians 8:6) and faiths (Jude 1:3).

Paul’s question about the baptism of the twelve disciples – unto what then were ye baptized? – proves the necessity of verifying baptisms; for he knew they were baptized already, since they were believing disciples.

We learn from Paul’s rebaptism of the twelve, that though disciples are sincerely and conscientiously satisfied with their baptisms, as they were, yet if the act is not a Scriptural act, their baptisms are null and void ~ Paul simply corrected the purpose as to why they were baptized in the first place, though for the same purpose, yet now it is INTO the religion and faith of the Lord Jesus, with a promise of the Spirit, to be use as a comforter, guide, and teacher.
 
The Spirit does play a huge part in salvation in regard to convicting, drawing, and enabling people to receive Christ through faith, regenerating them and sealing them in Christ. (John 3:5; 4:10,14; 6:44,65; 7:37-39; Acts 16:8,14; 1 Thessalonians 1:5; Titus 3:5; Ephesians 1:13-14 etc..) The teachings of your church do not line up with the teachings of the apostles
You type out verses as if you've proven these contradict what I believe.
You've proven nothing.
Give an explanation to what all these verses mean.
Walk me through them and show how my beliefs contradict them.
The problem is you dont even know what I believe yet you have no problem assuming without knowledge.

Ask me what I believe STOP assuming then making up stuff about me.
Your dishonesty is showing.
 
We were chosen IN CHRIST, before the foundation of the world
No context just pretext.

The Bible teaches elsewhere how those are added to Christ.
Galatians 3:26-27. Baptized INTO Christ.
You gave zero scripture showing belief alone put one IN Christ.

Those who chose to be baptized into Christ are the ones God
God chose the plan to save through Christ before the foundation of the world.
That plan is His gospel which includes baptism.
So all those obey the gospel are added to Christ.
The group in Christ were chosen.
Nowhere does this passage teach God chose to give a select few miraculous faith before the foundation of the world.
He chose to save in Christ.
One gets into Christ by obeying His gospel.

You missed corporate election.
God chose the church(corporate) to be saved not cherry picking ndividuals to directly zap them to believe.

Ephesians 5:23,
- for the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the Head of the  church and He is the Savior of the body/church


Illustration: a teacher predetermines that anyone who  joins the (honors class, church) will go on a special trip. The trip is predestined for the class(corporate, IN Christ) not for individuals chosen beforehand.

Foreknowledge.
God chose based upon those He knew would believe by obeying the plan being added to Chirst.
1Peter 1:2,
- elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit for  obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, Grace and peace be multiplied


Calvinist predestination, Biblical predestination,
God chose specific individuals before creation. God chose a group(those in Christ church)
Election is unconditional. Election is conditional upon faith.
Salvation irresistable given. Salvation offered to all. But only given to
Those who respond in faith, John 1:12.
Gods decree determines who believes. Gods foreknowledge sees who will believe.

Supporting verses for free will and Conditional Election
Romans 10:13,
- whoever calls on the Lord will be saved
1 Timothy 2:4,
- God desires all men everywhere to be saved.
Acts 2:40,
- be saved from this perverse generation, (shows human response is needed)
2 Thessalonians 2:13,
- God chose you.... through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth(believing and obeying the gospel)
 
How does one get saved in Christ?" A awkward question you are asking. How does one get into Christ, or how does one become a child of God ~ would be a more intelligent biblical question. Let me give you a bible answer to the latter, and actually the first as well.

Ephesians 1:4​

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”

Ephesians 1:5​

“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

Ephesians 1:7​

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

2 Timothy 1:9​

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

"According to"....Agreeing; harmonizing and 2. Suitable; agreeable; in accordance with. It signifies a state of agreement, conformity, or correspondence between two things, or a reference to a source or authority
None of these verses specifically tell us how one gets into Christ.
Not one.
I predicted you would fail and you have proven me correct.
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Failure.
Try again. Does not teach how God puts one IN Christ.

Galatians 3:27,
- for as many of you as were baptized INTO Christ have put on Christ

Romans 6:3-4,
- do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death

Your dishonesty is showing by you intentionally not posting these verses.
You have a biased agenda.
If you simply taught the Bible you would have included these passages.
But you dont teach Bible you teach calvinism when it suits you.

You folks just cannot get away from calling others faith "Calvinism" when they teach unconditional election by grace. Why do you not take what I believe and teach and prove it unbiblical with the scriptures, and if one has the truth, it will expose error, without name calling ~you must interject Calvinism into your argument and the reason being, is that you have no other strong points to use other than that, because you know that Calvinism is a hated teaching by most, especially so by those who preach conditions to be met, before one can be saved from their sins and condemnation, so you folks just cannot stop yourself. You asked:
Then stop teaching Calvinism and no one will ever accuse you of teaching calvinism again.
Stop complaining it's your religion that you embraced and are shoving down my throat.

All of the elect have been part of Christ's body from eternity, there has never been a time when they have not been view by God as not part of Christ elect body
Then you are wasting your time and everyone else's.
No one needs to hear believe or do anything!!!!
If I'm elected or not. It was already settled before the foundation of the world.
Why dont you realize the vanity of your arguing something that MAKES ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENCE IN EVERYONES PREDETERMINED DESTINY!!!!
 
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