Yeah... I'm a little slow. I know. But I was sitting here working and listening to Follow You by Leeland and it just hit me like a ton of bricks. So I went and did some reading to see if what I had just realized was true to the word.
James does indeed say faith without works is dead but the concept that I have heard these scriptures used to purvey is faith without dressing a certain way is dead. Faith without shaving that beard is dead.
This is not, by any stretch of the imagination, what James was talking about and it is a travesty against the Living Word of a Holy God to make these scriptures say anything other than what the intended purpose was and is. He was talking about faith without showing love and compassion to your brother is dead. Faith while preferring your rich brother to your poor brother is dead.
Like I said... I'm a little slow sometimes. But, today, I woke up a little bit more.
Quote:
James 2:14 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
James 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be [ye] warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what [doth it] profit?
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
James 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
James 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James 2:25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way?
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
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