Manna

The passage from James is often the groundwork for all who want to teach works for salvation. It is the battle cry for those who believe that the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ is not sufficient.

James 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (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.

The terrible thing about misusing these verses is that they are aimed at the all-sufficient sacrifice of our Lord.

If my faith should become dead due to lack of works, my Saviour is not nor is my salvation nullified.

Phi 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [it] until the day of Jesus Christ:

The antecedent of he is God and it is written to all the saints at Philippi. God will not fail to perform and the saints will never be “unsaints”.

One of the greatest verses to prove that salvation is by grace without work is a verse aimed at a man who committed a most grave sin of fornication. He was sleeping with his father’s wife, which makes her either his stepmother or his own mother.

It is reported commonly [that there is] fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, [concerning] him that hath so done this deed, In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

(1 Corinthians 5:1-5)

If he had not repented it would have cost him his life. Therefore none that believe in the Gospel of grace (no works for salvation) advocates not having good works, not only because we love the Lord—but fear!

If there is such a word for this heresy, perhaps “Faithalonephobia” will do.

Let us look at the passage and no we will not light our stoves with the book of James.

James 2:14-26 What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? (15) If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, (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? (17) Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (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. (19) Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. (20) But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (22) Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? (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. (24) Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (25) Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent [them] out another way? (26) For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Was Abraham justified before performing any of the works listed in James?

Abraham was justified in Genesis 15:6 (1913 B.C.) years before Isaac was born (Genesis 21--1897 B.C.) and the offering up of Isaac in Genesis 22 (1872 B.C.). Here is a span of forty-one years in the case of Abraham. Paul testifies to his justification.

Romans 4:2-3 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath [whereof] to glory; but not before God. (3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

Was Abraham a lost man until Genesis 22 or have those that misuse James as there foundation for salvation ever looked at the life of Abraham during those forty-one years?

1. In Genesis 16.4 he goes into Hagar, which produces the worse enemy, the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the Jew) ever had.

Genesis 16:4 And he went in unto Hagar, and she conceived: and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.

Read the morning paper suicide bombers and all. How is this for waiting on the promise of God and showing forth his faith?

This took place in 1911 B.C. only two years after the great example of faith in Genesis 15:6.

2. In Genesis 17:17 he laugh at the original promise that justified him in the first place.

Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall [a child] be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?

This took place in 1898 B.C. only fifth teen years after the great example of faith in Genesis 15:6.

3. In Genesis 18 Sarah his wife not only laughs at the promise that justified Abraham, but lies also. Do you think as a married couple they never discussed the original promise of having children? How is this for building up the faith of your mate, Brother Abraham?

4. In Genesis 20 Abraham lies to Abimelech by telling him Sarah was his sister to save his hide and this could of led to adultery and fornication which Abimelech calls a great sin (He in this respect had more morals than those living in the U.K. and U.S.A)

Ishmael

The passage misused by those that teach salvation by works for this age is from James.

(Jam 2:21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

Here is the promise that follows the work that James refers to.

Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

The passage that teaches salvation is by faith alone is from Paul.

(Romans 4:3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Here is the promise that follows the faith alone which Paul refers to.

Genesis 15:5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

Have those that use these the passage from James ever compared the promises in Genesis 15 and Genesis 22?

The promises are the same except for the phrase “thy seed shall possess the gates of his enemies”.

My, my where do many of the enemies of the offspring of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (the Jew) come from good old Ishmael ({Arabs} Neh.4:7,6:1) where another promise comes into play. The Muslims today follow the lead of Mohammed claiming Ishmael as their father.

Genesis 16:11-12 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou [art] with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael; because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. (12) And he will be a wild man; his hand [will be] against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.

What a payback for trusting your own works by having a son by a bondwoman!

(Galatians 4:23) But he [who was] of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise.

If Abraham had believed in the promise that justified him in the first place by faith, there would have been no Ishmael, no laughing at the promise and other things listed. As my dear old southern Grandma from Possum Holler Tennessee used to say, whatever is tossed behind the devil’s back comes up through his belly.

One cannot fault Ishmael for being born he had no say in the matter. Therefore God did bless the seed of Ishmael.

(Genesis 17:20) And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee: Behold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruitful, and will multiply him exceedingly; twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation.

Genesis 16:9-10 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands. (10) And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.

This is similar to the original blessing given to Abraham. Yet, it is a strange thing with the Lord he will bless the enemies of Israel and the Church and even the enemies of their enemies in order to keep them obedient, punish them or to fulfil his will (Acts 8, Num33, Jer.50).

Sure God did stop Abraham from killing his son, the seed to fulfill the promise, but it was his lack of faith that produced a seed that has been killing the seed for the promise ever since. The knife in the hand of Abraham in type is the seed of Ishmael (Mohammedanism) killing the seed of Isaac (Hebrew).

But what does this have to do with the seeming conflict between Romans and James; plenty that will be discussed after the verses on circumcision are declared.

CIRCUMISION

When we read the life of Abraham we must remember that the promise in Genesis 15 he was uncircumcised and in Genesis 22 he was circumcised. Paul is referring to the promise of Genesis 15 in Romans 4 to mainly the uncircumcised (Gentiles). James speaks of Genesis 22 in James 2 to the twelve tribes of Israel, the circumcised.

Romans 4:9-10 [Cometh] this blessedness then upon the circumcision [only], or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. (10) How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.

It does not take much reading of the early Church that it started out with the Jews only (Acts 2 the circumcised) and ends with the Gentile (Acts 28 uncircumcised). The things that really caused division were the questions concerning circumcision and diet (the Law). Large portions of the writings of Paul are writing to address these issues in the early church, In fact the whole book of Galatians was mainly writing to address these issues that turned in to heresies, as are many other passages.

These problems were not present on the day of Pentecost, because many of the doctrines of the Body of Christ were not revealed until much later on. It was a progressive revelation that God mainly unfolded to Paul. Paul refers to them as mysteries.

(1Cor.4:11)

In fact Peter did not know about the revised diet from God until Acts 10 and you have Jewish (believers) that taught that circumcision was needful 20 years after Pentecost (52 A.D.). (Acts 15:5) But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.

Both Peter and James could have eaten pork chops, catfish and frog legs after Calvary or they could have even married a saved Gentile, but they did not know they could.

You cannot fault those above for not being informed about the revelations on diet, circumcision and other things that had not been revealed. However once it is revealed and if they do not abide they are then guilty of heresies or falsehood.

Do you realize that you had faithful men in the later part of Acts proclaiming the Gospel that John the Baptist taught and had to be instructed and rebaptized (Acts. 19:1-7)? In short, they had to be brought up to speed.

Back to the book of James

We as Christians who have been saved through faith alone have no problem with the promise (Genesis 15) to Abraham referred to in Romans 4, even though the object of his faith was not Calvary, but having future offspring. This is of course; if one realizes that the Old Testament saints did not have a clear view of Calvary (1Peter 1:11-12, Acts 8:34).

Yet, there are still the passages in James 2 and the promise in Genesis 22. Let us look at the passages and then try to conclude the matter.

(Genesis 22:17) That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

The phrase and thy seed shall possess the gates of thy enemies makes this a kingdom passage for Israel or in the case of James to the twelve tribes scattered aboard, which is Israel. The promise is to be taken literally by literal Jews who have literal enemies and will have a literal Kingdom here on Earth.

Ezekiel 37:25 And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, [even] they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David [shall be] their prince for ever.

How does the book of James begin, does it not begin with the twelve tribes being scattered abroad?

Would you not think that those who run to James chapter two would stop to read the opening remarks or even ask why does Paul use the promise of Genesis 15 rather than the promise in Genesis 22?

Have they ever studied the word scattered when it concerns the twelve tribes that James is writing to?

Every word of God especially when it comes to doctrine is to be studied (Yet, perhaps if you do not believe that you have an infallible book that the common man can run English references to this may explain your ignorance). God is very good at scattering people for disobedience (Gen.11: 4 Babel) and specially the Jew (Ezekiel 36:19) And I scattered them among the heathen, and they were dispersed through the countries: according to their way and according to their doings I judged them..

(Ezekiel 11:17) Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where ye have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.

(Ezekiel 28:25) Thus saith the Lord GOD; When I shall have gathered the house of Israel from the people among whom they are scattered, and shall be sanctified in them in the sight of the heathen, then shall they dwell in their land that I have given to my servant Jacob.

These three verses from Ezekiel are just a few. And when you are through studying the word scattered when related to the twelve tribes, then study gather when related to the same. Jer 31:10 Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare [it] in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd [doth] his flock.

Even Haman the enemy of the Jew connects the word scattered with the Jew, which more than you can say for many professing Christians.

(Esther 3:8) And Haman said unto king Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the people in all the provinces of thy kingdom; and their laws [are] diverse from all people; neither keep they the king's laws: therefore it [is] not for the king's profit to suffer them.

In fact the word scattered is not even connected to Paul or in his writings after his conversion

(Acts 8:1) And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.

And as a side note even when this early church of Jewish believers were scattered they still did not follow the great commission to preach to the heathen (Stephen was killed at Jerusalem). (Acts 11:19) Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

So what do we have so far? Here we have James writing to the scattered tribes of Israel using a promise of Abraham (Gen.22) connected to the Kingdom using works for salvation. The Book of James was written (Approximately. 44 AD and definitely ere Acts 15) before future revelations were revealed and the mysteries concerning the body of Christ.

Was James wrong or guilty of heresy, of course not, but why the seeming contradiction with Paul? Let face facts either you are saved by works (and of course James believed in Jesus Christ) or you are saved by faith alone (NOW) in Jesus Christ (and yes we know about repentance). The seeming conflict between how the early Church started out (Acts 2) and where it is now (Acts 28) can only be answered by future revelations given as the church developed in transition from the law to the Gospel of grace (Acts 20:24) and from the Gospel of the kingdom (restoration of Israel—Acts 1:8) to the ministry of reconciliation preached by Paul and others.

Do you realize that if you did every thing that our wonderful Lord and Saviour said to do you would be a first class heretic!!!

Mat 8:4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Where would you go to perform this to “Father Murphy” down the street at your local Catholic church?????

Do not forget that John the Baptist preached a Kingdom of heaven message as well as our Saviour to the Jews. In fact it was uttermost in the Apostles mind when he ascended (The restoration of Israel).

Mat 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Mat 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

(Acts 1:6) When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

Acts 3:19-21 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (20) And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: (21) Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

We know now that the restoration of Israel has been delayed due to their rejection of their Messiah (Romans 11,Matt.23: 37) and rejecting their king (John 18:39-40; 19:15,Matt. 27:35,Acts 7,28) Yet, the promise of destroying the enemies of Israel will come to pass, and is not only connected to Genesis 22, but the crucifixion as well.

Zechariah 12:9-10 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. (10) And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn.

What does this have to do with James? plenty! It would take to long in this short work to go into the Kingdom that Israel is waiting rightfully for. However just a few verses listed below will not only reveal the seeming contradiction between James and Paul, but other verses in the New Testament as well.

Matthew

Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all [men] for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Paul

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9)

Matthew

Mat 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Paul

Rom 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Matthew

Mat 15:24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

Mat 15:26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast [it] to dogs.

Paul

Rom 9:24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Matthew

Mat 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

Paul

1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Paul did not write ( 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing

the word of truth) for nought.

Now if the above verses do not cause you to ponder than I might ask what tribe are you from and are you looking for the Son of man or the Son of God. Note Paul never refers to Jesus Christ as the Son of Man—reading someone else's' mail (Israel) is one thing but using all of it for doctrine for the Body of Christ is another. Many heresies come from this and the book of James is no different. The best rule of thumb if it does not line up with the Apostle to the Gentiles, you are reading someone else mail and making it your own without discernment and division. Does this mean that we should not read other books other than the writings of Paul or than we cannot benefit from them.

We will let Paul himself answer this.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Rom 15:4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

In short, there are verses that the Christian can use in the Old Testament for his daily walk and doctrine

(Psalms 61:6-7) and things he cannot (Psalms 67:15). There are many verses that a Christian can use in what is called the New Testament and there are those he cannot.

Do not forget the New Testament did not start until after Calvary (Hebrews 9:15-19) and what we call the New Testament the 27 books has the Law of Moses, the Gospel of the grace of God, the restoration of Israel and tribulation and end time passages.

Perhaps the most tragic thing is someone who believes in the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and pollutes it with works for salvation which in some cases was doctrine in the past and will be in the future, but not for NOW!

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught [it], but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:6-12)

These revelations were not revealed the day Jesus rose from the grave, on the day of Pentecost or in the early days of the Church even Peter said they were hard to understand.

2Pe 3:16 As also in all [his] epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as [they do] also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

Peter and James was no different than many of the faithful Jews when he began he was waiting for the restoration of Israel and the promise given to Abraham to be fulfilled.

Gen 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which [is] upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;

John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.