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JD writes:
Paul tells us that we are "justified" by faith
apart from obedience to [moral and ceremonial] law. That
occurs because of the faith of Christ -- God
seeing that and accepting it as our
righteousness. This
blessing occurs "in Christ" via the Incarnation which
presented all of mankind reconciled to
God.
The above is "another gospel" and Paul does not tell us
any of it JD. This revelation was received and is taught by certain
theologians that you admire. Paul did not contradict any other
scripture.
So when are you going to learn that there is nothing
wrong with God's eyesight. When he looks at you he sees
you not Christ and He has given to every man the measure of
faith. Christ's work on the cross is finished; a done deal - So if in
fact our righteousness is the faith of Christ then sin would not affect it
because "it is finished" right?
However, we see in 1 John 1:9 (post Calvary)
"If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to
forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness" So apparently sin causes us to go from
"righteous" to "unrighteous" and needs to be confessed and dealt with. So
when you combine your righteousness with that of Christ you make Him unrighteous
which also violates scripture because there is not and never was any
unrighteousness in Him and He is not responsible for your choices..
Secondly all mankind are
not "born of the Spirit" and reconciled to God at the
incarnation because the world is not able unable to receive the Spirit
of Truth (John 14:17). Rather He is sent to convict them of sin,
righteousness (vs their unrighteousness) and the judgment to come (John
16:8).
James tells us that we are "justified by works and not
by faith alone."
James wrote that faith without
corresponding actions is dead being alone.
The legalist or "works salvationists" see this as a
statement implying specific and prescribed works -- hear,
believe, confess, repent, be baptized.
The above is written by a "true legalist"
The student of James, the letter, sees this as visiting
the fatherless, the widows, honoring the poor ------
that sort of thing (in fact, James does not even allude to the traditional
legalese of modern Christianity.)
James calls the above "true
religion" - visiting and helping the poor are some of the the fruit of a
righteous life.
Such works, James tells the student, is evidence of a
personal faith. One is "required" (the faith of Christ counted
as our righteousness) and the other is an _expression_ of our justification
and is viewed by James as an action that continues our justification. We
have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved.
Theological legalism John, the
above is not evidence of anyone's heart attitude because
unbelievers can do good works from a sense of guilt and they often
do. Motivation is everything. man looks at "outward
appearance"
If we have been "born again" or born of the Spirit we
have been saved (John 3:3); the work of sanctification in our lives is "being
saved" and when we are accepted at the Judgment Seat of Christ (read sheep and
goats) we "will be saved"
IF we have not wrested the scriptures
to our own destruction..........
judyt
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