You made some valid points about Paul’s Teaching in the relationship with the teaching of James. Both Authors presented one truth in God, based on the Gospel teaching of Christ. I am in agreement with you on these things which you wrote. The context of the Scripture is the key to the valid interpretation of the Scripture. Justification by Faith is quite simple: Abraham believed—that alone was accounted him for righteousness. Testing Abraham’s faith, the faith was perfected. Abraham had faith, and that faith was accompanied with obedience to the Instruction of God. Abraham was acting out of faith toward God when he was told by God to take Isaac and offer him for sacrifice. From believers God does not ask to sacrifice (nor did he want Abraham to go through with sacrificing Isaac, for God Himself provided an acceptable sacrifice). Abraham was tested how genuine faith was that he had in his God. Abraham fulfilled the first commandment (the Law, before the Law was given): love God…Now, the “works/acts of the Law” (in its nature) is completely different from the “works/acts of Faith,” due to sin. Now, the Law stands valid and it is Spiritual, (in nature) it is fulfilled through the Faith in Christ; but is not fulfilled through the “works of the Law," due to sin. Because the “works” of the Law are “null and void,” But the Law is valid and is Spiritual and is fulfilled by Faith—the work of The Spirit, the Fruit of the Spirit. Paul teaches Corinthians that doing the “works” of the Law and having no Fruit (Love) just simply counts for nothing: “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor [works of the Law], and if I surrender my body to be burned [sacrifice] but do not have love [fruit of the Spirit], it profits me nothing [standing with God/in God’s sight], (1 Corinthians 13.3).” Works of the law are futile without Faith—the Faith fulfills the Law. And faith is not valid without the Fruit of the Spirit (His Work), The Law. The Law of Spirit is a guideline. For, in the Gospel we read that Jesus was looking for fruit on a fig-tree and he found no fruit (for it was not the season for figs, which was natural). And when he found the fig tree in her natural state, He cursed the fig tree and it withered. In James we read that James was looking for works, specifically in order to verify the Justification by Faith. Paul, however, advised a specific work, grounded in faith (Fruit of the Spirit). Christianity can have works, but lo and behold; they better be works of Faith, according to Paul. For that which is natural for human nature, it is not acceptable to God, especially when presented to be of Faith (See Mark 11, James 2 and 1 Corinthians 13). Jesus could have spoken the fruit on the fig tree, but He did not. It was a fig tree in its natural state and substance, which He did not need to eat in the first place (although He could have had). Jesus never did care to meet His needs, but he made sure that needs of others were met (according to the Gospel). Only love can meet the needs of others before they care to meet their own needs. However, we can (as Christians) keep meeting needs of others, not necessarily because it is in will of God, (Law) but for our own gratification (works of the Law)…Yes, it can "look like" the will of God; but in the form of the “works of the Law.” First letter to Corinthians gives an insight on Paul’s warning against that, strait forward. Further, God in His Grace keeps Law valid and the justification by faith he keeps totally “set apart” from the “works of the Law.” In the Gospels (Mathew 5.17-19; Luke 16.16-18), we read about Jesus’ teaching about the validity of the Law and fulfillment of the Law (through Him). However, in the Gospel of Luke (18.9-14) we read about sinner’s self-judgment and humble prayer, which is more pleasing to God then self-righteous judgment and works (acts) of the Law. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches about Pharisee’s prayer that was not acceptable to God because it was accompanied with self-righteousness and self-judgments against another (no love for other; but despite for a sinner, the tax collector), who was praying nearby. But the prayer that was acceptable to God came from the despised sinner (who was sin-broken and anguished in his heart, and knew that the only hope for him was the mercy of God). His humble prayer was acceptable to God and was an act of faith, which had the power to justify (Luke 18.9-14). The Tax collector had no works to boast about before God and he knew that, but he humbled himself before God and he was justified apart from the work of the Law. His prayer was a righteous act of the Faith, before God and He was justified. Now Faith is a Fruit of the Spirit, which the Pharisee did not have—therefore, he was a hypocrite and he was not justified. Blessings,
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 01:19:55 +0000
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