Exegesis Of St. James

[Justified Saint]

megamattman, in some cases it certainly is wise to extend Paul's understanding of works of the law to works of legality in general, works that put God in our debt(which is basically how the Mosaic law was being used). This of course is not the Catholic position, we don't make God our debtor for Paul makes clear that this is impossible. I wrote this on another thread dealing exactly with that verse.

[quote]Ah, of course because as it says "he would have something to boast about" if they were his own works. But the children of God perform the works that God has prepared for us (Eph 2:10). Not our own works of self-righteousness but rather the works that the loving son does out of love for his loving Father. This is all made possible by the power, the grace, and the gifts of God. They are then not [b]our[/b] works but the works of Christ through us. It is because of this that Paul says we can [b]boast[/b].
 
In Christ Jesus then, [b]I have reason to boast in what pertains to God[/b]. Romans 15:17 [/quote]

Still, the vast majority of Paul's use of works is talking specifically in the context of circumcision and the Jewish works of the law. The general theme to be learned though is that no matter how many good works we do, we can never put God in debt to where he is obligated to fufill some contractual agreement.

[ilovechrist]

[quote]"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day" (2 Tim. 4:7-8). But earlier in life, even Paul did not claim an infallible assurance, either of his present justification or of his remaining in grace in the future. Concerning his present state, he wrote, "I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby justified. It is the Lord who judges me" (1 Cor. 4:4). Concerning his remaining life, Paul was frank in admitting that even he could fall away: "I pummel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor. 9:27). Of course, for a spiritual giant such as Paul, it would be quite unexpected and out of character for him to fall from God’s grace. [/quote]


Philippians 2:12 says, [b]"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, [i]work out your own salvation[/i] with fear and trembling."[/b] --this is not the language of self-confident assurance. our salvation is therefore something that remains to be worked out, is it not? might not be referring to James here, but we are getting off the topic... just thought i'd throw in the salvation thing..

Edited April 12, 2004 by ilovechrist

[NewReformation]

"Works" are not done by us as mere men. All of our righteousness is filthy rags according to God's Word. Any good work that is done through us is done by Christ thru us. It's not our power. Our works don't count, it's the work of Christ in us.

I am crucified with Christ, and yet I live. Not I, but it is Christ that lives in me.

[Dave]

[quote name='NewReformation' date='Apr 12 2004, 11:06 AM'] "Works" are not done by us as mere men. All of our righteousness is filthy rags according to God's Word. Any good work that is done through us is done by Christ thru us. It's not our power. Our works don't count, it's the work of Christ in us.

[/quote]
Regarding your characterization of our righteousness as "filthy rags," in the words of the prophet Isaiah, let's examine that ... .

"But we are all like an unclean thing, and all of our righteousnesses are like filthy rags" (Isa. 64:6).Reference Isaiah the prophet summed up the wretched state into which the covenant people of God had sunk. Though they had the boon of receiving the Law from Mount Sinai, though they had come out of Egypt through the Red Sea, they had turned from their Lawgiver. The children of Zion were worshipping false gods (42:17). They were reveling in the dregs of idolatry. So much so, the prophet calls Jerusalem a harlot (1:21) and likens it to Sodom (3:9).

And yet, the people had an illusion of righteousness. Some of them professed to be "holier than thou," even while burning incense on strange altars (65:3-5). But God did not esteem their righteousness to be anything but pollution. He even hated the Sabbaths and feasts that He had Himself ordained (1:13,14). The house of Jacob's apostasy had rendered its best acts of religion unclean. Like the wind, sins were sweeping people away (64:6b).

How appropriate that the prophet would break into such hyperbole as to call this supposed goodness "filthy rags." What better way to call the nation to repentance? In the context of proud Judah's barrenness, the rebuke comes with the force of a thunderbolt.

The "filthy rags" must be understood historically and with application to the audience: apostate Jerusalem.

Yet you're saying it applies to all humanity.

You may argue that your application of the verse is correct because Isaiah includes himself among those whose righteous acts are unclean ("...all of our righteous acts"). But this should be understood in the light of Israel's corporate guilt. Isaiah is numbering himself among the covenant people. Those people had fallen into gross sin (though certainly not every person without exception). Therefore, he says, "our righteous acts," the acts of the nation as a whole. This is consistent with the rest of the Old Testament. For example, we find that Daniel, though godly, confessed the sins of Israel as if he were himself the transgressor (Dan. 9:3-11).

And how can righteous acts be filthy and yet essential at the same time? How will Christ judge the saints "according to their works" (Matt. 16:27) if He already esteems all works repugnant?

James would be saying that "faith without filthy rags is dead" and "a man is justified by filthy rags and not by faith only" and "I will show you my faith through my filthy rags" and "by filthy rags, faith is made complete."

Christians would be enjoined to "stir up love and filthy rags." And young men, according to Paul, would all be obliged to show forth "a pattern of filthy rags." The absurdity goes on and on throughout the pages of Scripture if Isaiah 64:6 is applied to all people everywhere.

The obvious teaching of the Bible is that acts of virtue and goodness are pleasing to God. He does not view them as filthy, unless they are done with false intentions (cp. Matt. 6:2). In fact, God was pleased with Cornelius' alms, even before that man was converted to Christ (Acts 10:4). This alone should negate the popular application of Isaiah 64:6.

Amazingly, the preceding verse in the book of Isaiah teaches the exact opposite of the common interpretation of "filthy rags." Listen to the prophet: "You [the Lord] meet him who rejoices and does righteousness" (Isa. 64:5). Genuine works of righteousness, says Isaiah, are valuable; God meets us when we walk in them. Are we told the opposite thing one verse later? That hardly seems reasonable.

Jesus taught that God will reward even small works, such as giving a child a cup of water (Matt. 10:42). Our Lord commands us to let our good deeds "shine before men," that they might glorify the Father (Matt. 5:16). Paul writes that we are "created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Eph. 2:10).

Paul also urges us to "walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work" (Col. 1:10). Notice that pleasing God is connected to righteous works. They are clearly not filthy rags in the sight of God; they are a delight to Him.

Yes, our works are imperfect. But the Scripture affirms repeatedly that our Father smiles upon our acts of goodness. No one will be saved without them. Jesus states in John 5:29 that the resurrection unto life is for those who have "done good." Paul writes that God redeemed us to make us "His own special people, zealous for good works" (Tit. 2:14). And so, the entire scheme of redemption has as a focus good works - and a glorious resurrection to those who have walked in them for Christ's sake.

No, we do not put God in our debt by doing good deeds. We cannot merit salvation by balancing our works with our sins. Salvation and forgiveness lie in our covenant status with God through Christ. But the imitation of our Lord - which includes works (Acts 10:38) -- is an obligation of the covenant. It is also a high privilege and a joy.

[NewReformation]

But Paul tells us that any good in him is not of himself, but of Christ. It is in Christ that any good is accomplished thru us.

[Dave]

That's because Christ gives us the grace to become righteous and do righteous deeds. He doesn't merely cover us with His righteousness; He actually makes us righteous.

[NewReformation]

[quote name='Dave' date='Apr 12 2004, 10:29 AM'] That's because Christ gives us the grace to become righteous and do righteous deeds. He doesn't merely cover us with His righteousness; He actually makes us righteous. [/quote]
Bulls-eye! This means that our good works are not our own. Our good works are incapable of satisfying God. It is thru Christ alone that any of our works are capable of being classified as 'good.' In my own strength, I can do all the good(man-pleasing) works I want. And yes, they may be good things. But if I am doing them out of an attitude of "If I do these things then surely God will be pleased with me," I'm doing them for the wrong reason. My works should spring up out of my love for God. Only then am I doing any works on God's terms.

[Dave]

But not once have I ever said that we're saved by good works alone. When you used the phrase "filthy rags," you were implying that NONE of our good works mattered -- that they played no role in our salvation. But they DO play a role. I mean, God gives us the grace to do His Will, but we have free will to say yes or no. He won't force it on us. We can't earn our way to heaven by doing good works, but we can't be saved without them either.

[the lumberjack]

i love christ, do you read my posts? or is english a second language?

is it really THAT hard to comprehend? or are you SOOO far in the catholic indoctrination that you can't comprehend what isn't thrown at you from the Vatican and its catacombs?

you don't need works to obtain salvation. to get saved all you need is faith, to say otherwise is unbiblical.

faith in Christ will yield forth fruit, and growth, bringing more faith, and more fruit and so on and so forth.

contradicting? hardly. just because I speak of things not found in your compendium of catholicism does not mean you can not process this for yourself and find it to be true.

can you NOT think for yourself?

or are you so spoon fed by the Church that you no longer look things up to see for yourself?

I can not persuade you to think one way or another, all I can do is present to you what has been put on my heart. Its your choice.

poke fun at me all you want, call me a heretic, say I'm not a Christian, I don't give a RIP...I know what God it is I serve (and its not your wafer or your pope) and I know what He would have me do.

[Dave]

[quote name='the lumberjack' date='Apr 12 2004, 11:58 AM'] i love christ, do you read my posts? or is english a second language?

is it really THAT hard to comprehend? or are you SOOO far in the catholic indoctrination that you can't comprehend what isn't thrown at you from the Vatican and its catacombs?







[/quote]
How very charitable of you. You're such a model of Christian charity.

[quote]you don't need works to obtain salvation.  to get saved all you need is faith, to say otherwise is unbiblical.

faith in Christ will yield forth fruit, and growth, bringing more faith, and more fruit and so on and so forth.
[/quote]

We've been through this before. Why won't you take into account what we tell you and think about it? Did you ever stop to think that maybe what YOU say is unbiblical?

[quote]contradicting?  hardly.  just because I speak of things not found in your compendium of catholicism does not mean you can not process this for yourself and find it to be true.

can you NOT think for yourself?

or are you so spoon fed by the Church that you no longer look things up to see for yourself?[/quote]

These statements are so absurd that they almost don't merit a response at all. But I will say that I follow the Church because I CAN and DO think for myself. And I've come to the conclusion that the Church is right. The evidence is just too strong to say otherwise!

[quote]I can not persuade you to think one way or another, all I can do is present to you what has been put on my heart.  Its your choice.[/quote]

But what makes you so certain that you're correct?

[quote]poke fun at me all you want, call me a heretic, say I'm not a Christian, I don't give a RIP...I know what God it is I serve (and its not your wafer or your pope) and I know what He would have me do.[/quote]

NO ONE has poked fun at you. But you're not doing what God wants if you continue to spread lies no matter how many times you've been corrected. And how dare you claim the Pope is our God! We don't believe that! And to say we serve mere wafers is just despicable of you to say. We worship Jesus Christ, who turns mere wafers and wine into HIMSELF!

[the lumberjack]

if I would have seen biblical correction, you would have seen submission to the truth from me.

[Dave]

[quote name='the lumberjack' date='Apr 12 2004, 12:39 PM'] if I would have seen biblical correction, you would have seen submission to the truth from me. [/quote]
What do you mean, biblical correction?

[Brother Adam]

Haha. This in when I educate Catholics.

Faith alone by Grace alone is all that is required for initial justification in the Catholic Church. However, faith cannot be defined as simple "intellectual belief". Faith is active, alive, and obedient.

The clearest illustration of this is seen in infant baptism. The infant does not merit the baptism in anyway. It is through the faith of the gaurdian that the infant is brought forth to God in which the infant participates in the work of God by the power of God alone. The infant has done nothing, the parents and priest have done nothing to merit baptism. It is totally the work of God.

[Brother Adam]

lumberjack,

Covenant theology, in the face:

1 Peter 3:18-22
For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: [19] By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; [20] Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. [21] [b]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:[/b] [22] Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.

[the lumberjack]

and I say Amen to you, but Peter is careful to point out that itisn't the actual water washing of baptism that saves us, but thespiritual reality behind the immersion in water - an answer of a good conscience toward God, a conscience made good through the completed work of Jesus Christ.