Posted by Bob P. on January 05, 1999 at 12:21:05:
In Reply to: There are many passages whose meanings are not given to us. How's that? n/t posted by blue on July 14, 1998 at 23:29:50:
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: : : : As for the "Gift" of eternal life, Faith without deeds is nothing.
: : : But without the gift of faith, there are no works. James meant that if you truly have saving faith, your faith will produce the fruit of good works. You need to read Romans and Hebrews to find the detail. But the works have no saving efficacy.
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This is not a new argument. Whenever I ask any of the "saved by grace alone" crowd about James I am told what James meant or that James must be interpreted in the light of what Paul said. That is interesting. Firstly James "outranks" Paul, even Paul said so, when he described himself as the least of all the apostles.
James was one of three Apostles chosen by Jesus to go onto the Mount of Transfiguration.
The classic fallacy of the inerrant Bible argument is that stated that it is not given to everyone but the chosen (elect?) to decide what the passages mean. That approach is plain silly. If the gospel was meant to be for all mankind as these people tell us.
In fact that attitude is the epitome of arrogance that some of God's children are better than others.
Lastly, whether faith or works comes first is a "which came first the chicken or the egg argument". The answer to the theological question is that both are essential.