Sunday, October 25, 2009

GIG 212 - Justified By Faith AND Works?



James, James, James... Why'd you have to do it? Why'd you have to say it?  Why'd you have to go and say it the way you said it? Why'd you have to say things like, "You see then, that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only" (James 2:24) and "Wasn't our father Abraham justified by works...?" (James 2:21). Didn't Paul say, "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God" (Rom 4:2) and didn't Paul repeatedly say that we are justified by faith apart from works? (Rom 3:28, Gal 2:16, Gal 3:24). And James, what's up with that "faith without works is dead" statement?

Were you having a bad day when you wrote that letter?  Did you simply disagree with Paul?  Was Martin Luther on track with his comments about your letter being a "right strawy epistle?"  Is there another way to look at your epistle?  Do Kap and Joel have anything to say about this?

Hmm... Let's see if they do!

gigcast.graceroots.org

10 comments:

  1. btw - I am just laughing at your comments. I am useless at listening to podcasts - i only ever read stuff, very rarely ever listen. Not that I am saying I shouldn't or wouldn't. It's just that it takes so long for me to listen whe I can read so much faster. . . So, I can't bear to listen to anything whilst my kids are so small and loud. But I would listen if I was driving somewhere far by myself. But that never happens these days. Do you think I should explain myself any further? Or should I just stop prattling on and rest assured that you aren't offended that I don't listen:)

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  2. Sorry, Joel, me no listened either ;).

    What do you think of what Bertie Brits says on justification in his 5min bible school? He says it's the attitude and action of God towards those that have been reckoned righteous in Christ. Like "justfying a margin", is lining it up straight, "justification" is lining up our persons and life with everything that redemption wrought, on account of imputed righteousness.

    He says then that James' justification by works as well as faith, just means that fruit is God's consequence of justifying faith (that which lays hold on imputed righteousness for right relationship/perfection). His justice is for us, by his death and resurrection, and demands our transformation into every good thing pertaining to life and godliness

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  3. Becky, we even made the short - 14 minutes - just for people like you! In the time it took to leave your comment, you could've listened to our program! And so I agree with your sentence, "Not that I am saying I shouldn't or wouldn't." Yes you would and yes you should!!! LOL... just giving you a hard time. :) ;) :) At least you're not one of those people who don't listen, and then criticize us for what we say, when they don't even know what we said (or didn't say)!!!

    Phil, I see you're just as pathetic as Becky! hehehe... But seriously, I will say that what you said about what Bertie says is pretty close to what we say. :)

    Essentially, the "works" of the Christian life are the fruit of the resurrected life of Christ in us.

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  4. (Meant to say "made the program short...").

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  5. I listened, Mr Brueseke ;)

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  6. Phil... Great! Your works have now justified your faith! ;)

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  7. Ah, but was it done out of slavish fear of the Brueseke? ;o)

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  8. I'll do whatever I have to do to get you to do the stuff you're supposed to be doing! Fear works! lol

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