Faith without works is dead - James 2:20

[poptart]

As always, I think it's a good idea to go back to the beginning to get a handle on things.

I've posted this before, and the first three verses of the Bible essentially give us the Gospel.

Genesis 1:1-3
[1] In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
[2] And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
[3] And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

- God is the Creator of all things
- satan (darkness) is all around
- Christ (Light) overcomes satan



When we look at Genesis 3 - and see how man became spiritual captured by satan, we see that God immediately gave the Gospel then, also.

Genesis 3:15, God told Adam (paraphrasing) - I WILL SEND CHRIST, who will crush satan's head.

Adam was not told that he was going to have to do something.
For assurance, he just needed to know and believe that God would indeed be doing it.
God said, "I WILL..."



Then we look at the first offspring of Adam & Eve, Cain and Abel.

Both Cain and Abel worked - and brought an offering to God.
Cain's work did not gain respect from God.
Abel's did.

Why?

Abel brought the blood sacrifice.

The blood is the Christ, which is the only thing that takes man out of the grip of darkness satan has us in.

Believe... in the blood sacrifice.



When Jesus came, his disciples asked him (John 6:22-29), "What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?"

Jesus' response - "This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent."

That's it.

Nothing we do can ever break down darkness, and in fact, the more we struggle to do something, the deeper in we go.
Quicksand.

But when we believe in Jesus Christ, HE does it.
Just as God promised us.


Reading the whole chapter of James 2 is good.

Works do follow after genuine faith, and the works can even be said to be evidence that genuine faith exists.


Van was correct in what he said about the death bed lady who accepts Christ at the very end - and is saved.

She may have been the most vile and hurtful person imaginable, but yes, when she decides to take Life, Life she receives, imo.


Jesus is the Christ.

[Mikey]

Faith without works is dead.

So is Timothy Leary.

[ChargerMike]

Faith without works is dead.

So is Timothy Leary.

...too many mushrooms wil do it every time.

[Smackie Chan]

- God is the Creator of all things
- satan (darkness) is all around
- Christ (Light) overcomes satan

- Rock breaks scissors
- Paper covers rock
- Scissors cut paper

[Van]

I don't know why, but that really made me laugh.