Now I want to make a few points on faith and works.
Well, I believe most believers today are confused on the topic of salvation in general, and thus they confuse the issue on faith and works.
They look at only those parts of Scripture that they prefer to see and make the wrong conclusion instead of looking at the big picture involving Salvation.
When I read the Scriptures, I see 4 different aspects of salvation described.
#1.
Provisional Atonement (not "Limited Atonement").
(
A 100% Work of God alone that can only be applied personally to an individual's life via by Justification and Sanctification).
This is Jesus paying the price for the sins of the entire world so as to offer mankind the free gift of salvation (if they so choose to accept it); Note: Christ's resurrection (to give us a new body not tainted by sin one day), and the ascension to the Father (after Christ telling Mary not to touch Him), and his entering the holy temple by his blood (to be our Heavenly High Priest) is also included in the Provisional Atonement, too. (For Provisional Atonement verses, see: John 1:29, 1 John 2:2, 1 Timothy 2:6, 2 Corinthians 5:19, Romans 5:6-8.).
#2.
Justification (Initial Salvation, and or Foundational Salvation).
(
The 1st synergistic work of GOD done in a believer).
Justification is the entrance gate to salvation, and it is the foundation of our salvation (by faith) upon which we stand. Justification is believing that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and had risen again three days later on your behalf, and accepting Jesus as your Savior, and seeking forgiveness of your sins with Him by way of prayer. This process of salvation is without the deeds of the Law or works because it is based upon God’s mercy and grace. As a result: One is born again spiritually (Note: Born again by the Spirit, and born again by water (i.e. the Scriptures - Romans 10:17, 1 Peter 1:23)). (For Justification verses, see: Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 4:1-6, Titus 3:4-7, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Luke 18:9-14, Romans 5:1-2).
#3.
Sanctification (The Next Step or Phase in the Salvation Process).
(
The 2nd synergistic work of God done in a believer).
Sanctification is the next step or phase in Salvation for a believer who lives out their faith; This is the work of God moving in a believer's life so as to help them to live holy, and to do good works and to put away the lusts of the flesh. These good works are the works of God done through the believer, and so all boasting or praise is given to the Lord. Therefore, there is no boasting in one's own work (because they are ultimately the works of God done through the believer. (For Sanctification verses, see: James 2:24, James 2:17-18, Titus 1:16, Hebrews 5:9, 2 Thessalonians 2:13, Hebrews 12:14, Romans 8:1 (KJV), 1 Corinthians 16:22, Romans 8:13, etc.).
#4.
Glorification (The Future Salvation of the Truly Faithful Believer).
(
A 100% Work of God alone that can only be applied personally to an individual's life via by Justification and Sanctification).
Glorification is when God takes the believer home to be with Him in His kingdom and He gives Him a new resurrected body that is not tainted by sin. This process of salvation (in being taken home) is a by product automatically for those believers who properly applied Justification and Sanctification to their lives (For Glorification verses, see: 1 Peter 5:4, 1 Peter 1:4, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, Romans 13:11, Philippians 3:20-21, Hebrews 9:28).
Justification, and then Sanctification is what we as believers need to be focused on. For if we are justified, and sanctified (
which is only made possible by the Provisional Atonement), then we will be glorified.
You said:
Both James and Paul state the same of Abraham's salvation.
Rom. 4:3 from Paul,
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
I believe Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness. This is being saved by having faith in God. But James also says Abraham was justified by works, too (James 2:21). I believe Romans 4:3 is referring to Initial and Foundational Salvation. In Romans 4: I believe Paul was arguing against "Circumcision Salvationism." This was a heresy at the time that basically said that a man had to first be circumcised in order to be initially and ultimately saved by God. Circumcision is a command that is a part of the 613 Laws of Moses and it is not a command given to us by Jesus and His followers. If somebody were to make circumcision the basis of their salvation instead of Jesus, they would be making the Law of Moses or the Law Alone as the basis for their salvation.
I believe that when Paul spoke generically using the words "law" and "works" he was referring to two things:
#1. The 613 Laws of Moses given to Israel (And not the church), and or:
#2. Works Alone Salvationism (Without God's grace).
If you were to read the words "law" and "works" in this way (when reading Paul), what Paul is talking about as a whole will become more clear to you as a whole.
The heresy of "Circumcision Salvationism" (Which led Paul to talk against "Law Alone Salvationism" without God's grace) was clearly described for us at the Jerusalem Council:
- Acts of the Apostles 15:1 says, “And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.”
- Acts of the Apostles 15:5 says, But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.”
- Acts of the Apostles 15:24 says, “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:”
We can even see Paul appearing to argue against the heresy of "Circumcision Salvationism" in these verses here:
- Galatians 2:3 says, “But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised:”
- Galatians 5:2 says, “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.”
- Galatians 5:6 says, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.”
- Galatians 6:15 (NLT) says, “It doesn't matter whether we have been circumcised or not. What counts is whether we have been transformed into a new creation.”
- 1 Corinthians 7:18-19 says, 18 For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. (NLT) 19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but what matters is the keeping of the commandments of God.” (NASB)
- Romans 2:28-29 says, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
- Romans 3:1 says, “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?”
- Romans 4:9-12 says, ”9 “Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness. 10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also: 12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.”
- Acts of the Apostles 21:21 says, “And they are informed of you, that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs.”
If you were to pay close attention to these verses, you would notice that Paul appears to subtly argue against "Circumcision Salvationism" in Romans 4:9-12 (Which is the same chapter of the verse that you quoted here, i.e. Romans 4:3). In Romans 4:9-12: Paul appears to be concerned with how Abraham was justified by faith in God and His imputed righteousness and the blessings thereof in uncircumcision and not in circumcision. Paul's point is that a person first needs to have faith in God for salvation first before doing anything (like circumcision). This refutes the Jew's way of thinking and their need for circumcision (Which they felt was for salvation). For Romans 3:1 says,
"What advantage then hath the Jew?
or what profit is there of circumcision?"
(Romans 3:1).
So Paul's point was that we first need faith in God for our salvation as the basis for our salvation, and not the Old Law (via by "Circumcision Salvationism"). But faith in God for salvation does not exclude in one having to perform afterwards by God's power and Spirit. We can see this in the example with Abraham.
"He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness." (Romans 4:20-22).
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? (James 2:21).
Works makes one's faith perfect.
"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:22).
But make no mistake about it. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).
A dead faith cannot save anyone.
For even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19).
We are justified by works and not by faith alone (James 2:24).
Anyways, I will address the rest of what you wrote in my next post to you.
May God's good ways be upon you today.