who is right?...

it seems like when you put the word real in front of anything it sells more – real coffee or real leather.  we are interested in the genuine article.  there was a tv show on called “real people”.  do you remember it?  there was a book out called real men don’t eat quiche.  coke used to be the “real thing.”

i want to get to where we left off in the nt book of james and to what he has to say about how to have real faith.  there are a lot of phony religions out there – people who think they are CHRISTians and they really aren’t. 

now in james 2.14-26 he talks about the difference between real and counterfeit CHRISTians.  authentic believers and fake believers, he talks about how do you have a real faith.

this is the most controversial and misunderstood passage in the book of james.  every cult misunderstands it and they try to use this passage to prove you have to work your way to heaven and it’s important that you get what i’m talking about so that when those guys come to your door, you’ll know what to say to them.

the apostle paul writes in ephesians 2.8 (tev), for it is by GOD’s grace you have been saved through faith.  but then james comes along and says, in verse 17 (niv), faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

so what's the deal?  what are they talking about. who is right? – james or paul.   the answer is they are both right.  they are just talking about different things.

paul was fighting the problem of legalism – the problem of “i’ve got the keep all the jewish laws and regulations to be a CHRISTian.”  paul is talking to that group.  james is not fighting legalism but laxity, those who say “it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you believe.”

they are fighting two different enemies.  they use the word “works” in two different ways.  when paul uses the word “works” he’s talking about jewish laws like circumcision and things like that.  when james uses it, he’s talking about the lifestyle of a CHRISTian – acts of love.  it’s totally different.

paul focuses on the root of salvation – what happens to me internally.  james focuses on the fruit of salvation – what happens on the outside.

just a thought from the front porch…