Book of James vs. Books of Paul
Here is a good topic for reflection and feedback:
James 2: 14-20:
James says: If you are saved you have good works,
if you have no good works, you are not saved.
Paul in Ephesians 2:1-9:
Paul says: You are saved by Grace and nothing else.
Questions:
1) What is a good work and how is it good if it is what you should have done in the first place?
2) Where does Jesus command good works?
3) Jesus does command to love and act in love to others; is this the same as a good work?
4) By James emphasizing good works doesn't that make these works of the flesh?
5) If Jesus said: "do them in secret and dont let your right hand know what the left is doing", then why does James proudly proclaim; "I'LL SHOW YOU MY WORKS"?
Our commentary:
Are you part of the Church?
Is James writing to the Church? No! (James 1:1)
Was Paul writing to the Church? Yes!
Then why are you trying to reconcile the two? James had no intent on writing to you, unless you have a family tree that traces you all the way back to one of Jacob's 12 sons.
Where does James get the authority to write Scripture? If our Lord often skips the oldest son in the Old Testament and gives the birthright to a younger sibling, then what makes you think that James' position as the 1st oldest half-brother of Jesus will be honored?
Did Jesus personally call Paul? Did Jesus call James?
Paul killed Christians and Jesus called Paul. James grew up with Jesus and knew Him his entire life and Jesus NEVER called him.
It would have been much easier to call James and have him follow Jesus while Jesus was here instead of having to blind Paul on the road side and send him to the other disciples...right?
James comes to Him with His mother and Jesus says: "who are my brothers and my mother?" (Mark 3:33)
Whom does Jesus find worthy of his time...Paul or James?
On what basis is James' writing Scripture?
By what authority or right are men calling it equal or better than Paul's?
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