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<DIV> Ok here's my opinion. First off I use
the KJV. I use no other translations unless I use them as a
commentary. Below is the KJV of these verses. ( I have a bible program so it was
just a quick copy & paste) I DID read it though ! Here's how I
believe. Works do not buy you into heaven. If you are a dedicated Christian
you will want to do good " Works". <STRONG>Here is how I define
Christian.</STRONG> The Bible clearly states the meaning of the word
"Christian". To be a Christian you have to be forgiven by God & also live a
Christ like life. </DIV>
<DIV> Scond of all; we need to
have faith but faith alone doesn't mean that we can have faith
& live in sin ( never have accepted Christ) & still go to heaven
based on our works. Your works mean nothing to God unless you accept his
free gift from his Son Jesus. Our works come along with a Christian life but we
can't just get into heaven for how good of a life we live. I'm sorry but anyone
who believes that way is way way off. THere is a verse in the Bilble that
I will find & send to you then. It talks about how on just works alone our
works are as filthy rags. In other words you need Jesus Christ who died for us
all in our lives which comes through asking him to forgive us.</DIV>
<DIV> Jeff</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><STRONG> Jas 2:14 ¶ What doth it profit, my
brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save
him?<BR>15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,<BR>16
And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled;
notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body;
what doth it profit?<BR>17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being
alone. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me
thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my
works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils
also believe, and tremble.<BR>20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith
without works is dead?<BR>21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when
he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?<BR>22 Seest thou how faith wrought
with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG>23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend
of God.<BR>24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith
only.<BR>25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she
had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?<BR><BR> 26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
{spirit: or, breath} <BR>Full Compare FBN PNTC TSK<BR>(KJV)<BR> <BR>->
Next chapter</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>On Wed, 12 May 2004 19:27:41 EDT <A
href="mailto:gcfl-discuss@gcfl.net">gcfl-discuss@gcfl.net</A> writes:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
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<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>Hey guys.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>I have a question for any of you who
believe that salvation comes through faith alone (or for anyone else who has
an opinion on the issue). I have a question about a few Bible verses
that to me say that salvation comes through faith alone. I've actually
put these verses up to some of my Protestant friends before but none of them
have ever answered me so I thought some of you might be able to.
thanks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>okay so here's the main verse that i have
a question about. i went ahead and typed it out just in case anyone
didn't have a Bible with them or something. i bolded a few passages that
sum up the salvation by faith and works idea. let me know what you think
of this passage (by the way.. i know there are tons of verses that say
salvation comes through faith alone so if you don't mind please don't respond
to this message by giving me a list of those. I'm really just looking
for an explanation of this verse in regard to how one receives
salvation). thanks.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>okay here it is: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>James 2: 14-26 (by the way this
version is coming from the New American Bible)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>(14) What good is it, my brothers, if
someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save
him? (15) If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for
the day, (16) and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, keep warm, and eat
well," but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is
it? (17) So also <STRONG>faith of itself, if it does not have works, is
dead</STRONG>. (18) Indeed, someone may say, "You have faith and I have
works." Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will
demonstrate my faith to you with my works. (19) You believe that God is
one. You do well. Even the demons believe that and tremble.
(20) <STRONG>Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is
useless?</STRONG> (21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works
when he offered his some Isaac upon the altar? (22) <STRONG>You see that
faith was active along with his works and faith was completed by the
works</STRONG>. (23) Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says,
"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he
was called, "the friend of God." (24) <STRONG>See how a person is
justified by works and not faith alone</STRONG>. (25) And in the same
ways, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the
messengers and sent them out by a different route? (26) <STRONG>For just
as a body without a spirit is dead, so also faith without works is
dead</STRONG>.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>All right that's it then. And
thanks in advance for giving me some insight into this passage from a
Protestant perspective.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#ff8000 face=Tahoma>Layne</FONT></DIV>
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