<HTML><HEAD>
<META charset=US-ASCII http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=US-ASCII">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2800.1400" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY: Arial; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff">
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>Hey guys.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>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 face=Tahoma color=#ff8000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>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 face=Tahoma color=#ff8000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>okay here it is: </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>James 2: 14-26 (by the way this version is coming from the New American Bible)</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>(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 face=Tahoma color=#ff8000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>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 face=Tahoma color=#ff8000></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma color=#ff8000>Layne</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>