Many are divided when it comes to the question “so are we saved by grace or faith?”. The side that believes that we are saved by works tend to use Abraham as an example to justify this belief. The side that believes that we are saved by grace uses Paul’s writing to support their arguments such as scripture from Romans. To start to answer this question we must make sure that we understand the context, context, and context. According to this question of being saved by grace or faith when we look at James 2:20 (NIV) which states “you foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (Zondervan,2011) may seem to contradict what Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9 which states “for it is by grace you have been saved, through
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In Romans 3:28-30 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.”. This scripture confirms Ephesians 2:8-9 statement about being saved by faith alone. Although James 2:20 still causes the problem of faith and works being in place to be saved, but James writing should not be thrown out, it is still important. To understand why James was written and its’ purpose is important to the original audience and to the reader of the passages. James is writing to a completely different audience he is writing to Jewish tribes and how Jesus life is important. While Paul’s writings tended to be written to Gentiles and their understanding. Jews were convinced by facts and wisdom. On the other hand, Gentiles would not take the Jewish wisdom to heart. For instance, gentiles did not really take genealogy as serious as the Jewish would. As we can see again in this example James and Ephesians need to be read and interpreted with CONTEXT in mind. Context is key to making sure that we look at both these verses in understanding that they are wrote separately and for different reasons …show more content…
According to Walker works is broke down by James as “When James speaks of being justified by "works" as well as by "faith" (2:14-26), he has in view those works which show faith to be real and vital”. Basically James is not discounting the importance of faith for our salvation and he is not trying to explain that works justify our faith, but he is explaining how our faith should be seen through loving works to the less and more fortunate. Also, when we go to interpret historical text we can read commentaries for perspective. According to the Wesley’s explanatory notes on Biblestudytools.com which breaks down Ephesians 2. This commentary breaks chapter 2, verse 8 down by explaining “Grace, without any respect to human worthiness, confers the glorious gift. Faith, with an empty hand, and without any pretence to personal desert, receives the heavenly blessing. And this is not of yourselves - This refers to the whole preceding clause, That ye are saved through faith, is the gift of God”. These sentences explain that grace and faith are not accomplished by gaining recognition by the human race, but deserting the worldly ways and living the example of Christ in the world. Wesley’s notes go on to explain chapter 2, verse 9 as “Not by works - Neither this faith nor this salvation is owing to any works you ever did, will, or can do”. This commentary explains that verse nine is
In Romans 3:28-30 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one.”. This scripture confirms Ephesians 2:8-9 statement about being saved by faith alone. Although James 2:20 still causes the problem of faith and works being in place to be saved, but James writing should not be thrown out, it is still important. To understand why James was written and its’ purpose is important to the original audience and to the reader of the passages. James is writing to a completely different audience he is writing to Jewish tribes and how Jesus life is important. While Paul’s writings tended to be written to Gentiles and their understanding. Jews were convinced by facts and wisdom. On the other hand, Gentiles would not take the Jewish wisdom to heart. For instance, gentiles did not really take genealogy as serious as the Jewish would. As we can see again in this example James and Ephesians need to be read and interpreted with CONTEXT in mind. Context is key to making sure that we look at both these verses in understanding that they are wrote separately and for different reasons …show more content…
According to Walker works is broke down by James as “When James speaks of being justified by "works" as well as by "faith" (2:14-26), he has in view those works which show faith to be real and vital”. Basically James is not discounting the importance of faith for our salvation and he is not trying to explain that works justify our faith, but he is explaining how our faith should be seen through loving works to the less and more fortunate. Also, when we go to interpret historical text we can read commentaries for perspective. According to the Wesley’s explanatory notes on Biblestudytools.com which breaks down Ephesians 2. This commentary breaks chapter 2, verse 8 down by explaining “Grace, without any respect to human worthiness, confers the glorious gift. Faith, with an empty hand, and without any pretence to personal desert, receives the heavenly blessing. And this is not of yourselves - This refers to the whole preceding clause, That ye are saved through faith, is the gift of God”. These sentences explain that grace and faith are not accomplished by gaining recognition by the human race, but deserting the worldly ways and living the example of Christ in the world. Wesley’s notes go on to explain chapter 2, verse 9 as “Not by works - Neither this faith nor this salvation is owing to any works you ever did, will, or can do”. This commentary explains that verse nine is