WebRomans presents a plan of salvation stretching from Adam through Abraham and Moses to Christ (Rom 4; 5) and on to the future revelation at Christs parousia (Rom 8:1825). [2] Both Paul and James appealed to Abraham as an example of one who was justified. 0000002693 00000 n
These phrases suggest that James and his readers were aware of people who were speaking in a simplistic way about faith absent from works. 12, Hebrews through Revelation, 183. Certainly Pauls meaning of faith and works in Galatians is not the same as what we find in the epistle of James. However, it is very unlikely you understand the true significance of what has happened in your life. Other uses of work and works appear in Galatians, but in different contexts, not as a part of Pauls discussion of justification by faith in Christ rather than by the works of the law of Moses. %PDF-1.2
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For him faith still retains its Old Testament meaning of faithfulness . . He willingly underwent full conversion to Judaism to remove any potential obstacle for Jews to receive the gospel message from him. All have sinned (see Romans 3:920). Perhaps in some of these instances, Paul was just being concise, using works as a shorter way of referring to works of the law. [30] However, he also seems to have begun using the term works in a way that differs significantly from his earlier, narrow focus on the rituals of the Mosaic law. God's eternal plan: 1. endobj
Works in this context does appear to refer more broadly to our acts of religious devotion in general. WebThe nature of the Gospel hinges on a proper understanding of the relationship of faith and works in salvation. [17] See works of the law in Galatians 3:2, 5,10. according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, . The vilest of persons can change if ed. stream
Stendahl seems to hint at Pauline invention of the doctrine in stating that a doctrine of justification by faith was hammered out by Paul for the very specific and limited purpose of defending the rights of Gentile converts to be full and genuine heirs to the promises of God to Israel (Paul among Jews and Gentiles,2). But as I argue, the Greek articles James used in connection with this definition of faith show that James himself did not conceive of faith in this wayit was other people who were speaking of faith in this distorted sense. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works (James 2:14, 18; emphasis added). Our students might find these passages troubling. See discussion in the next section, Avoiding Confusion with Pauls Later Writings. See also Holzapfel, Huntsman, and Wayment, Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament, 221. . . As you will see in the first verse I will list below, we are saved by grace through our faith in Jesus Christ. moved from an unspecified kind of faithfulness (zedaqah), through rather rigid and Notice that in each of these passages where Paul referred simply to works, he also referred to grace: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. [38] See Holzapfel, Huntsman, and Wayment, Jesus Christ and the World of the New Testament, 271. . The longer one walks along a given path, the harder it is to turn from it. In James 2:17 and 2:26, dead more closely translates the Greek nekra, dead, lifeless.. The implicit meaning is that in the Churchs missionary approach to bring the gospel to Jews first and then to the Gentiles (see Romans 1:16), the Church should avoid causing any undue offense to Jews, thus creating potential hindrance to Jews in accepting the gospel. In this lesson, we will overview salvation. endobj
Both Paul and James taught faith in Jesus Christ and lived by that faith. [48] According to Josephus, James was stoned to death in Jerusalem in AD 62 (see Antiquities of the Jews, 20.9.1). WebIt is the Christian understanding of salvation by Christ which Paulhad to deal with before his conversion, and the appearance at Damascus would have In Verbum Caro 7 (1953), We can see that in this context, when Paul taught that men are not justified by works, he was not referring to works generally as efforts to obey God, good deeds of charity, or striving to live the gospel. Is the law sin? Following these events, a controversy caused by Judaizers arises in Acts 15: And certain men which came down [to Syrian Antioch] from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved. Without it, we would be forever lost (see 2 Nephi 2:89; 9:79; Alma 34:9; D&C 76:61,69). We can see these usages at work throughout these verses in James. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1980), 6:303. "The [35] See Oaks, What Think Ye of Christ? 6667. Unfortunately, there are some within the Church who have become so preoccupied with performing good works that they forget that those worksas good as they may beare hollow unless they are accompanied by a complete dependence on Christ. M. Russell Ballard, Building Bridges of Understanding, Ensign, June 1998,65; emphasis added. Since God judges fairly, he will render to every man according to his deeds (Romans 2:6; compare Revelation 20:1213). . WebPauls Conversion 1. But Professor Stendahl may have meant merely that Paul expounded the doctrine in that particular context; he is certainly correct in observing that traditional Christian interpretation of Paul has failed to read him in context. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, The just shall live by faith .. [12] For a discussion of the issues related to the dating of Galatians and the argument for a postJerusalem conference date of composition, see James Montgomery Boice, Galatians, in The Expositors Bible Commentary, ed. It is part of a section (Romans 2:512) that deals not with the topic of salvation but with the righteous judgment of God (Romans 2:5). Weba brief survey of the understanding of salvation in selected major trends of Christian theology today, an overview of the biblical material related to salvation, and an evaluation of both as the conclusion. Romans 1:16-17. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:6). Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.. [5] For example, see E. Richard Packham, My Maturing Views of Grace, Ensign, August 2005, 2225; David Rolph Seely and JoAnn H. Seely, Paul: Untiring Witness of Christ, Ensign, August 1999, 28; Robert E. Parsons, I Have a Question, Ensign, July 1989, 5961; Daniel C. Peterson and Stephen D. Ricks, Comparing LDS Beliefs with First-Century Christianity, Ensign, March 1988,7; Jack Weyland, I Have a Question, Ensign, January 1985, 4345; Gerald N. Lund, Salvation: By Grace or by Works?, Ensign, April 1981, 1623. Was then that which is good made death unto me? That disagreement exists primarily because some have failed to read the scriptures in context. Even so faith [h pistis], if it hath not works, is dead, being alone [or, Even so that kind of faith, which results in no action, is dead] (James 2:1517). [7] History of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ed. WebLESSON 1: SALVATION What Happened When I Got Saved . [21]. [5] Though this approach does help our students understand and appreciate correct doctrine, it can leave them confused still about what Paul and James meant and why they wrote what they did. Paul stated that this James, along with Cephas (Peter) and John were pillars in the Church at Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9). [8] When it comes to understanding Paul and James, the question is not, Which one was rightPaul or James? or Which one saves usfaith or works? These questions are wrong from the start because they contain flawed assumptions. 4 0 obj
A footnote explains that in this instance, ordained simply means set apart (v. 7 footnote a), not having the authority of a priesthood office bestowed. Pauls statement in Ephesians that we are saved by grace and not of works teaches the doctrine that ultimately, even our faith-driven efforts to live the gospel do not save usit is Jesus Christ who saves us. Paul would not have disagreed. [10] See Matthew 23:15; Acts 2:10; 6:5; 13:43; Bible Dictionary, Proselytes, 754. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. For Paul, faith meant a wholehearted acceptance of salvation through the Atonement of Christ; to place faith in Christ was to commit oneself into his care with a trust that naturally manifested itself in actions such as repentance, baptism, and striving to live by the Spirit. Still later, Paul wrote the epistle to the Ephesians, [31] once more referring to works and not works of the law, and again writing about grace: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:89; emphasis added). Without the Atonement, Gentiles and Jews will all perish because of their sins; and Jews, further, will be judged by the law, for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified (Romans 2:13). But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster (Galatians 3:19, 2425). WebPaul now begins a teaching on the practical effect of those who have understood the awfulness of their sin and have put their trust in the amazing grace of a forgiving God. . . Perhaps more productive questions would be What circumstances might have led both Paul and James to write about faith and works, using the example of Abraham and appealing to Genesis 15:6?, What exactly did Paul and James mean by the terms faith and works?, and How does understanding these terms in context clarify the doctrines Paul and James taught?. For that, we needed the Atonement of Christ. 1. 0000002415 00000 n
Just as circumcision was an abbreviated way of referring to the entire law of Moses, Pauls use of faith in Christ, as the first principle of the gospel, seems to function as an abbreviated way of referring to living the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Terms like Apostle and ordain, like faith and works, can have more than one meaning or application. 0000000894 00000 n
Salvation means to be born again and filled with the holy spirit. The Prophet Joseph Smith said, If we start right, it is easy to go right all the time; but if we start wrong we may go wrong, and it will be a hard matter to get right. [7] This principle can apply to understanding the scriptures. . But those passages use different terms in a different context and thus teach a different doctrine. In teaching about our faith in Christ, Paul did not use the word faith to mean merely passive mental assent. We cannot safely assume that just because a term has a certain meaning in one place in the scriptures, it necessarily carries that exact same meaning every other place it appears. However, he did teach Gentile Saints to avoid giving offense in matters regarding what they ate and where they dined (see Romans 14:115:3; 1 Corinthians 8:113), and Paul himself voluntarily modified his behavior to avoid offending Jewish sensibilities (see Acts 16:13; 21:2026; 1 Corinthians 8:13; 9:1922). To ascertain its meaning, we must dig up the root and ascertain what it was that drew the saying out. History of the Church, 5:261. In the specific context of Galatians, Paul used works to mean distinctively Jewish practices of the law of Moses. Paul also used nearly the same phrase in Philippians 3:9 (not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ [dia pistes Christou], the righteousness which is of God by faith; emphasis added). This is the very problem that Paul addressed in Galatians. On our own we cannot earn the kingdom of Godno matter what we do. Their faith would be real and genuine; it was simply outdated in a salvation-historical sense. . First, Paul was using different terms to make a different comparison, juxtaposing works and grace, not works of the law and faith in Christ. The difference in terminology and usage signals a difference in doctrinal teaching. But even if James wrote his epistle much earlier, we need to remember that Pauls teachings would have been in circulation before he ever wrote Galatians and Romans. wisdom and finally an open kind of motivational renewal in the Spirit. [10] But in Acts 10, Peter, the senior Apostle, received a revelation that Gentiles who had faith in God and followed his teachings were accepted with him (Acts 10:35) and were to be received into the Church by baptism, without first having to convert to Judaism by undergoing the rite of circumcision (see Acts 10:4348). [13] Sometime later, he received word that the Saints in Galatia were quickly beginning to embrace a different gospel message taught by people who were perverting the gospel of Christ (see Galatians 1:67).
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