The Logos . Net

James 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. There is a huge push in modern day Christianity to detach our behavior from our standing or justification before God. We are told that as Christians, our standing before God is always secure and fixed and never tied to our behavior or how we conduct our lives in the faith. It is said that while our behavior may affect the level or amount of rewards we will enjoy in eternity, it could never jeopardize our standing before God since our standing as Christians is not obtained by works but by faith. Basically the idea is that since we did not obtain salvation by works, then we could never jeopardize it as a result of our works, no matter how badly we behave or how much sin we might engage in. This may sound reasonable on the surface, but then the Apostle James comes along and states something pretty astounding in the face of that in James 2:24 - Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and NOT...

  1 Jn 5:13 - *These things* have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. Towards the end of John’s first epistle he makes a statement of purpose as to why he wrote his letter addressed to true believers, that they may know that they have eternal life. The phrase “THESE THINGS have I written unto you” refers to the entirety of the letter (epistle) that he had just written to them. This verse cannot be properly understood or interpreted by itself without taking into full account the first two words: “These things”. He didn’t say “This verse” I have written unto you…. He said “These things”. Many make the mistake of isolating this verse and then misinterpret its meaning by trying to make it stand alone. I’ve heard many teach that this verse confirms that as long as you mentally “believe” or “trust in” what Jesus did for you, that nothing more is required and yo...