Ben wrote:
I don't doubt or accept anything you have written only because I do not possess the skills to present an educated response. But, this one thing I am absolutely sure of: if we as a society were as concerned with being "Jesus" in our world as we are telling the world what He said, then the world would be a much better place today. Truth is, no one truly knows how justification, free will, or any other doctrine determines our fate. But we know absolutely that there are hungry people, homeless people, hurting people, sick people, and others.
What we do to the least of these, you do also to Jesus... I paraphrase, but that came from His mouth, not mine!
If we Christians are serious, then instead of spending hours speculating on the meaning of obscure scripture, let's get out and love the world. Let's hold the head of the aids patient, let's feed and educate the orphans of aids parents, let's build a roof over the head of the cold, etc. Let's go out and let our actions do the talking.. let the Christians of the world unite and SHOW the world who Jesus Christ is and stop TELLING the world who Jesus Christ is!
By the way, this is what I believe James was trying to say.
In Christ,
Ben
Dear Ben,
God Bless you, and thank you for writing. We agree with you that James was saying, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" Mat 22:39.
He also carefully instructs us that:
James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
What we don't agree on is first that "no one truly knows how justification, free will, or any other doctrine determines our fate" and secondly that there is any such thing as "obscure scripture." While it is certainly true that we should be good to one another, it is Truth that none of us can be truly good. Only by the finished work of Christ Jesus our Lord do we have redemption.
1 Cor. 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
1 Cor. 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
1 Cor. 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
We must always remember:
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
It is the Gospel that saves not the good works of men for:
Isa. 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing , and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Remember:
John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
God's Word, not men's works, bring life; men's works are temporal, but:
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
God and His Word can not be separated, just as we and our words can not be separated. God reveals to us:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
So Jesus Christ, Who is the Bread of Life, is the Word of God, and the Scripture makes known Christ Jesus. So if anything in this old world can Truly be known, it is The Saviour, The Son of God, The Word of God, Who is God. Many things in this world are obscure, but He Who is the Light of the world can be seen and known clearly by His Word, which His Spirit reveals to us:
Eph 3:14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Eph 3:15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Eph 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
All God's Blessings,
The Believers
