Justifieth By Faith
Commentary
- Justification – to be made just or righteous
- You can’t become righteous by works
- God does not pay attention to good deeds
- When you become justified by the faith, works will follow BUT works don’t save you
- You perform righteous works with the Lord, because you’re saved, not in order to be saved
James 2:14
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Commentary
- James would say no. This is the James who’s the half brother of Jesus. He’s the one Jude writes about in his epistle, “crept in unawares.”
Galations 1:11-18
But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
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And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:
Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
Commentary
- Paul says ‘Not after man’ meaning Paul did not defend a denomination, organization, he said his sermon came straight from God.
- There are very few men called from God because their denominations kick them out.
A direct God message will cause conflict - After 3 years, Paul left Jerusalem to see Peter
- Paul got saved on the road to Damascus
- His plan was to put saved folks in jail on his way to Damascus but instead he got saved
Matthew 16:13-19
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When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?
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And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
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He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
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And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
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And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
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And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
Commentary
- Paul looked for Peter because he was the head Apostle.
Galations 1:17-19
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Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.
18
Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.
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But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Commentary
Paul is saying the time he spent with James wasn’t worth mentioning because James preached justification by works.
James 2:14
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What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Romans 4:1-3
What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
Commentary
- “As pertaining to the flesh” – Justification by works
Acts 1:4-22
And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
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Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
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Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day's journey.
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And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.
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These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
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And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples, and said, (the number of names together were about an hundred and twenty,)
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Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.
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For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.
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Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.
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And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.
For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishopric let another take.
Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
Commentary
- Three times God repeats a key word: let
- If its desolate let it be desolate. Don’t give his seat to anyone else. Allow another to take his office of overseer
Genesis 15:1-5
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After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
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And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus?
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And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
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And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
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And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Commentary
- Be glad we aren’t saved by works because God can give us work to do (verse 5)
Romans 4:4-5
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Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt
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But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
James 2:16-25
| 18 | Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. | ||||||
| 19 | Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. | ||||||
| 20 | But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? | ||||||
| 21 | Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? | ||||||
| 22 | Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? | ||||||
| And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. | |||||||
| Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? | |||||||
Commentary
Cut the good deed stuff out, they won’t save you!
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