tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post3104255075039903964..comments2024-03-15T09:07:15.798-07:00Comments on NICK'S CATHOLIC BLOG: How to use James 2:24 most effectively.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-39624300971456813732021-10-04T14:19:00.254-07:002021-10-04T14:19:00.254-07:00You are in luck! I have posts addressing the Good ...You are in luck! I have posts addressing the Good Thief and also Eph 2:8. <br /><br />https://catholicnick.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-good-thief-and-bad-protestant.html <br /><br />Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-74154298787330644162021-10-03T12:52:24.311-07:002021-10-03T12:52:24.311-07:00Hi Nick
I am a former Catholic and left the church...Hi Nick<br />I am a former Catholic and left the church in my late teens because I couldn't get an answer from anyone including a Catholic priest as to how many works I needed to do to be saved. A good friend of my reminded me of the story of the Good Thief. Jesus told him he would be with him that day in paradise(heaven). What good works did he do to earn his salvation? The answer is none. Eph 2:8,9 also states clearly that good works are not part of salvation. <br />TonyAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15976979808233447740noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-28039545336071164572020-06-16T01:14:30.578-07:002020-06-16T01:14:30.578-07:00Hi Nick,
I posted a brief commentary on James 2 y...Hi Nick,<br /><br />I posted a brief commentary on James 2 you may be interested in:<br /><br />https://solasymbolic.wordpress.com/2020/06/07/james-2-commentary/<br /><br />I show how James 2:1-13 results in James asking 2 questions in James 2:14. Those questions are answered in James 2:24 and confirmed in James 2:26. Everything between James 2:15-23 and 25 is supporting evidence to the Holy Spirit inspired answer given in James 2:24. <br /><br />Any comments and constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Blessings Brother,<br /><br />Ryan ZellR. Zellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12891244748429268870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-87791716500553644702019-11-26T10:39:59.553-08:002019-11-26T10:39:59.553-08:00Hi David,
There aren't a lot of details give...Hi David, <br /><br />There aren't a lot of details given in Genesis 15, so either it was meant to leave us in a state of mystery, or it is speaking of some ritual that was better known to ancient people than us today. I try not to extrapolate too much on these matters, and so I don't automatically accept the claim "if they didn't hold up their end of the bargain" view. In fact, when I see arguments of this form, wherein major claims are being made from minimal Biblcal data, I take it as a sign of desperation, as if the person is admitting they had no actual clear evidence they could point to.<br /><br />If you're going to make such a claim as Abraham was asleep so he didn't participate, that would almost make the covenant nullified since by that logic he wasn't even agreeing to the terms. How would you feel if a contract was being drawn up and signed after you went to sleep? Whatever the purpose of the sleep was, we aren't really told, but God was still speaking with Abraham in some way, maybe through a dream. If Abraham was asleep, how did he even know what God was doing? <br /><br />As for your comments on us "working to earn his salvation," you should do a search on this blog where I address the works issue quite often. You can start with the Grand Protestant Strawman if you'd like<br /><br />https://catholicnick.blogspot.com/2018/08/protestantisms-most-embarrassing.html <br /><br />Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-15031416933420919452019-11-24T22:41:09.455-08:002019-11-24T22:41:09.455-08:00Nick -
I understand your point, but why then was ...Nick - <br />I understand your point, but why then was Abram not involved in the actual ritual? Why was the LORD the only participant? In the historical practice each man would walk down the carcasses proclaiming that if they didn't hold up their end of the bargain then the opposite party had the right to do to the offender what was done to the animals.<br />Abram was put into a sleep and did not participate in the ritual and is therefore not under the consequences of the breaking of the covenant. <br /><br />In contrast, Jesus, when He died on the cross, it was because of our actions that He was up there, but we were not up there with Him. He bore the sin of mankind and paid the price for our sin. I see nowhere in the New Testament that says that we must work to earn His salvation, He paid it all on the cross. Not even James leads me in that direction. <br /><br />Because if that was the case, this question would remain, how many works must I do to earn God's favor? 10, 20, 470? What is the number? <br /><br />I am in good relations with several Catholics and former Catholics, so don't think I came on here to cause trouble. I do enjoy healthy discussion and actually stumbled across this post last year while preaching through the book of James at my Church. <br /><br />So, keep the conversation going, I do enjoy it and am learning.<br /><br />~DavidDavidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-285983103754413422019-11-13T20:19:25.162-08:002019-11-13T20:19:25.162-08:00Hello David,
Speaking in terms of "complete...Hello David, <br /><br />Speaking in terms of "completely one sided" and "Abram did nothing" and "add to that" and "supplement the sacrifice" are all Protestant projections onto the Bible. The Bible is nowhere worried about Believers playing a role in salvation history, being praised for their good works, etc. That fear/objection is a Protestant Tradition of Men. <br /><br />Not making fun of you, but it's kind of embarassing the way Protestants will make such assertions, thinking they are glorifying God by doing so, when it's completely false. The very examples you gave, e.g., Abram not playing a role in the Genesis 15 sacrifice, is completely contradicted by the plain teaching of Genesis 15:8-11, where God tells Abraham to bring animals and prepare them for sacrifice. Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-37113833192485011452019-11-12T14:41:59.475-08:002019-11-12T14:41:59.475-08:00I would also point to Genesis 15. God's covena...I would also point to Genesis 15. God's covenant with Abram. It was completely one sided. After Abram prepared the ground he fell asleep only to wake up to the Lord performing the covenant actions (or works). Abram did nothing, only believed God. Christ's work is also one-sided. He died on the cross for payment of my sins. Why would I think that anything I could do on this earth could add to that? If James 2:24 means I have to work more in order to match or supplement the sacrifice of Jesus, then how much work does it take? Is there a scale? who decides how much work I need to do? <br /><br />Instead, I look at the context of the entire passage, nay the entire book of James and determine that when he is talking about faith and works it is a response to our faith, our belief that God is who He says He is and will do what He says he will do. Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Rahab believed God and worked to make sure the Israelite's were safe. <br /><br />If we say, I believe God, but I do not need to prove it by my works, then how can I really say I believe. The fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If we are saved then our works will show that. <br /><br />I do appreciate good discussion, so thanks.Davidnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-43778458758420974842019-11-08T13:53:59.863-08:002019-11-08T13:53:59.863-08:00Hi, yes, I have various articles on Works-Righteou...Hi, yes, I have various articles on Works-Righteousness. <a href="https://catholicnick.blogspot.com/2015/11/is-sinfulness-what-prevents-works-from.html" rel="nofollow">HERE is one that comes to mind.</a> <br /><br />As for your 2 types of bread article, I liked a lot of the points you made. For some reason, I thought Catholic theologians and Church Fathers are a mixed bag on whether or not Judas remained. I guess I am inclined to think Judas was not given the Eucharist. Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-79582670579226782462019-11-07T07:05:32.131-08:002019-11-07T07:05:32.131-08:00Thanks Nick.
I'm planing a video on THE WORKS...Thanks Nick.<br /><br />I'm planing a video on THE WORKS-RIGHTEOUNESS FALLACY. Do you have any articles on that as well?<br /><br />Also, can you take a look at my article titled:<br /><br />The Last Supper and the 2 Types of Bread:<br /><br />https://solasymbolic.wordpress.com/2015/06/24/the-last-supper-and-the-two-types-of-bread/<br /><br />Thanks Brother<br /><br />R. Zellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12891244748429268870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-16885392064742025812019-11-06T21:16:12.363-08:002019-11-06T21:16:12.363-08:00Good to hear. I'll take a look at it now!Good to hear. I'll take a look at it now!Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-86371464129126263202019-11-04T17:36:16.548-08:002019-11-04T17:36:16.548-08:00Hi Nick. I've been using your argument for 6 ...Hi Nick. I've been using your argument for 6 weeks now. Batting 1000.<br /><br />Using James 2:24 to refute Sola Fide ~ youtu.be/pZFb-moOjUwR. Zellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12891244748429268870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-32009530474902192892019-10-17T17:00:00.115-07:002019-10-17T17:00:00.115-07:00Hi unknown,
Thanks for watching the video. Your ...Hi unknown,<br /><br />Thanks for watching the video. Your 100 links are not describing FAITH ALONE. They are presuppossing Faith Alone. There is a reason why James is correcting those in the infant church who misunderstood the Apostle Paul. Because Faith Alone is a false doctrine both in scripture and 1500 years later at the reformation. <br /><br />Who boasts? I walked a little old lady across the street and I am not boasting and demanding to go to heaven? Really? <br /><br />James is talking about being SAVED. Justification is a process. It is not a one time event. And believing is FAITH. You are equivocating there. <br /><br />And I do agree with you that the demons do not more than we do and so do the Angels in Heaven who see the Beatific Vision. But guess what? <br /><br />Ephesians 3:10 NASB<br />so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the <b>CHURCH</b> to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places.<br /><br />Notice the word WISDOM of GOD and MADE KNOWN THROUGH the CHURCH in that sentence? <br /><br />The Church and only the Church found in the New Testament makes known the Wisdom of God. That the Church condemns Sola Fide. And for a very good reason. It was invented in the 16th century. It is not taught by Christ to the Apostles or the Apostles to their disciples. <br /><br />Blessings and I do mean this. <br /><br />Ryan Zell, the Zell Challenge Channel, Youtube.com<br />Solasymbolic.wordpress.comR. Zellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-90375528380317815282019-10-17T14:53:42.915-07:002019-10-17T14:53:42.915-07:00R. Zell, just watched your youtube video. You corr...R. Zell, just watched your youtube video. You correctly state that the two words together FAITH ALONE are only mentioned in James 2. However, here is a link to 100 different verses that describe Faith Alone.<br /><br />http://www.newcovenantbaptist.org/100-bible-verses-on-salvation-by-faith-alone/<br /><br />Abraham only believed and it was counted toward righteousness.<br /><br />Ephesians 2: 8-9 say we are saved by grace through faith and not by works, so that we can not boast.<br /><br />Romans 5 says we are justified by faith.<br /><br />I said it before in my above post, I am not going to diminish my Lord's sacrifice by saying I have to add to it to make it acceptable.<br /><br />James 2 is specifically taking about our life after salvation. If we claim to have faith in Jesus, then we WILL be producing works. You also claim that demons have faith in Jesus and shudder, the Bible does not say faith, it says believe. Of course the demons believe in Jesus, He created them and they fellowshiped together, they KNOW more than we do. However, they do no have FAITH in Jesus as being the ultimate authority, hence them being demons and not angels.<br /><br />Sorry for being blunt; it's my way.Freakytrekhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01017395745174060462noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-52761547130232318952019-09-24T01:48:50.510-07:002019-09-24T01:48:50.510-07:00Hi Nick,
9/24/19 at 8pm EST I am hosting a discus...Hi Nick,<br /><br />9/24/19 at 8pm EST I am hosting a discussion on James 2:14-24 hopefully with some Protestants in attendance.<br /><br />https://youtu.be/LffLbxw8HJM<br /><br />Here is a video I made based on this blog post: <br /><br />Using James 2:24 to refute Sola Fide ~ youtu.be/pZFb-moOjUw<br /> <br />Im hoping you can come and help out.<br /><br />Blessings,<br /><br />Ryan Zell<br /><br />The Zell Challenge Channel <br />R. Zellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12891244748429268870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-4486526272402219422018-09-14T10:49:13.517-07:002018-09-14T10:49:13.517-07:00I will stand and say that Faith Alone does save. W...I will stand and say that Faith Alone does save. We are separated from a perfect God because of our sin. There is NOTHING I can do to bridge that gap. Jesus came and lived a perfect life to bridge that gap. When we believe in the Lord Jesus and what he did for us we are taking on faith that His sacrifice pays for our sins. We are then Justified. When we are justified we are then Christians and have the Holy Spirit within us. If we have the Holy Spirit within us we are going to do good works; not as any payment for our salvation, I will never belittle Christ's sacrifice by saying I have to add to it by my works. My works are Christ working with me and through me to glorify the Father. James 2 is clear that when you are not producing works then your faith is not genuine or dead. When we are saved by faith alone we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5) and because we are a new creation we will do good work in response to being saved, not to become saved or to maintain being saved. John Calvin once said that Faith Alone Justifies, but Faith that Justifies is Never Alone.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-38590371379374877562015-07-29T22:17:26.439-07:002015-07-29T22:17:26.439-07:00Thank you so much for your fantastic and informati...Thank you so much for your fantastic and informative website! <br /> It's fantastic and so helpful!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14757986129670930104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-47385975887367068942011-07-28T11:02:20.360-07:002011-07-28T11:02:20.360-07:00Of course it's about a kind of fake faith, i.e...Of course it's about a kind of fake faith, i.e. a non sufficient faith: "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (2:17) Obviously it's about dead faith. And "THAT faith" (cf. 2:14) can't save. If faith is mere intellectual assent to doctrine (monotheism, the existence of God; cf. 2:19) or works of love (cf. 2:16), it's dead and not salvific. "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love." (Gal 5:6, ESV) <br /><br />"Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness?" (1 Maccabees 2:52, KJV) What was reckonend unto him for righteousness? His faithfulness! "I will show you my faith by my works." (2:18) Abraham sent his servants away? Doesn't matter. "For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV) <br /><br />You say: "If James is trying to prove good works automatically flow from the person who has true faith, he again picked the worst example, for here the prime example of a good work doesn't flow from Abraham for many years later!" One could also say: If James is trying to prove that works (adjunctively) justifie, he picked a bad example, for Abraham was counted righteous years earlier. Or are you saying that Abraham wasn't righteous/justified until the moment he performed the work of nearly (!) offering up Isaac?! <br /><br />"Who on earth would dare question whether Abraham's faith was genuine or not?" No one. Abraham's faith is out of question. That's exactly why James is using him as an example of justifying faith -- working through love and obedience -- and not as an example of fake faith. Everyone knows that Abraham is justified. In the offering of Isaac his works worked concursively (!) with his faith and thus completed it. made it to be saving faith. Otherwise his faith would've been a dead one. "For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (2:26) Important to notice: James never says that works merit justification, only that they work along with faith and complete it, i.e. demonstrate and, yes, in a way constitute it to be saving faith. Faith nevertheless. <br /><br />Not contradicting Paul? "The answer is no, and the reasoning is easy: the works Paul was speaking against were works of the [Mosaic] Law." Your reading of James is contradicting Romans 4:5: "And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness." Paul's example: Abraham. Works of the Mosaic law? "This is what I mean: the law, which came 430 years afterward, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to make the promise void." (Galatians 3:17, ESV)T.C. https://www.blogger.com/profile/15762796770903354165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-37722546265620040072011-06-07T17:08:32.565-07:002011-06-07T17:08:32.565-07:00Hey, thanks for this substantial but not-too-long ...Hey, thanks for this substantial but not-too-long post on James. In my Bible-Belt world, James does come up rather often, and this is very helpful.kkollwitzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17691145638703824456noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-37641438344432236692011-05-22T11:08:50.349-07:002011-05-22T11:08:50.349-07:00They will still say Faith Alone, especially when a...They will still say Faith Alone, especially when asked for clarification.Nickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453168437883536663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4588905705506605875.post-75970661475285613962011-05-21T21:03:28.721-07:002011-05-21T21:03:28.721-07:00Have you noticed that, online especially, the &quo...Have you noticed that, online especially, the "slicker" protestants, when arguing, will not say "we are saved by faith alone." But will say something like: "We are Saved by grace through faith." Which is as good an orthodox Catholic statement. Or if they want to muddy the waters a bit they will while not being caught by St. James they'll say something like: "We are save by Grace through faith in Christ alone," or some such variation. <br /><br />Isn't it interesting?Tapnoreply@blogger.com