Re: Baptism
Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 8:48 am
Re: James.
James' warning against "dead faith" was a warning to those believers that acted as if there was no need to do anything OTHER than belief and James was make the statement that if one truly believes then they should (not must) act in a way that is good and what example did James give?
James mentions taking care of widows and orphans, he mentions keeping a tight reign on our tongues, to NOT be partial about clothes or riches, to love your neighbour as yourself, to be righteous as Abraham was, to avoid conflicts with each other, to not be arrogant, to give freely and not hoard, to not swear by God but to be honest and truthful and to be faithful and to strength each others faith.
He also, of course, mentions the prohibition against adultery and murder.
The epistle of James is often views as the most "legalistic" or "works based" epistle, BUT reading it with open mind and love, we see that is not the case at all.
If we look at the "Law" in James, He explicitly mentions only:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Care for widows and orphans
DO not cast judgment against another.
James' warning against "dead faith" was a warning to those believers that acted as if there was no need to do anything OTHER than belief and James was make the statement that if one truly believes then they should (not must) act in a way that is good and what example did James give?
James mentions taking care of widows and orphans, he mentions keeping a tight reign on our tongues, to NOT be partial about clothes or riches, to love your neighbour as yourself, to be righteous as Abraham was, to avoid conflicts with each other, to not be arrogant, to give freely and not hoard, to not swear by God but to be honest and truthful and to be faithful and to strength each others faith.
He also, of course, mentions the prohibition against adultery and murder.
The epistle of James is often views as the most "legalistic" or "works based" epistle, BUT reading it with open mind and love, we see that is not the case at all.
If we look at the "Law" in James, He explicitly mentions only:
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Care for widows and orphans
DO not cast judgment against another.