Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

.December 19, 2019

James. 2:26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead.

Here is one of the most controversial verses in our bibles and it is used over and over again to prove works of law, that is, to disprove grace that stand against works of law! But the question is, is this verse and ones that are above it are they out of harmony with the rest of the Greek scriptures after Holy Spirit was poured out upon Christ resurrection that clear put all weight on grace, unmerited kindness, and/or undeserved kindness?

Well, frankly, context is everything so let us ask some questions to put this subject into context to the rest of our bibles? Number One: who is the letter of James address to? Number Two: are there any works outside of Christ the vine?

James. 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

John.15:1 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.
15:2 Every branch in me that doesn't bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 15:3 You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine,

If we answer these simple questions honestly then the book of James is in complete harmony with all the thoughts of the Greek scriptures where the apostles wrote about the power of Grace over works of law.

Is James promoting works of law in his letter in chapter two? No! But why? Because Abraham wasn't under the law, and neither was Rehab the harlot, she wasn't of the Jewish faith who the law was written and given too by God and no other nation. So if James words are taken out of context and applied to works of law then we are not being honest, or do we love Spirit and truth that Christ brought us to it is in Spirit and truth we must worship in for us to please God, and let us remember the law did not bring us grace and truth, but Christ did.

John.1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

James.2:12 So speak, and so do, as men who are to be judged by a law of freedom.

Christian's are “In” the body of Christ, they are not, “in” the body of the Old Law of Moses. They are dead to the law, being buried in Christ and raised in him. The book of James is addressed only to the body of Christ the spiritual Israel of God in Christ, but not the physical Israel under the law which persecuted the spiritual nation and its birth. Was James letter addressed to those still in the law and practicing the law, no! And that proof is found in the letters introduction, throughout the books entire thought, James was speak against judging by the law, that is, by uses of the old law physical Israel. That was the only battle that was raging in the Christian's congregation throughout all the Greek Scriptures.

Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn't through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Hebrews 12:22 But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable multitudes of angels.

Galatians 4:26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Galatians 4:25 For this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to the Jerusalem that exists now, for she is in bondage with her children.

Romans 10:12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him.

Subsequently, those it was written to were found in Christ righteousness, and not their own, or the righteousness of the law, which Christ completed for his Father YHWH.

Romans 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."{Genesis 15:6}

Romans 4:13 For the promise to Abraham and to his seed that he should be heir of the world wasn't through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 9:31 but Israel, following after a law of righteousness, didn't arrive at the law of righteousness.

Romans 10:3 For being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they didn't subject themselves to the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the fulfillment{or, completion, or end} of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

1 Corinthians 1:30 But of him, you are in Christ Jesus, who was made to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption:

Galatians 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"

Philippians 1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, that which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;

Thus, does the body of Christ produce anything in works? Some have this idea that if it not by works of law there can be no other works which is completely erroneous conclusion. If Christ has no works in him than Christ is dead, he is not alive, and he is not the living sacrifice found in these brothers and sisters whom their very existence as Christian's is about being a member part of Christ life. To argue that there is no works in an incorruptible living body of Christ, but rather we are under works coming from the power of our flesh is to contradict every truth of Christ and his teachings!

John.1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:
1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

That is the context of James letter when he is speak of “works of faith”, not works of law. But “works of faith” those works are in Christ as our righteousness which is flatly rejected by those building their entire life by their personal works labeling those works as God's works because they use both covenants the old law and the new law of Christ making neither affect. Thus, they find themselves having to justify their good and bad works of their religion and its members because believe it is a rule of law that they must gain merit and earn eternal life.

Galatians 3:2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Galatians 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

No, we are not being foolish here, instead we are saying that the power of merit in each one of us is the key to all human power on earth. It is the only way we have on this earth to build its governments, religions, and commerce, but let us not forget those in Christ are not part of this world, they have been created new from another world by the life of Christ who is in the image of God, and they are governed by the laws of Christ that they are in, not by works of human flesh, or the power of human will. Those in Christ do not earn merit with anyone let alone humans to prove they are from God, nor did Christ or his apostles while upon earth. There is no further works we can do to gain merit simply because we can not add to what God has already accredit us at our birth in Christ there is nothing that can add too Christ righteousness.

1 Corinthians 4:6 Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

All that is in Christ, is in us as gifts of his body, and not our flesh body dead in Christ, why? Because our flesh is dead in Christ. We are born again not by man's will, but God's will, we are in Christ as our head. A heart, a finger does not have separate works from the body by a separate will. The members are under the will power of the head of that body, and the head lives because of its own body power, the body support all members in the works of the body. The power of Christ body has been made clear by God by God giving Christ His own incorruptible life.
Heb.1:3 His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 1:4 having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have.

1Cor.3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, 3:22 whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All are yours,
3:23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

1 Timothy 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Let us remember that Christ kingdom is created and formed by “no” human hands, just like Adam and Eve weren't, or was the Garden of Eden, or this earth upon which we live. All those works were done without humans but by Spirit and truth. Hence, if we think Christ is dead and is doing no works, or his kingdom is inactive than we don't have the fruit of the Spirit which are the active works of Christ in us, that fruit is what conquered this world and is not of this world.

Luke 8:15 That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.

John 15:2 Every branch in me that doesn't bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

John 15:4 Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can't bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.

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