A Pastor friend told me he ran across a 1993 article I wrote regarding the chair illustration. He shared it with a Bible study group and they found my suggestion helpful.
The following is a revised and condensed version of that article.
Many theologians, including some Free Grace proponents, say that saving faith has three elements: understanding (notitia), acceptance (assensus), and trust (fiducia). Unless all three elements are present, they say, a person does not have saving faith.
This is sometimes illustrated by means of a chair. A person can understand that a chair claims to support a person who sits in it. The person can go a step further and accept that claim. That is, he can be convinced that the chair would hold him up if he chose to sit in it. However (so the illustration goes), unless and until a person actually chooses to sit in the chair he will not gain its benefit.
Sitting in the chair is likened to trusting in Christ for everlasting life. Typically the person using the illustration does not say that sitting in the chair illustrates believing in Christ for everlasting life. The second element, the acceptance of the truth, is believing in Jesus. Now one must go a step beyond believing in Jesus. (Are you sensing a problem here?) One must trust in Him. But what is trust if it isn’t believing?
In this way of thinking one can understand and even accept the claims of Christ concerning the gospel, yet not be saved because he has not yet personalized the gospel for himself. Before anyone can obtain the gift of everlasting life, he must go beyond understanding and acceptance of Christ’s claims and must actually trust Him.
At one time I used that illustration. I long ago stopped doing so because I came to see that it presents a confusing view of saving faith.
I’ve found that people do not know what they need to do to sit in the chair that is Christ. If believing in Him is not enough, what is this third element? What is trusting in Christ if it is not believing in Him? Trust is often a synonym for faith. But if trusting in Christ is an additional step beyond believing in Him, then confusion reigns.
(Lordship Salvation proponents explain that trusting in Christ is surrendering to Him and committing your life to Him. However, Free Grace proponents do not explain trust in that way. They leave it unexplained.)
Faith is not, in my opinion, made up of three elements.
Understanding is necessary for faith to occur. However, that is not exactly the same as saying that it is an element of faith.
Acceptance is a synonym for faith. When a person accepts that the testimony of someone is true, they believe or trust it. That is exactly what the Apostle John said in 1 John 5:9-11: “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater… He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself… And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.”
To accept the testimony of God about His Son is to believe it. Acceptance is faith.
The problem with the chair illustration is that chairs don’t give support simply on the basis of faith. A person can wholeheartedly believe that a chair he sees across the room is trustworthy. He can be convinced it will hold him up. He may want its support. Yet believing in the chair does not mean that the person is sitting in it. To sit in it he must do more than believe in it. He must walk across the room, turn his body, and then lower himself into the chair.
What does the chair promise to do? It promises to support your legs and back. If the chair were like Jesus Christ, then the moment a person believed in the chair, his legs and back would immediately be supported. He’d never need to seek out the chair and sit in it. His legs and back would be forever supported by the chair. Guaranteed.
Jesus said, “He who believes in Me has everlasting life” (John 6:47).
Do you believe Him?
That is, are you convinced that what He said is true?
There is no other step to take. To believe is accept as true. The moment a person believes in Jesus Christ for everlasting life, he has it once and for all. There is no additional step.
Alvin
Amen Bob~!
Even Satan knows this truth, which is more than I can say for the Lordship Salvationist~!
Matthew 13:19 Jesus said,
When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and DOES NOT UNDERSTAND IT, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.
When God opens the heart the believer has understood in his mind~! But, there is that period of time which Satan can snatch the seed away.
Leo Z
Hello Pastor Bob,
Well done and well said, yes indeed!. I used to use the chair illustration myself. It was a necessary component of the evangelism methodology that we used at a local church that I used to be a part of. After we shared the chair analogy, we would explain that believing in Him is not enough and the salvific transaction would not be complete until we got up from our own personal chair and walked over to sit on the chair of Jesus. Walking over and sitting on His chair would be analogous to entrusting our whole life to Him or putting our lives into His lap, committing and surrendering our life to Him “as Lord.” We did not call it Lordship salvation then, but who needs labels, the concept was LS through and through.
I repented of this folly of purveying what is plainly a “faith plus works salvation message” when my eyes were opened to His truth. “Believe, simply believe, be persuaded, be convicted that Jesus is able to impart and guarantee everlasting life to whoever believes in Him for it. No returns, no exchanges. No extra steps, nothing more, nothing less”. Amen!
Praying continually for you and the ministry of GES.
Pam
Back in the late ’80s to early ’90s, my husband and I were part of a free grace method of Evangelism Explosion. The leaders of the group (Nick Kalivoda and Gordon Jarnagin) had stripped away all the lordship salvation components of the presentation. However, they did not remove the chair illustration, and none of us questioned it, mainly because we took it as a “you can put your fanny in only one chair” illustration. Meaning, you can’t rest in Christ’s work and your own works at the same time. We didn’t take the time to analyze the ramifications of the illustration….
Not until your 1993 article. After having read that and discussing it, we decided it best not to use the illustration. But, as I said above, the best thing about the chair illustration is that it teaches a person that he can’t sit in two chairs at the same time—he either believes in Jesus alone for everlasting life, or he doesn’t. That said, we have never used the illustration since, and we have explained the message of life many times since then. One of the things about GES that has benefited us so greatly is that you guys constantly challenge us to be Biblical. Bless you all.
Ken Tamashiro
Hello Pastor Bob,
I’m very happy you brought up this subject.
You are correct about Believing as a one unit item and that it should not be over analyzed because it will confuse the believer.
I find it interesting that Lordship folks have made it very complicated also.
I’m thinking when Jesus spoke to many different individuals about Believing in Him as the Christ, He never overanalyzed his statements about Believing. He knew that if a person needed time to consider his offer, then that’s OK. …And if someone else who believed because the Holy Spirit touched him that was good also.
What I’ve noticed in Romans 10 is that when a Jewish person believed, ..Romans 10:8 But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith (showing who Christ is) which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (meaning you believed Jesus is the Messiah), and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (meaning He did not stay in the grave as a common man but came back to life again as the Risen Savior), you will be saved (Because of your belief in Him); 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses (that what he believes that this is true), resulting in (his) salvation.
Grace and Peace to You,
Ken Tamashiro
Alvin
Greetings Ken,
John 12:42Nevertheless even among the rulers many BELIEVED in Him, but because of the Pharisees they DID NOT CONFESS Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Were these Jews saved~?
In John’s sense of the word (He who believes in Him is NOT condemned 3:18). And notice it’s not these Jews who said they believed, but it is John by the inspiration of Scripture who says they believed~!
Confession is not a condition for eternal life. Another Jew Nicodemus was told he needed to be born again in John 3. Being born again and entering the Kingdom, and eternal life are synonyms in John 3.
Only one condition~!
But the Jews in John 12:42 were not saved in Paul’s sense of the word in Romans. That is because Paul is not talking about being saved from eternal condemnation in Romans. He uses the word justification for that point in time salvation. The salvation in Romans is from God’s temporal wrath which was being revealed from heaven right then (Romans 1:16-18).
We see in Romans 5:1,9,10 Paul distinguishes between justification and salvation. That is, Paul is writing to believers who already have been justified. And anyone who has been justified, as Paul puts it, have justification of life. So, the salvation Paul is talking about in Romans for believers is being saved from temporal wrath by Jesus life~! Which is the same salvation in Romans 10 to the unbelieving Jews. They first must believe in the heart for righteousness. That is a prerequisite for this salvation. But if they were to die right then they would be saved in John’s sense of that word. But, they would not be saved in Paul’s sense writing to believers. Once these Jews are saved in John’s sense of the word, then they can call on a risen Lord Jesus by confessing Him for salvation from God’s temporal wrath. But, they must believe that He has risen from the dead before they can call on Him or confess Him. This is not a one time event, but wherever they were calling on the Lord. Other words they are not secret disciples, but openly calling on Him for salvation (deliverance).
This is why it’s always good to ask ourselves when reading Scripture and we come across the word save, or salvation, it’s good to ask the question saved from what~? If we do this in Romans 10:9-10 we know this salvation is for believers and has two conditions. 1. The prerequisite of being born again. 2. Confessing Him with our mouth for deliverance (salvation).
We would also come to this conclusion by referencing Scripture that Paul is quoting from the Old Testament:
Deut 30:12-14
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statues, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you go to posses.
That is if they did what God was commanding them to do they would be delivered from His temporal wrath. They are being offered life or death. In Romans it is the one who is righteous by faith who lives. That is they are being saved by Jesus life from wrath:
Romans 4:9-10 Much more then having now been justified by His blood, we SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.
Alvin
Greetings Ken,
John 12:42Nevertheless even among the rulers many BELIEVED in Him, but because of the Pharisees they DID NOT CONFESS Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
Were these Jews saved~?
In John’s sense of the word (He who believes in Him is NOT condemned 3:18). And notice it’s not these Jews who said they believed, but it is John by the inspiration of Scripture who says they believed~!
Confession is not a condition for eternal life. Another Jew Nicodemus was told he needed to be born again in John 3. Being born again and entering the Kingdom, and eternal life are synonyms in John 3.
Only one condition~!
But the Jews in John 12:42 were not saved in Paul’s sense of the word in Romans. That is because Paul is not talking about being saved from eternal condemnation in Romans. He uses the word justification for that point in time salvation. The salvation in Romans is from God’s temporal wrath which was being revealed from heaven right then (Romans 1:16-18).
We see in Romans 5:1,9,10 Paul distinguishes between justification and salvation. That is, Paul is writing to believers who already have been justified. And anyone who has been justified, as Paul puts it, have justification of life. So, the salvation Paul is talking about in Romans for believers is being saved from temporal wrath by Jesus life~! Which is the same salvation in Romans 10 to the unbelieving Jews. They first must believe in the heart for righteousness. That is a prerequisite for this salvation. But if they were to die right then they would be saved in John’s sense of that word. But, they would not be saved in Paul’s sense writing to believers. Once these Jews are saved in John’s sense of the word, then they can call on a risen Lord Jesus by confessing Him for salvation from God’s temporal wrath. But, they must believe that He has risen from the dead before they can call on Him or confess Him. This is not a one time event, but wherever they were calling on the Lord. Other words they are not secret disciples, but openly calling on Him for salvation (deliverance).
This is why it’s always good to ask ourselves when reading Scripture and we come across the word save, or salvation, it’s good to ask the question saved from what~? If we do this in Romans 10:9-10 we know this salvation is for believers and has two conditions. 1. The prerequisite of being born again. 2. Confessing Him with our mouth for deliverance (salvation).
We would also come to this conclusion by referencing Scripture that Paul is quoting from the Old Testament:
Deut 30:12-14
But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statues, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you go to posses.
That is if they did what God was commanding them to do they would be delivered from His temporal wrath. They are being offered life or death. In Romans it is the one who is righteous by faith who lives. That is they are being saved by Jesus life from wrath:
Romans 4:9-10 Much more then having now been justified by His blood, we SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM.
For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.
KEN TAMASHIRO
Hi Alvin,
Hi Alvin,
My understanding here is Paul is not talking about temporal wrath but gaining Eternal Life by Believing in Jesus as the Savior of the World.
Ken,
KEN TAMASHIRO
Hi Pastor Bob,……May I share an opinion here,
I think maybe, the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:8-10 was talking about if a Jewish Believer believed in these basic facts about Jesus he was a saved man.
Pauls point was we can definitely determine doctrinally he is a Saved person,…but never as the formula for being saved.
I’ve written and filled in the gaps of Pauls statement to bring into the light of what he probably meant.
My apology if my writing is a bit crude but hopefully you’ll understand what I’m trying to communicate here.
What I’ve noticed in Romans 10 is that when a Jewish person believed, ..Romans 10:8 But what does it say? The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith (showing you who Christ is) which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord (meaning you believed and in your statement confess Jesus is the Messiah), and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead (meaning He died on the Cross and Rose from the Dead), you will be saved (Because of your belief in Him); 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses (that what he believes doctrinally that this is true),(thus this is) resulting in (his in) salvation. (this a persons Confession of Belief.)
Ken Tamashiro
For me, ….though I think Pauls Perspective is as true today as it was back then. The statements he made in Romans 10; 8-10 are qualifiers for believing, and if a Jewish person is a Believer and those who did believe will not have any problem agreeing or confessing Jesus as their Savior.
KEN TAMASHIRO
As far as the Wrath of God on the Believer,… I would agree with Zane about Gods wrath on the Believer for Apostatizing in regards to the Book of Hebrews, because of the pressure to bail out and rejoin Judaism.
Maintaining one’s Belief in those circumstances will be very rewarding in the Future Kingdom.
Alvin
So Ken, your saying that to prove someone has believed there are qualifiers~? Let me guess are these some of them~?
1. Must believe Jesus is God.
2. Must believe Jesus has risen from the dead.
3. Must confess Jesus.
So, that would make the Jews in John 12:42 not true believers because they did not confess Him even though John said they believed~?
In fact that would make all the believers in John’s Gospel not true believers because none of them believed that Jesus was God nor that He rose from the dead yet were born again~?
Are you saying the saving message has changed~?
Alvin
Ken, what you must remember is that it’s not your list of qualifiers that opens the heart, it’t God who opens the heart. And He says that anyone believing in His Son has eternal life. And believing in Jesus in the Gospel of John which was written for that purpose is believing in Him for what He offers, eternal life. And for Nathanael, all it took for Him was Jesus seeing him under the fig tree, and God had opened his heart to believe~!
Philip who had brought Nathanael to Jesus thought that He was born in Nazareth and was the son of Joseph. He didn’t have all his ducks in a row, just as the Woman at the Well didn’t know who she worshiped. And the ones she evangelized in her town they believed Jesus was the Christ, the Savior of the world. They had no idea that He would be crucified, as you read into that statement. (Verses pertaining John 1:45,48-51; 4:22,42)
As Zane said, and I believe:
The marvelous truth of free grace is this: A guilty sinner with far from adequate knowledge about the Person and work of our Lord can come to Him and believe that Jesus will give him eternal life. And the moment he does believe, he will have that life.
This is true, in fact, even if a few moments later he encounters some theological legalists who inform him he doesn’t know enough to be saved! Such legalists refuse to justify such an “ignorant” believer. But God has already justified him.
As Paul puts it so clearly in Rom 3:26, God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” End quote.
Remember it is God’s job to open the heart, a child can simply believe Jesus promise of life and be born of God~!
Shanae G
Hello there. Was raised free grace, but always had trouble reconciling this with the book of James. “Show me your faith without works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works.” As well as Jesus’ fearsome statement, “Many will come to me in that day saying…” and also “Do you believe? Well; the devils believe also and tremble.” -Indicating that saving belief, however one describes it, seems to require more than mental assent. And to go further down the rabbit hole, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..” (to me not a works-based claim to salvation, lest any man boast, yet a required response nonetheless, a measurable response to the saving work of God) and “that man’s faith is in vain”.
Care to address? In moving from milk to meat,
A Believer in Jesus the Christ
Pam
If you have the inclination and the funds, I highly recommend you invest in the Grace NT Commentary, available on Amazon and on this web site. The authors address all your questions.
In addition, whether you invest in the Grace NT Commentary or not, this web site itself is a free encyclopedia. Use the search engine, and you’ll find articles which address your questions.
Regarding demons—Jesus did not die for demons. Demons know exactly Who God is, exactly Who Jesus is, and they knew Who Jesus was during His earthly ministry (see, e.g., Luke 4:33-34). They understood exactly what the apostles preached during their ministry as described in Acts (see e.g., Acts 16:17). But demons cannot be saved because they are not candidates for salvation. It’s that simple: Jesus did not die for demons. To say that the faith of demons is an example of “false faith” is to compare apples (the faith of demons) to oranges (the faith of people) because demons are not savable; only people are.
HTH
Alvin
Shanae G
Hello there. Was raised free grace, but always had trouble reconciling this with the book of James. “Show me your faith without works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works.” As well as Jesus’ fearsome statement, “Many will come to me in that day saying…” and also “Do you believe? Well; the devils believe also and tremble.” -Indicating that saving belief, however one describes it, seems to require more than mental assent. And to go further down the rabbit hole, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..” (to me not a works-based claim to salvation, lest any man boast, yet a required response nonetheless, a measurable response to the saving work of God) and “that man’s faith is in vain”.
Care to address? In moving from milk to meat,
A Believer in Jesus the Christ
First off no one can believe apart from God opening the heart.
Acts 16:14
Now a certain woman named Lydia heard us. She was a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshipped God. The Lord OPENED HER HEART to heed the things spoken by Paul.
Another way of putting it is the light comes on~!
2 Cor 4:3-6
But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose MINDS the god of this age has BLINDED, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bond servants for Jesus’ sake.
For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has SHONE IN OUR HEARTS to give the light OF THE KNOWLEDGE of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
This is interesting the first person that the seed is sown:
Matthew 13:3-4p
Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow.
“And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them.
Now Jesus explanation of the first person:
19. “Whenever anyone hears the word of the Kingdom, and does NOT UNDERSTAND IT, then the wicked one comes and snatches away that what was sown IN HIS HEART. This is He who received seed by the way side.
When God opens the heart we understand it with our minds. And notice the wicked one snatches it away from our heart before he could understand it and believe.
To believe is not a decision but a persuasion, we find ourselves believing when the light comes on. Our part is to seek the truth and not suppress it.
Persuaded vrs. Disbelieved
Paul,
So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the Kingdom Of God, PERSUADING them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
And some were PERSUADED by the things which were spoken, and some DISBELIEVED. (Acts 28:23-24)
The Father has hidden these things from the wise and prudent. If you have believed the saving message, that means the Father has revealed it to you and you know your name is written in heaven. Assurance is built into Jesus promise (John 3:16; 4:10,13-14; 5:24; 6:35,47; 10:27-30).
Must be so simple a little child can believe: Jesus: Let the little children come to Me and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. (Mark 10:14-15)
These ones with their lists of things they say we must believe in order to be saved keep the little children from coming to Jesus in child like faith.
Luke 10:20-21 Jesus said,
“Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord o heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and REVEALED THEM TO BABES. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
Rejoice~!
Alvin
First off the justification that James is talking about takes more than faith but also works. He uses the demons belief as an example, and also earlier on James says, but be doers of the word, and not hearers ONLY, deceiving yourselves. So, this salvation that James is talking about takes faith and works.
James is NOT contradicting Paul’s justification that is BEFORE God that is without works.
Romans 4:1-6
4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, BUT NOT before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham BELIEVED God, and IT was accounted to him FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to him WHO WORKS, the wages are NOT counted as grace BUT AS DEBT.
5 But to him who DOES NOT WORK but believes on Him who justifies the UNGODLY, HIS FAITH is accounted FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness APART FROM WORKS:
First off Paul is talking about a faith righteousness, not a works righteousness that can be boasted about. As you noted by Ephesians 2:8,9.
We see that Paul gave us a glimpse in verse 2 of boasting: For if Abraham was justified by WORKS, he has something to BOAST about, BUT NOT BEFORE GOD.
So, Paul in Romans 4 is talking about a righteousness (justification) that is BEFORE God. And I believe that James is talking about a righteousness (justification) that is BEFORE MEN, which it would be possible for Abraham to boast about.
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED BY WORKS when he offered Issac his son on the altar?
22. Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24. You see then a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
That is there is a justification that is before God which we cannot boast about: Romans 3:27 Where is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
But, there is a justification that is before men which we could boast about: Romans 4:2 For If Abraham was justified by works, HE HAS SOMETHING TO BOAST ABOUT, BUT NOT BEFORE GOD.
Two other things we need to look at in James, the word salvation and the word profit.
First off we see that Paul in Romans uses the word salvation differently than justification. So as in James we need to ask ourselves the question, “saved from what~?”
We see there that justification has already taken place, just as in James it is written to believers who have already been justified before God.
Salvation in Romans is being saved from wrath by Jesus life: 5:9-10 Much more then having now been justified by His blood, we SHALL BE SAVED from WRATH through HIM. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.
So the salvation there it’s talking about is based upon our initial faith. But faith to faith is not by grace but based upon grace. Because it has to do with our works, and is rewarded. Our initial faith should produce obedience, it’s called faith’s obedience. It’s not guaranteed but it is what is expected. So in Romans it is the one who is justified by faith shall live. That is the believer experiences eternal life with his union with Christ, through his death, burial, and resurrection. We present ourselves alive in Christ to God as slaves of righteousness.
(Rom 1:17,18 faith to faith-wrath)
Zane has shown where in Romans it is not the just shall live BY faith, but the one who is righteous by faith shall live~! He proves this by showing that the word faith is only used in the justification chapters, but in the Christian life chapters obedience occurs twice, and obey occurs 3 times. (See Zanes commentary on Romans page 29-30)
Now we need to see what salvation James is talking about to his believers who have ALREADY been born again (James 1:18,21; 2:14; 5:15,20). Also a key word, “profit” in 2:14,16 which has to do with our works and rewards. Meaning we are talking about the saving of our life by discipleship.
I’ll end here for now.
Alvin
James 1:21. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Notice the the word that can save your souls (life) is ALREADY implanted. That means they have already been born again by the word.
1 Peter 1:23. having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.
The Seed had already come to them, and now the expectation is for obedience which will save their lives.
So, James salvation that he is talking about is for believers, and takes more than faith alone in Christ alone, but works. These are the works that Paul talks about in Ephesians 2:10:
For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we SHOULD walk in them.
Jesus also spoke in all the Gospels concerning the saving of the life by losing your life (Matt 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-36; Luke 9:23-25 and notice the word “profit” is used in all these passages as in James 2:14,16). Only in John’s Gospel does He not use the word “save” in this losing of the life but uses the word “keep.” John in his Gospel only uses the word save a few times concerning our being saved from final judgment (Lake Of Fire). The only other time he uses the word “save” is Jesus in this passage. Why~? Because I believe losing your life is a choice we make, just as Jesus had to make a choice in losing His life, that is He said, “Oh My Father, if it is possible let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matt 26:39)
Each of us in order to save our lives must make this decision, “not as I will, but as You will.”
John 12:24-28
“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
“He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
“If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, Him My Father will honor.
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came into the world.
“Father, glorify Your name.”
If we want to have a faith that glorifies the Lord we must also have works. But, if we have no works at all we will be like the ones in 1Cor 3:15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be SAVED, yet so as by fire.
So, Rejoice~! If you know your name is written in heaven, that is you have believed Jesus for His free gift of eternal life.
But if you want to bring glory to Him, walk in those works you were created in Christ Jesus to walk in:-)
Alvin
Shanae G
Hello there. Was raised free grace, but always had trouble reconciling this with the book of James. “Show me your faith without works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works.” As well as Jesus’ fearsome statement, “Many will come to me in that day saying…” and also “Do you believe? Well; the devils believe also and tremble.” -Indicating that saving belief, however one describes it, seems to require more than mental assent. And to go further down the rabbit hole, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling..” (to me not a works-based claim to salvation, lest any man boast, yet a required response nonetheless, a measurable response to the saving work of God) and “that man’s faith is in vain”.
Care to address? In moving from milk to meat,
A Believer in Jesus the Christ
Shanae G
Shanae I like the way you ended your post with….A Believer in Jesus the Christ. That tells me you understand “the Christ” has special meaning for John in his Gospel written to the unbeliever that they may have life in His name. And John’s first Epistle showing that to believe in the Christ is to be born of God (1 John 5:1a). I hope I’m not reading into your statement more than you meant, but I don’t think so:-)
We will look at Philippians 2:12-13. I learned some new things studying this, and am excited about sharing them.
Phil 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK out YOUR OWN SALVATION with FEAR and TREMBLING; for it is GOD WHO WORKS in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
I put special emphasis on some key words. First off we need to ask ourselves, “saved from what~?”
And, context, context, context…..as Zane would say:-)
The word for salvation here is the same word used in Phil 1:19 and verse 28.
Strong’s Concordance. sótéria: deliverance, salvation. Original Word: σωτηρία, ας , ἡ.
I believe this is talking about losing your life to gain it (what’s called progressive sanctification). And were given three examples of this, with Paul, the Philippian believers, and Jesus.
Here is a key indicator of this: Phil 1:29-30 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, NOT ONLY to believe in Him, but also to SUFFER for His sake, having the SAME CONFLICT which you SAW IN ME and now hear is in me.
Shannae, to suffer for Christ is something a believer has to do in order to co-reign with Christ (Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and JOINT HEIRS with Christ, IF indeed WE SUFFER with Him, that WE may be glorified TOGETHER.
All believers are an heir of God, which is a son of God. But, not all believers EXPERIENCE, is as a son of God (see Gal 4:1-7).
IT’s clear that this salvation in this verse has to do with our WORKS, which it states…were to work out our salvation.
How did Paul and the Phillipians, and Jesus do this~? By obedience~!
Paul said, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus……He humbled Himself and became OBEDIENT to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Phil 2:5,8).
Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).
Ok, now it says to work out your salvation in FEAR and TREMBLING. How did Paul, and Jesus, and now the Philippians do that~?
Paul, “I was with you in weakness, in FEAR, and in much TREMBLING (1 Cor 2:3).
2 Cor 7:15 And his effections are greater for you as he remembers the OBEDIENCE of you all, how with FEAR and TREMBLING you received him.
Eph 6:5 Bondservants, be OBEDIENT to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with FEAR and TREMBLING, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.
Jesus: who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with VEHEMENT CRIES and TEARS to Him who was able to SAVE (deliver) from DEATH, and was heard because of His godly FEAR, though He was a Son, yet He LEARNED OBEDIENCE by the things that He SUFFERED. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation (context: inherit salvation 1:14) to all who OBEY Him.
Notice how Paul’s comment in Philippians 3:12 sounds just like this: Not that I have already attained, or am already PERFECTED; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus laid hold of me.
Then read John 12:23-28 this is losing your life to gain it. Jesus was TROUBLED in His soul verse 27.
Troubled there is of the same word group as trembling and fear: Vines Concordance TREMBLING, trembled—1. A trembling, fear, trouble.
The Philippian believers feared physical death also:
Phil 1:28 and not in any way TERRIFIED by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
These Philippian believers just as Paul Knew that to lose their lives was to gain them for eternity. The salvation here is the saving of the life, they knew they had not run in vain but would gain the prize: I press toward the goal for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14).
The Philippians knew just as Paul did first hand that they could die just as Stephen had in Acts 7:51-60 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him, And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
So, this salvation is the saving of your life, and the fear and trembling has to do with your suffering which could lead to physical death.
But, how about a believer who chooses to not suffer for Christ~?
They will be ashamed at His appearing (1 John 2:28), and at the Judgment seat of Christ (bema) all their works could be burned up (1 Cor 3:11-15 each ones WORK will be tested…..If anyone’s WORK which he has built on it endures, he will receive a REWARD. If anyone’s work is burned he will SUFFER LOSS; but he himself will be SAVED, yet so as through fire.
Shannae, the salvation at the bema is being saved from that testing of ones works, because the bema is not concerning ones eternal destiny that was settled the moment you passed from death into life as John 5:24 proves the believer will not come into that judgement (Great White Throne) of the dead (Rev 20:12 I saw the dead,).
The believer is of the first resurrection that happens 1000yrs before where will be decided who co-reigns with Christ (Rev 20:4-6; Luke 19:15,17,19).
I hope this helped:-)
Alvin
Shanae,
Matt 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does THE WILL OF MY FATHER in heaven. “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
The will of the Father is to believe in His Son (see John 6:39-40). Notice they pointed to their works. And Jesus said they practiced lawlessness. Anyone that is not born again can only produce filthy rags, that is their own righteousness. Jesus says here not that He knew them and then they lost their salvation, but He said He NEVER knew them. Also the context of this has to do with False Prophets verses 15-20 you’ll know them by their fruit. Their fruit is their words (see Matt 12:33-34). These False Prophets you can’t tell by looking at their life because they are in sheeps clothing.
Alvin
Shanae
First off the justification that James is talking about takes more than faith but also works. He uses the demons belief as an example, and also earlier on James says, but be doers of the word, and not hearers ONLY, deceiving yourselves. So, this salvation that James is talking about takes faith and works.
James is NOT contradicting Paul’s justification that is BEFORE God that is without works.
Romans 4:1-6
4 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, BUT NOT before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham BELIEVED God, and IT was accounted to him FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” 4 Now to him WHO WORKS, the wages are NOT counted as grace BUT AS DEBT.
5 But to him who DOES NOT WORK but believes on Him who justifies the UNGODLY, HIS FAITH is accounted FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness APART FROM WORKS:
First off Paul is talking about a faith righteousness, not a works righteousness that can be boasted about. As you noted by Ephesians 2:8,9.
We see that Paul gave us a glimpse in verse 2 of boasting: For if Abraham was justified by WORKS, he has something to BOAST about, BUT NOT BEFORE GOD.
So, Paul in Romans 4 is talking about a righteousness (justification) that is BEFORE God. And I believe that James is talking about a righteousness (justification) that is BEFORE MEN, which it would be possible for Abraham to boast about.
James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father JUSTIFIED BY WORKS when he offered Issac his son on the altar?
22. Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
23. And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God.
24. You see then a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
That is there is a justification that is before God which we cannot boast about: Romans 3:27 Where is boasting? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
But, there is a justification that is before men which we could boast about: Romans 4:2 For If Abraham was justified by works, HE HAS SOMETHING TO BOAST ABOUT, BUT NOT BEFORE GOD.
Two other things we need to look at in James, the word salvation and the word profit.
First off we see that Paul in Romans uses the word salvation differently than justification. So as in James we need to ask ourselves the question, “saved from what~?”
We see there that justification has already taken place, just as in James it is written to believers who have already been justified before God.
Salvation in Romans is being saved from wrath by Jesus life: 5:9-10 Much more then having now been justified by His blood, we SHALL BE SAVED from WRATH through HIM. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, WE SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE.
So the salvation there it’s talking about is based upon our initial faith. But faith to faith is not by grace but based upon grace. Because it has to do with our works, and is rewarded. Our initial faith should produce obedience, it’s called faith’s obedience. It’s not guaranteed but it is what is expected. So in Romans it is the one who is justified by faith shall live. That is the believer experiences eternal life with his union with Christ, through his death, burial, and resurrection. We present ourselves alive in Christ to God as slaves of righteousness.
(Rom 1:17,18 faith to faith-wrath)
Zane has shown where in Romans it is not the just shall live BY faith, but the one who is righteous by faith shall live~! He proves this by showing that the word faith is only used in the justification chapters, but in the Christian life chapters obedience occurs twice, and obey occurs 3 times. (See Zanes commentary on Romans page 29-30)
Now we need to see what salvation James is talking about to his believers who have ALREADY been born again (James 1:18,21; 2:14; 5:15,20). Also a key word, “profit” in 2:14,16 which has to do with our works and rewards. Meaning we are talking about the saving of our life by discipleship.
I’ll end here for now.
Alvin
Shanae G
Shanae I like the way you ended your post with….A Believer in Jesus the Christ. That tells me you understand “the Christ” has special meaning for John in his Gospel written to the unbeliever that they may have life in His name. And John’s first Epistle showing that to believe in the Christ is to be born of God (1 John 5:1a). I hope I’m not reading into your statement more than you meant, but I don’t think so:-)
We will look at Philippians 2:12-13. I learned some new things studying this, and am excited about sharing them.
Phil 2:12-13
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always OBEYED, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, WORK out YOUR OWN SALVATION with FEAR and TREMBLING; for it is GOD WHO WORKS in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
I put special emphasis on some key words. First off we need to ask ourselves, “saved from what~?”
And, context, context, context…..as Zane would say:-)
The word for salvation here is the same word used in Phil 1:19 and verse 28.
Strong’s Concordance. sótéria: deliverance, salvation. Original Word: σωτηρία, ας , ἡ.
I believe this is talking about losing your life to gain it (what’s called progressive sanctification). And were given three examples of this, with Paul, the Philippian believers, and Jesus.
Here is a key indicator of this: Phil 1:29-30 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, NOT ONLY to believe in Him, but also to SUFFER for His sake, having the SAME CONFLICT which you SAW IN ME and now hear is in me.
Shannae, to suffer for Christ is something a believer has to do in order to co-reign with Christ (Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and JOINT HEIRS with Christ, IF indeed WE SUFFER with Him, that WE may be glorified TOGETHER.
All believers are an heir of God, which is a son of God. But, not all believers EXPERIENCE, is as a son of God (see Gal 4:1-7).
IT’s clear that this salvation in this verse has to do with our WORKS, which it states…were to work out our salvation.
How did Paul and the Phillipians, and Jesus do this~? By obedience~!
Paul said, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus……He humbled Himself and became OBEDIENT to the point of death, even the death of the cross (Phil 2:5,8).
Paul, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Phil 1:21).
Ok, now it says to work out your salvation in FEAR and TREMBLING. How did Paul, and Jesus, and now the Philippians do that~?
Paul, “I was with you in weakness, in FEAR, and in much TREMBLING (1 Cor 2:3).
2 Cor 7:15 And his effections are greater for you as he remembers the OBEDIENCE of you all, how with FEAR and TREMBLING you received him.
Eph 6:5 Bondservants, be OBEDIENT to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with FEAR and TREMBLING, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ.
Jesus: who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with VEHEMENT CRIES and TEARS to Him who was able to SAVE (deliver) from DEATH, and was heard because of His godly FEAR, though He was a Son, yet He LEARNED OBEDIENCE by the things that He SUFFERED. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation (context: inherit salvation 1:14) to all who OBEY Him.
Notice how Paul’s comment in Philippians 3:12 sounds just like this: Not that I have already attained, or am already PERFECTED; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus laid hold of me.
Then read John 12:23-28 this is losing your life to gain it. Jesus was TROUBLED in His soul verse 27.
Troubled there is of the same word group as trembling and fear: Vines Concordance TREMBLING, trembled—1. A trembling, fear, trouble.
The Philippian believers feared physical death also:
Phil 1:28 and not in any way TERRIFIED by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.
These Philippian believers just as Paul Knew that to lose their lives was to gain them for eternity. The salvation here is the saving of the life, they knew they had not run in vain but would gain the prize: I press toward the goal for the PRIZE of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14).
The Philippians knew just as Paul did first hand that they could die just as Stephen had in Acts 7:51-60 and they cast him out of the city and stoned him, And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.
So, this salvation is the saving of your life, and the fear and trembling has to do with your suffering which could lead to physical death.
But, how about a believer who chooses to not suffer for Christ~?
They will be ashamed at His appearing (1 John 2:28), and at the Judgment seat of Christ (bema) all their works could be burned up (1 Cor 3:11-15 each ones WORK will be tested…..If anyone’s WORK which he has built on it endures, he will receive a REWARD. If anyone’s work is burned he will SUFFER LOSS; but he himself will be SAVED, yet so as through fire.
Shannae, the salvation at the bema is being saved from that testing of ones works, because the bema is not concerning ones eternal destiny that was settled the moment you passed from death into life as John 5:24 proves the believer will not come into that judgement (Great White Throne) of the dead (Rev 20:12 I saw the dead,).
The believer is of the first resurrection that happens 1000yrs before where will be decided who co-reigns with Christ (Rev 20:4-6; Luke 19:15,17,19).
I hope this helped:-)