What an amazing God we have. Have you really ever just sat down and tried to take in His awesomeness? I really had to do that today after listening to Marvin Sapp's "The Best in Me". It doesn't have too many lyrics but the lyrics he does have are extremely powerful. He starts out saying "He saw the best in me, when everyone else around could only see the worst in me". That line in itself is enough to make me cry tears of amazement. It really hits home for me because I've been in situations where EVERYONE around me could only see the worst in me and I felt really low. And I used to think to myself..I'm not that bad. But God knew I wasn't that bad. He only sees me for who I am. He doesn't get surprised by anything I do because He is my creator. He knows what I'm gonna do before I do it.
On another note, church was great today and I met a new friend! And on a sad note a church friend is dying of cancer. She just had a baby and when she delivered her body was basically deteriorated from the cancer. So please keep Alison in your prayers. As I heard this I kinda laughed to myself. Just because I know God can heal her immediately and the only thing you need is faith. It doesn't matter how bad this cancer is because God is almighty. But she still needs prayer.
In Christ,
Friend of God
Dear Friend of God,
ReplyDeleteNot Saved by Faith Only
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. (James 2:24)
It cannot get any clearer than the verse in James that good works are necessary for Christians to truly have the life that Jesus promises.
Common objections...
James is not speaking of salvation. But notice that the verse immediately preceding refers to Abraham's saving faith...
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. (James 2:23)
The book of James is hard to understand and therefore this verse should be ignored. In fact, Martin Luther wanted to remove this book from the Bible.
But the verse is actually easy to understand for those who accept Catholic teaching.
Shame on those Protestants...interpreting the Bible as their sole authority with preconceived doctrines.