Case for believing Demons… (mockery) – Part 2
In part 1, we saw the conversation between 3 people. The other ended with a sarcastic question from James.
Do you believe in God, do you know Jesus is Son of God? Even Demons believe and shudder.
So shall we say, demons will be saved and call them believers, because the believe and know Jesus is Son of God?
And he added from John 8:31.
It is only who continues to keep the commandments of Jesus, is His disciple. True.
And he came back to James 2 and said “faith without works is dead.”
At the end of him speaking, the legalistic people became happy.
How do I answer him? Every word he said is true. He showed the verses.
I prayed, I asked Holy Spirit to guide me in this very moment. How can I answer that?
🤔
Galatians 2:16 ESV
Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
Not by works
Ephesians 2:8-9
New International Version
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Not by works
Romans 4:3-5 NIV
3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”[a]
4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.
The one who doesn’t work but trusts
We can keep quoting scripture after scripture to show, righteousness can not be earned through works.
One more verse,
Galatians 2:21 NIV
21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!
Paul argues if righteousness could be gained through works, it nullifies Christ.
From Paul we see that
Faith (plus) + works = zero
Now James,
James 2:26 NIV
26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Faith without works is dead.
So according to James.
Faith (minus) – works = zero
Now we have 2 equations
Faith + works = zero
Faith – works = zero
It doesn’t make sense. Either Paul and James should confront each other and decide which is true?
Nooo…
It not Paul and James who wrote these. But One single person. Holy Spirit. How can HE Himself contradict Himself.
So, let’s leave Paul and James.
How then can Faith + works = zero & Faith – works = zero ?
These kind of challenges always occur in mathematics. And anyone would has read maths a bit, would say, that there is a third element at play here.
Let’s say
x + y = z
The value of x and y could be
x = j * t
y = c * t
Every time the value of t changes. The value of x and y changes.
So if the value of t = zero
This would make
x + y = zero
x – y = zero
This is a just a illustration.
But what would this t be.
Trust
Do you trust in your works or do you trust in the finished work of Cross”
The other man, stopped me, “stop” he said, “don’t say anything more, erase everything you said on x,y mathematics. I give a damn.” He looked at me deeply. My ego was hurt,my emotions were rushing.
He took a deep breathe. I knew, he was not finished speaking, so I thought to wait for him to finish.
He continued, “even though I do not like your mathematic answer. I don’t care about it. But, you are right.
Paul said it is only “by faith”
James said “faith without works is dead”.
They seem to contradict and I see why church is divided between legalism and Grace camp.
You made a interesting point. I have to ponder on this. Give me sometime, let’s continue this conversation next Sunday?” He questioned.
I nodded with happiness, “let’s continue next Sunday”
So did the third man. My raging ego was gone by his deep love for the Word. I hugged these men and wished them well. Excited to have the conversation next Sunday.
Faith + works = zero
Faith – works = zero
Something to ponder on. Let’s catch up on the conversation next Sunday – Part 3