Contemporary Judaizers

[DHC]

DHC, your views are known as Antinomianism - the belief that salvation by faith alone is enough,

Hello James.

I am not against the law James.

I believe the scripture teaches faith and love together.

I fully agree with Luther but I delete 'works' and insert works of love.

Love is the hallmark of the Christian life.

Scripture does not teach justification by works of the law.

Scripture teaches justification by faith and love from a pure heart.

The Christian life is a spiritual life James, walk by the spirit not by the letter of the law.

 

[james1523]

Hello James.

I am not against the law James.

I believe the scripture teaches faith and love together.

I fully agree with Luther but I delete 'works' and insert works of love.

Love is the hallmark of the Christian life.

Scripture does not teach justification by works of the law.

Scripture teaches justification by faith and love from a pure heart.

The Christian life is a spiritual life James, walk by the spirit not by the letter of the law.

Without the 10 commandments and without the Old Testament law as a whole, how do we know what God's law actually is? For example, the homosexual believers have faith and say they love each other, therefore are they justified?

 

[james1523]

what does it mean to "keep" the law, as you say above?

note James 2:10-11
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

Just ONE offence makes you guilty of ALL the law (which includes the 10 commandments).
Perfect obedience is what is required under law. And yet we see the legalists who mix grace with works of these law cannot attain this perfect obedience themselves. Legalists do not "keep" the so called "moral" law, and yet warn others to keep it or else.



As legalists fail to "keep" the law what do you claim is their position? Are they righteous and saved?

Legalists often propose that "habitual" sin is the determining factor whether someone is "keeping" the law. Unfortunately the legalists never know of a definition of "habitual" from scripture. This would clearly suggest its a error doctrine from man that is not supported in scripture.

We keep the moral law by being a new creation (Romans 7:6). We keep the moral law by faith in Christ, who is the only one who kept the law and also fulfilled the requirements of the law.

 

[DHC]

Without the 10 commandments and without the Old Testament law as a whole, how do we know what God's law actually is? For example, the homosexual believers have faith and say they love each other, therefore are they justified?

Hello James.

Roger James, not allowed to use Old Testament nor the Ten Commandments.

Acts 15
19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God
from among the Gentiles, 20 ...abstain from...fornication...

Romans 1:27
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and
burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and
receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Jude 1:7
just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as
these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example
in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

 

[Barny]

We keep the moral law by being a new creation (Romans 7:6). We keep the moral law by faith in Christ, who is the only one who kept the law and also fulfilled the requirements of the law.

You say we as Christians "keep" the 10 commandments.
But then you say that Jesus is "the only one who kept the law".

What level of obedience to the law do you think meets the requirements of "keeping" the law?

James 2:10 says that perfect obedience to the law (10 commandments) is required.
Are you saying that Christians must display perfect obedience to the law as a minimum?
And what of any Christian who does not attain perfect obedience to the law?
Or, if perfect obedience is not required, then what minimum standard is required for a Christian to be seen as "keeping" the law?

 

[Barny]

For example, the homosexual believers have faith and say they love each other, therefore are they justified?

Here's a couple of more examples. Are the Christians described below justified?
Many Christians these days imitate the world and divorce and marry another just like non-Christians do. This is described as adultery in Mark 10:11,12.
And Christians also do not keep the Sabbath holy, as the 10 commandments command.
James, do you believe those I described in these 2 examples above are justified?

But what does scripture say about justification?
And does obedience to the law play a part in justification?

Rom 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Gal 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Scripture shows us that obedience to the law (10 commandments) does not play any part in justification.
The thief on the cross is an example. That thief was justified without any obedience to the law.

But separate from justification, we see that Christians do love one another. This may vary however, depending on what stage of maturity each Christian is at. Love also forgives 7x70. And as Christians we show our love for others by sharing the gospel to those in darkness.

 

[DHC]

Hello James.

Can I ask you a question?

How do you read the following verse.

Hebrews 8:13
When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete
and growing old is ready to disappear.

What does the author mean by 'He made the first obsolete'.

 

[james1523]

Hello James.

Roger James, not allowed to use Old Testament nor the Ten Commandments.

Acts 15
19 Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God
from among the Gentiles, 20 ...abstain from...fornication...

Romans 1:27
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and
burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and
receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

Jude 1:7
just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, since they in the same way as
these indulged in gross immorality and went after strange flesh, are exhibited as an example
in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

These commands against immorality are straight from the Old Testament, so I don't see your point really that we cannot use the old testament. They knew God's law from the Old Testament and were communicating God's laws to the gentiles who were unfamiliar with God's laws.

 

[james1523]

You say we as Christians "keep" the 10 commandments.
But then you say that Jesus is "the only one who kept the law".

What level of obedience to the law do you think meets the requirements of "keeping" the law?

James 2:10 says that perfect obedience to the law (10 commandments) is required.
Are you saying that Christians must display perfect obedience to the law as a minimum?
And what of any Christian who does not attain perfect obedience to the law?
Or, if perfect obedience is not required, then what minimum standard is required for a Christian to be seen as "keeping" the law?

Christ is the only one who kept the law, but we keep the law by being united to Christ. "Christ is our righteousness".

 

[james1523]

Here's a couple of more examples. Are the Christians described below justified?
Many Christians these days imitate the world and divorce and marry another just like non-Christians do. This is described as adultery in Mark 10:11, 12.
And Christians also do not keep the Sabbath holy, as the 10 commandments command.
James, do you believe those I described in these 2 examples above are justified?

But what does scripture say about justification?
And does obedience to the law play a part in justification?

Rom 3:24
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

Rom 3:28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Rom 5:9
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Gal 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Gal 3:24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 5:4
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

Scripture shows us that obedience to the law (10 commandments) does not play any part in justification.
The thief on the cross is an example. That thief was justified without any obedience to the law.

But separate from justification, we see that Christians do love one another. This may vary however, depending on what stage of maturity each Christian is at. Love also forgives 7x70. And as Christians we show our love for others by sharing the gospel to those in darkness.

Therefore according to your doctrine, a homosexual believer who loves God and his same-sex partner is saved because he has faith. The homosexual is justified without any obedience to the law against homosexuality. But as Matt 7:23 says, to know God is to know His law. Otherwise we can have faith to move mountains and yet He will say "depart from Me". If we do not know God by knowing His Law, then our faith is not genuine saving faith, but mere wishful thinking or hope. Before faith comes we must know God, what He likes and what He doesn't like. Abraham was not just a person who had faith that God existed, He actually knew God and what pleased Him. Abel was also one who knew God and what pleased Him, yet Cain was rejected because Cain did not know what pleased God. Both Abel and Cain had faith, and both even had "personal relationship with God", i.e. they communicated with God.

 

[james1523]

Hello James.

Can I ask you a question?

How do you read the following verse.

Hebrews 8:13
When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete
and growing old is ready to disappear.

What does the author mean by 'He made the first obsolete'.

He means that the old covenant between God and Israel is finished. However consider that the new covenant is the same laws of God written on our hearts:

Hebrews 8:10 says This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.

Therefore the laws themselves have not changed, but only the means by which we keep them. But it is not us keeping them by ourselves, but through Christ in us who has already kept and fulfilled the Law. Under the old covenant is a law of letters, under the new covenant is a law of life, but it is the same law of God. If we know God's law we can know God. To know God does not mean you talk with Him for 10 minutes a day, it means you know His law. As Matt 7:23 says, to not know God's law is to not know Christ.

Psalms 111:7-9 tells us that God's law stands forever. God doesn't change and neither does His Law, because His Law is a portrait of His Person. But this doesn't mean we don't have to know God's law, it is good to know God's law, as CH Spurgeon "God's Law in Man's Heart", explains:

Did you, dear friend, ever have truth truly written on your heart? If so, I will tell you how you felt; you abhorred yourself, and you said, "Who can stand before this terrible law? Who can ever hope to keep these commandments?" You looked to the flames that Moses saw on Sinai and you shrank and trembled almost unto despair, and you entreared that these terrible words should not be spoken to you any more. Yet was it good for you thus to be made to know the law,—not in the letter of it only, but in its cutting crushining, killing spirit for it worketh death to self-righteousness and death to all carnal boastings. When the law comes, sin revives, and we die; that is all that can come of it by itself. Yet is it necessary that there should be such a death as that, and that there should be such a revival of sin that we may know the truth about it, and under the force of that truth may be driven to the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the end of the Iaw for righteousness to every one that believeth." So, then, writing the law in our heart means, first, making us know what the law really is.

So to paraphrase Spurgeon, do we think that knowing the spirit of the law is easier than knowing the letter? It is not. The Pharisees knew the letter of the law, yet their standard of righteousness was not high enough. The spirit of the law is to know the motive and the heart's intent, the very thought and purpose. The letter of the law says "you shall not commit adultery", but the spirit of the law says "you shall not lust upon a woman in your heart". The spirit of the law address the very motives of our heart. To many Christians, to keep the "spirit of the law", means to ignore the written law. But the spirit of the law is actually that which judges the heart's intent, and we can only keep the spirit of the law by living as a new creation and turning to the Spirit.

There are many homosexual believers who love God, have faith in Christ, love others, and love their same-sex partner as well, but they do not know God, because they do not know His law. There also many believers who have faith in God and love God and pray to Him many times a day, they have a "personal relationship" with God, yet they are living in adulterous or fornicating relationships. They do not know God because they do not know His law. So we see that faith and calling Jesus Lord is not enough for salvation, for those described in Matt 7:23.

 

[Barny]

Therefore according to your doctrine, a homosexual believer who loves God and his same-sex partner is saved because he has faith. The homosexual is justified without any obedience to the law against homosexuality.

the scriptures I quoted in my previous post shows how its by faith that Christians were justified, and not by deeds of the law.

as for homosexuality or any other wrong that someone may do, I'm not condoning any of that. And God disciplines any Christian for whatever wrong they do. But this is totally apart from justification, as scripture confirms. Christians should preach the gospel of grace only, and not mix works of the law with it.

But my questions to you remain, as I'm curious whether you see a Christian as justified or not based on lifestyle.
How do you see Christians who do not keep the Sabbath or those who divorce and then marry another?

But as Matt 7:23 says, to know God is to know His law.

Matt 7:21 says that it is those who do the will of the Father who will enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is His will?
His will is that we believe on Jesus, John 6:40.

And who are those who "work iniquity", in Matt 7:23?
This speaks of those in unbelief, still determining righteousness by works of the law.
Remember that whatever the law says it says to those under it, Rom 3:19..
It's those still preaching the law (10 commandments, etc) who will be judged as workers of iniquity as they have brought themselves under the law for righteousness, and will fail to "keep" it perfectly, and thus they're guilty of ALL the law, James 2:10.

For context, Note Matt 7:1
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Have you been keeping the law perfectly since you received Christ?
How do you see other Christians who fail to keep the law perfectly ( examples not keeping Sabbath, or doing divorce/remarriage adultery)?

 

[james1523]

the scriptures I quoted in my previous post shows how its by faith that Christians were justified, and not by deeds of the law.

as for homosexuality or any other wrong that someone may do, I'm not condoning any of that. And God disciplines any Christian for whatever wrong they do. But this is totally apart from justification, as scripture confirms. Christians should preach the gospel of grace only, and not mix works of the law with it.

But my questions to you remain, as I'm curious whether you see a Christian as justified or not based on lifestyle.
How do you see Christians who do not keep the Sabbath or those who divorce and then marry another?

Such Christians do not love God because they do not keep His commands. But perhaps they are ignorant, and do not know His law. Tell us, how can a person know if they are pleasing God or not (to avoid His discipline) if they only hear a message of grace and not know God's law?

Matt 7:21 says that it is those who do the will of the Father who will enter the kingdom of heaven.
What is His will?
His will is that we believe on Jesus, John 6:40.

And who are those who "work iniquity", in Matt 7:23?
This speaks of those in unbelief, still determining righteousness by works of the law.
Remember that whatever the law says it says to those under it, Rom 3:19..
It's those still preaching the law (10 commandments, etc) who will be judged as workers of iniquity as they have brought themselves under the law for righteousness, and will fail to "keep" it perfectly, and thus they're guilty of ALL the law, James 2:10.

For context, Note Matt 7:1
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Have you been keeping the law perfectly since you received Christ?
How do you see other Christians who fail to keep the law perfectly ( examples not keeping Sabbath, or doing divorce/remarriage adultery)?

If you are defining God's will based upon one verse, I'm afraid you'll have to read more widely. God has many wills. Faith is one of His wills, but it is not only His will. His will is much broader than that. His will includes being faithful, obeying His commands, not denying Him, make disciples, being one and in unity (John 17) , obeying our parents etc. As I mentioned before, both Abel and Cain had faith, they knew God (God spoke with them), yet only Abel was declared righteous. Why? Because Abel did God's will concerning the offering. Therefore God does not justify by faith alone.

 

[Barny]

Such Christians do not love God because they do not keep His commands

what does it mean to "keep" the law/commandments, as you say above?


note James 2:10-11
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.


Just ONE offence makes you guilty of ALL the law (which includes the 10 commandments).
Perfect obedience is what is required under law. And yet we see the legalists who mix grace with works of these law cannot attain this perfect obedience themselves. Legalists do not "keep" the law, and yet warn others to keep it or else.


As legalists fail to "keep" the law what do you claim is their position? Are they righteous and saved?


Legalists often propose that "habitual" sin is the determining factor whether someone is "keeping" the law. Unfortunately the legalists never have any definition of "habitual" from scripture.

I ask ask these questions as I find such doctrines have so many contradictions and also no support in scripture that it can only be error. Can you answer the questions above, with scripture?

Tell us, how can a person know if they are pleasing God or not (to avoid His discipline) if they only hear a message of grace and not know God's law?

1John 3:22,23
we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT: that we should BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST and LOVE ONE ANOTHER as He gave us commandment.

Scripture confirms that justification is by faith and this we have when we believe on Jesus.
To love one another is confirming whether we believe on Jesus. Love does no ill to another. Love also forgives 7x70.

But legalists mixing grace with works of the law do not believe on Jesus and they do not love others, forgiving 7x70. Instead they preach judgement/condemnation under the law. They cannot accept that it's by Christ's blood that we are sanctified. Instead they only see justification by obedience to the law.

and, as I raised above, legalists also fail to "keep" the law and thus are condemned by their own doctrine.

If you are defining God's will based upon one verse, I'm afraid you'll have to read more widely. God has many wills. Faith is one of His wills

the thief on the cross is God's example to us of justification by faith. That thief obeyed God's will that we believe on Jesus, John 6:40.

But you are saying that we have to do more than the thief on the cross did, to be justified. This suggests that God is unjust. Can you see the contradiction of this doctrine you follow?

 

[RJ]

what does it mean to "keep" the law/commandments, as you say above?


note James 2:10-11
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.


Just ONE offence makes you guilty of ALL the law (which includes the 10 commandments).
Perfect obedience is what is required under law. And yet we see the legalists who mix grace with works of these law cannot attain this perfect obedience themselves. Legalists do not "keep" the law, and yet warn others to keep it or else.


As legalists fail to "keep" the law what do you claim is their position? Are they righteous and saved?


Legalists often propose that "habitual" sin is the determining factor whether someone is "keeping" the law. Unfortunately the legalists never have any definition of "habitual" from scripture.

I ask ask these questions as I find such doctrines have so many contradictions and also no support in scripture that it can only be error. Can you answer the questions above, with scripture?




1John 3:22,23
we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT: that we should BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST and LOVE ONE ANOTHER as He gave us commandment.

Scripture confirms that justification is by faith and this we have when we believe on Jesus.
To love one another is confirming whether we believe on Jesus. Love does no ill to another. Love also forgives 7x70.

But legalists mixing grace with works of the law do not believe on Jesus and they do not love others, forgiving 7x70. Instead they preach judgement/condemnation under the law. They cannot accept that it's by Christ's blood that we are sanctified. Instead they only see justification by obedience to the law.

and, as I raised above, legalists also fail to "keep" the law and thus are condemned by their own doctrine.




the thief on the cross is God's example to us of justification by faith. That thief obeyed God's will that we believe on Jesus, John 6:40.

But you are saying that we have to do more than the thief on the cross did, to be justified. This suggests that God is unjust. Can you see the contradiction of this doctrine you follow?

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.

• Yep, that pretty much defines why keeping the law does not save you, if it could, it would require you not to miss one point 24/7, ever.
• But with the New Covenant and salvation by grace, even if you kept the law perfectly, which only Jesus could do, it wouldn't save you with out God's grace and Jesus in you.

 

[RJ]

Such Christians do not love God because they do not keep His commands. But perhaps they are ignorant, and do not know His law. Tell us, how can a person know if they are pleasing God or not (to avoid His discipline) if they only hear a message of grace and not know God's law?
Such Christians do not love God because they do not keep His commands. But perhaps they are ignorant, and do not know His law. Tell us, how can a person know if they are pleasing God or not (to avoid His discipline) if they only hear a message of grace and not know God's law?

• OK, so am I not a Christian if I don't keep God's law perfectly or,
• Am I not a Christian if I know his laws but only keep them the best I can and not perfectly?

 

[DHC]

Therefore the laws themselves have not changed, but only the means by which we keep them. But it is not us keeping them by ourselves, but through Christ in us who has already kept and fulfilled the Law. Under the old covenant is a law of letters, under the new covenant is a law of life, but it is the same law of God. If we know God's law we can know God. To know God does not mean you talk with Him for 10 minutes a day, it means you know His law. As Matt 7:23 says, to not know God's law is to not know Christ.

Hello James.

A most extraordinary paragraph that you wrote.

Therefore the laws themselves have not changed, but only the means by which we keep them. But it is not us keeping
them by ourselves, but through Christ in us who has already kept and fulfilled the Law. Under the old covenant is a law
of letters, under the new covenant is a law of life, but it is the same law of God. If we know God's law we can know God.
To know God does not mean you talk with Him for 10 minutes a day, it means you know His law. As Matt 7:23 says, to
not know God's law is to not know Christ.

What you need to do James, is to state exactly what you mean. In language that is clear and precise,
and never utilize inference. So that we can understand what it really is that you believe.

Either you are under the law or you are not under the law, James. There is no fence sitting involved
as far as legalism is concerned. You use phrases such as 'know His law' which is a meaningless
phrase. Knowing His law is not saying anything of note. I am aware of the law, I know the law
but I am not under the law, James. Israel was under the written law but I declare that I am not
under that written law. I can state my position clearly James, why do you experience such difficulty.

Tell me whether you are under the law or not. Legalism means a person believes that they must
obey at the very minimum, the ten commandments. In legalism one cannot break the ten commandments
James, that is why legalism advertises the ten commandments. Legalism means you are UNDER the law!
People that follow the legalism pathway strive during their whole life to obey the law, no quarter is given.

I stated that the knowledge of sin is what the law reveals and not the remedy.
I stated that salvation is and only is available in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I declare that no Gentile may be placed UNDER the law, to do so is to oppose God.
Signed, sealed and delivered James, legal obedience is death and eternal death at that.

Place what you believe on the table in clear and legible English and do not infer.
Do not lead me down the garden path, are you a card carrying advocate of legalism or not?

 

[james1523]

What you need to do James, is to state exactly what you mean. In language that is clear and precise,
and never utilize inference. So that we can understand what it really is that you believe.

Either you are under the law or you are not under the law, James. There is no fence sitting involved
as far as legalism is concerned. You use phrases such as 'know His law' which is a meaningless
phrase. Knowing His law is not saying anything of note. I am aware of the law, I know the law
but I am not under the law, James. Israel was under the written law but I declare that I am not
under that written law. I can state my position clearly James, why do you experience such difficulty.

Tell me whether you are under the law or not. Legalism means a person believes that they must
obey at the very minimum, the ten commandments. In legalism one cannot break the ten commandments
James, that is why legalism advertises the ten commandments. Legalism means you are UNDER the law!
People that follow the legalism pathway strive during their whole life to obey the law, no quarter is given.

I stated that the knowledge of sin is what the law reveals and not the remedy.
I stated that salvation is and only is available in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I declare that no Gentile may be placed UNDER the law, to do so is to oppose God.
Signed, sealed and delivered James, legal obedience is death and eternal death at that.

Place what you believe on the table in clear and legible English and do not infer.
Do not lead me down the garden path, are you a card carrying advocate of legalism or not?

DHC, I am not under the law, but as Hebrews 8:10 says - the law is now in me. My language is precise, when I say "know the law", it does not mean "under the law". I have never said we are under the law in my posts. Know the law means "know the law which is now in me" (Heb 8:10), not "know the law which I am under". "Know the law" is only a meaningless phrase for yourself, because you believe in antimonianism which is the view that Christians are under no obligation to the law. I wonder how you interpret phrases such as Heb 8:10 which says God's law is now within us - we are not without law, and we are expected to keep the law.

 

[james1523]

what does it mean to "keep" the law/commandments, as you say above?

note James 2:10-11
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in ONE point, he is guilty of ALL. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.


Just ONE offence makes you guilty of ALL the law (which includes the 10 commandments).
Perfect obedience is what is required under law. And yet we see the legalists who mix grace with works of these law cannot attain this perfect obedience themselves. Legalists do not "keep" the law, and yet warn others to keep it or else.


As legalists fail to "keep" the law what do you claim is their position? Are they righteous and saved?


Legalists often propose that "habitual" sin is the determining factor whether someone is "keeping" the law. Unfortunately the legalists never have any definition of "habitual" from scripture.

I ask ask these questions as I find such doctrines have so many contradictions and also no support in scripture that it can only be error. Can you answer the questions above, with scripture?

James 2 is not saying what you think it to mean. The context of James 2 is showing favoritism. He is saying that showing favoritism against the poor is a sin and is just as bad as breaking the whole law. He is not saying we should not keep the law. He is warning them to not show favoritism because it would be breaking God's law. He is not saying "you cannot keep the law perfectly, therefore you must be saved by faith alone and not follow the law". Verse 8 says If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,”you are doing right. So there is some laws in Scripture that we should keep.

James teaches that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. I just quoted James 2:24. Do you believe we are justified by works? If your answer is 'no', then we should stop here because you don't believe God's Word absolutely.

1 John 3:22, 23
we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. And THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT: that we should BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST and LOVE ONE ANOTHER as He gave us commandment.

Scripture confirms that justification is by faith and this we have when we believe on Jesus.
To love one another is confirming whether we believe on Jesus. Love does no ill to another. Love also forgives 7x70.

But legalists mixing grace with works of the law do not believe on Jesus and they do not love others, forgiving 7x70. Instead they preach judgement/condemnation under the law. They cannot accept that it's by Christ's blood that we are sanctified. Instead they only see justification by obedience to the law.

and, as I raised above, legalists also fail to "keep" the law and thus are condemned by their own doctrine.

I'm not sure that you know what legalism actually means. For example, Jesus followed and kept the law perfectly yet He was not a legalist. Jesus mixed grace with law yet he was not a legalist. Neither was He lawless. Legalism is about obeying God from the flesh and not from the Spirit. It has nothing to do with the law or grace itself. Legalism is about how we keep the law, not whether we keep the law or not. If Christians are asked "do you keep God's law",. their answer should be "yes". Whether they are legalistic or not, is by asking the question "how do you keep God's law". Scripture is fairly clear that true Christians mix faith with works (James 2:24). False Christians have only faith and no works. I am just paraphrasing James chapter 2 here.

 

[Barny]

I can also quote James: a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. I just quoted James 2:24. Do you believe we are justified by works? If your answer is 'no', then we should stop here because you don't believe God's Word absolutely.s.

True, faith without works is dead.
And what are our works that shows our faith?
Our works are to believe on Jesus, John 6:29.

But those who add works of the law to grace are showing by their works that they're in unbelief.

You are not considering the whole of Scripture. You make out that believing in Christ and loving one another is God's only commandments.

Yes, there are other commandments. Both sets of commandments offer a path to attain righteousness. Which set we choose is up to us.

In regards to attaining righteousness, believing on Jesus is the commandment man should obey as this is the only way that man can be saved.

The alternative is by deeds of these law (10 commandments, etc).
Those who choose the law as the way to attain righteousness bring themselves under the law and face judgement/condemnation as they will fail to keep it perfectly.