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To interpret the passage is simple. James is saying that if a person says they have true saving faith, their faith will produce works in their life.

This seems to boil down to “faith and works” vs “living faith” debate. I guess that this has been shown to be equivalent as “living faith” or “true faith” is the same as “faith AND works” or “faith that works.”

I would beg to disagree with VB’s statement:

the thief on the cross never had the chance to “work” for his righteousness; he was saved by his faith.

He did “work” by rebuking his thief companion and asking Jesus to “remember” him. I think there is a misconception of the meaning of “work.” As a catholic, i see “work” as an inner response of man and a “willful” transformation causing oneself to be truly dependent on the mercy of God rather than his own works, that is claiming of being righteous because of doing such and such.

In the end, the Catholic understanding is that it is the grace that saves man. But the infusion of grace cannot work without man cooperating in the work of God. Hence, “through faith” (Eph 2:8-9). Justification is done by God through the willful acceptance of man of the gift of God; but sanctification is done by the cooperation of man to the Holy Spirit working in him. In the end, both requires synergy (cooperation) of man and God.

God is BOTH merciful and just. One cannot separate one from the other. Being just would mean giving man a chance to prove himself in the human way. He is merciful to the point of dying for us all instead. If we assume that God does everything, then why didn’t he forgave everyone just very easily?

I think wikipedia made a good summary for the differences in the interpretation on Justification and Sanctification.

Thanks.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8-9).

However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. (Rom. 4:5).

he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)

James 2:14 begins a new paragraph and addresses the matter of those who say they have faith but their faith does not produce any fruit (works) in their lives. (V14) This shows the context or subject of the paragraph. James further explains the subject by his statement in verse 18, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” This is the key to interpreting the passage.

To interpret the passage is simple. James is saying that if a person says they have true saving faith, their faith will produce works in their life. You will be able to see their faith in action. The justification spoken of here is not salvation, but justifying one calling himself a Christian and claiming to have saving faith when he is not living for the Lord.

the thief on the cross never had the chance to “work” for his righteousness; he was saved by his faith.

My point still stands though. Faith implies (a logician would express it like: ->) sanctification (i.e. sanctification is not optionary). But that isnt the same thing as saying faith is interchangeable (expressed like: ) with sanctification.
For instance, i have not heard that our Good Lord will come back and judge merely fruits. It is said, for instance in Mt 7:19, that the trees that do not have the fruits (i.e. renewal, works, sanctification or such) will not enter the kingdom of heaven. But take close care of the reading. Note the distinction between the ‘tree’ and the ‘fruit’ – clearly the quality of one thing implies the quality of the other, but they are NOT the same thing. Also note that it is said that WE will know them by their fruits. It doesnt say that God will judge them according to their fruits.
On the contrary, Jesus describes people doing miracles, preaching, the casting out of demons and all sorts of extraordinarily demanding spiritual works. Judged by their fruits, surely such people would be the foremost religious people of this time. Judged by Christ however, who doesnt need to look at fruits but to the heart, they are counted as practicers of lawlessness.

I know that the Catholic Church really doesnt speak of faith and works as interchangeable, wich is what you seem to imply Emil Anton. For instance, ive come to understand that a work, in order to be understood as meritorious, needs to be worked out under certain conditions. Faith is for instance one of the necessary conditions. The only difference between catholics and protestants on this point, is that in protestant understanding faith is the one necessary contition, not for merit, but for salvation.

Mary,
i agree with what youre saying. The problem is, that in order for the theologian to express himself (or herself, of course) that good, he will need to get rid of his lust for letters first. This only happens if he frequently reads alot and writes alot, and only after some time is he able attain the wisdom you are displaying by giving up his love for letters. All theologians are pharisees, and every faculty of theology is like a playground of vanity, more or less. We need this stuff though, small minded as we are, to be able to put our trust in the right persons and institutions. Once/if trust is gained, i’d burn/throw out/sell my books of theology, and learn directly from the incarnate word.
However, the business of spirituality is a dodgy subject, and trust is delicate. Google a picture of cardinal Manning, and you’ll see what im saying. I need way more theology to trust men like that

Pax et bonum.

This is almost the same as the conversation between, Jesus and Nicadimus, to enter the kingdom of Heaven you must be born again by water and of Spirit. Once born again then we are suppose to love, live and serve the Lord together. Jesus is the Vine, we are the branches, in which we produce fruit for the Lord. Not agrue over semantics, through these agruements the devil dilutes the Lords message, and set us against one another.

Your sprinkled not submerged etc. I’m right and your wrong etc.

The Message is the same, God offers man Salvation, and man offers God Religion via a lot of different denomination.