Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
Works is not the litmus test of faith you know? A person could have works but no faith (Matt 7:23).
"But if you are truly saved you will have works" - this really means faith + works, however we look at it. What about people on their death bed who believe before they die? They may have no chance to speak or do anything.
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You are making it something legalistic. That is not the point.
James's point is not that we should be able to judge whether someone else is saved or not.
His point was to those who went around saying "Oh yeah, I believe. I'm okay, I have my ticket to heaven." He was telling those people, not so fast, do you truly believe? because if you do will have life change.
"Works" doesn't mean something extravagant. It just means there is evidence in your life that you've been fundamentally changed. How can you truly become a child of God and have no change?!
But again the point is not that you or I can look at someone else and decide whether they are saved or not based on their works. The point is that we'd each look at ourselves and ask, has something happened to me that is so life-changing that the way I live is different? True faith has that effect.
I have Catholic family members who
claim to believe, but I wonder if they are saved?
That was James's point I think.