Quote:
Originally Posted by Evangelical
But not for salvation as ZNPaaneah is saying. That is a Catholic doctrine.
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The reason you can't understand the doctrine is because you try to simplify it to the extreme.
When Paul says "work out your own salvation" this is not referring to justification. Our justification is not worked out by us, it is something that we receive by faith.
When Paul says that "this will work out to me for salvation" he again is not referring to the Lord's shed blood on the cross, that has already been done.
When James says that Abraham was also justified by works he is not referring to justification by faith in the Lord's redemptive work on the cross that was reckoned to him by God, but rather the justification that was reckoned to him by those who saw him walking according to his faith.
If you accept that the Bible teaches that we are justified by faith based on the verses in Genesis concerning Abraham then you would be a hypocrite to not also accept that we are justified by works based on the verses in Genesis concerning Abraham.
The context in which James says this is if you see someone who is hungry or naked and tell them to "go in Peace", "be filled", etc. yet you don't provide them with the food or clothes they need. The point is that when we appear before the judgement seat of Christ we will be judged based on our believing in the Lord's redemptive work, faith in our heart. This will determine our eternal salvation. But on a daily basis people judge us, not by what is in our heart which they cannot see, but by our actions which they can see.
Yes, this is contrary to what Witness Lee taught, but is completely in line with what Jesus, Paul, John, Peter and James taught. The false prophet, like Judas, does not want the believers helping widows and orphans because his goal is to get any and all donations for himself. He is motivated by covetousness and intends to make merchandise of the saints. This is why Witness Lee promoted the idea that "being a hearer of the word only" was the way to be "deified". Read his ministry, pray over his ministry, listen to his ministry, attend his conferences, etc. (because you can't do that without buying his ministry). This is a distortion of the gospel.