If Jesus came to save Humanity, then why would followers of Jesus Christ prefer to say,
"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
THEN Jesus telling same followers,
James 2: 14
"My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don't do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? If you know someone who doesn't have any clothes or food, you shouldn't just say, "I hope all goes well for you. I hope you will be warm and have plenty to eat." What good is it to say this, unless you do something to help? Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead"
Look at the World around and please tell me which one should be used?
2007-08-02 05:23:36 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Nice point.
Faith in action.
James reads faith without works is dead.
A dead tree is still a tree, but sure can't produce fruit, not even a leaf.
2007-08-02 05:28:30 · answer #1 · answered by Jed 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The two concepts are not mutually exclusive. Because Christians have trusted that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, we then do the good works that Jesus has planned for us to do as a result of this saving faith.
It is a both/and concept, not an either/or concept. Your good works apart from Christ cannot save you, nor can your faith be saving without works.
2007-08-02 12:28:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'm sorry but I don't see where these differ. In one, Jesus is referring to prayer - how in order for our prayers to reach God, we have to pray "through" him. In the other, he is basically saying that faith without works is dead. That there's no point in saying you are a follower of Christ if you are being a hypocrite. IE- the people who go out every weekend committing the same sins and on Sunday go to church thinking all they have to do is ask forgiveness and it's done, they can go sin some more.
2007-08-02 12:29:42 · answer #3 · answered by CHRISTINA 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both.
We must begin with the idea that Jesus is the only way to salvation. As a result of having saving faith, we are called to show God's love to others as the passage of James states.
Good works should be an outcome of saving faith, not the prerequisite of faith or salvation.
2007-08-02 12:27:37 · answer #4 · answered by Bob T 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Jesus is the doorway to heaven. If we who claim to be followers of Christ fail to live and love the way Christ has, then we are hypocrites. God gives so that we may take care of each other. God always provide for us, why not us provide for each other in return?
Faith without works is dead. If I see a homeless person on the street and I do not offer to help him but instead say God bless you and then walk away, what good have I done?
2007-08-02 12:29:40 · answer #5 · answered by Gir 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
:)
If you have a headache you will know that you have it because your head hurts. If you are a Christian your good works will naturally happen. If they do not then it would be safe to say there is a problem with your relationship with Jesus. It is not something we "do" it is something that "happens".
Is your understanding of the New Testament really this far out of context? If so then I would love to try and help you come into focus. Or are you just reading enough to support a trolling habit?
2007-08-02 12:31:25 · answer #6 · answered by Bye Bye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Technically, "friend," James is not Jesus and didn't raise the issue of helping people there. Read Matthew, chapter 25, for better ammunition before you raise this point again.
Better yet, try the Koinonia or Sojouners sites for just 2 of the 1000's of groups who try to live a complete Christian life.
2007-08-02 12:28:42 · answer #7 · answered by Sarah C 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Both.
But don't worry about the fundamentalists who try to make "I am the Way ...through me" support their misinterpretation that unless you say the actual word "Jesus", and pronounce it like them, "Jayee-zuss", then you won't get into heaven.
Even the most unschooled native of some far-away unChristianized place will "come to the Father" if he follows what he knows in his heart to be right.
That thing in his heart is Jesus. So... no problem.
I do love that passage from James, too. Thanks for pulling it out and posting it.
2007-08-02 12:30:25 · answer #8 · answered by Acorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is not relevant to choose one or the other, but to understand them both.
"I am the way, truth and life...," is not a call to worship Jesus as a deity, but refers to his embodiment of the transcendent Self - that is each individual's authentic (Christ meaning annointed) nature. Listening to the divine within as opposed to identifying with the little, learned identity indoctrinated by the "group" - whether it be family, church, village or all three.
2007-08-02 12:44:28 · answer #9 · answered by MysticMaze 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus did not personally say the words in James.
James is saying that faith WILL work itself out in works. Jesus says that He is the way of salvation.
2007-08-02 12:27:09 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋