No, really, I *LIKE* James

Let's start with a joke. True Discernment linked to an article by Stephen Westerholm that opens as follows:

A Catholic, a Baptist, and a Lutheran all died and went to their allotted place in the hereafter. To their dismay, they all discovered that their place was the place of torment. After a moment's reflection, however, each had to acknowledge the justice of his fate. The Catholic, though born and raised in the Church, had not attended Mass for years. Little wonder that the pearly gates were not open for him. The Baptist, though faithful in his church attendance, had not been faithful to his wife; and no adulterer, he remembered, has any place in the kingdom of God. The Lutheran recalled that he, too, had lapsed in his latter days. Shortly before his death, he had done a good work. In the midst of their torment, each regretted the error of his ways.

Of course, Westerholm doesn't let a good joke get in the way of the Truth:

It was Martin Luther who saw the distinction between “law” and “gospel” as the key to understanding Scripture. ‘Law’ in this formulation refers, not to the Old Testament as such, nor, exclusively, to any part of the Old Testament, but to God’s demand wherever we encounter it. The term ‘gospel,’ on the other hand, refers to God’s offer of grace. And for Luther, these are opposing notions and must not be confused. Not that the demand is less divine or more dispensable than the gift. Unless we are confronted by divine demand, Luther believed, we do not recognize our need of divine grace. And (our initial story notwithstanding) Luther never tired of stressing that, once a sinner has responded in faith to God’s grace in Christ Jesus, faith is appropriately and necessarily expressed in good works. ‘Law’ has its place, then, but not in the matter of justification. Sinners are put right with God, not by complying with divine demands, or by any good works that they may do, but simply by God’s grace through faith.

This came up in Sunday School as we looked at the beginning of Genesis 15. Here's the verse in question if you don't remember what I'm talking about.

Genesis 15:6 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

6 Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.

Now both Paul and James refer to this verse. This is what Paul said:

Romans 4:3-5 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

3What does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

4Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

This is what James said:

James 2:20-24 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.

I think that when you perform a mashup on these two verses, you get closer to the Truth. This is why citation of a single verse is so dangerous, especially if the verse is disconnected from the rest of the Bible.

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