You're right in that just because you believe something, that doesn't make it true or that it will come true. However, here's the context for the verse you were referencing.
"Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." James 2:19
The greater context in James 2 is that you must express your faith in good works. Just acknowledging God's existence won't do you any good, you need to actually walk with Him and obey His Word. Fallen angels believe in God, they know that He exists, but they've chosen to rebel against Him.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." James 2:20-26
In other words, follow His teachings as laid out in the Scriptures.
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22
"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." John 14:23
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:" Matthew 7:24
"And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." 1 John 2:17
Addressing your next statement:
so according to you it is MY PERFORMANCE that gives me salvation.
No, that is not correct. You are saved through faith in Christ and His sacrifice for you, but your faith is of no effect if you do not live it. I once heard a pastor put it this way, "We don't do good works to be saved; we do good works because we are saved."
Read Hebrews chapter 11. It's very long, so for brevity's sake I won't quote it here, but it gives examples of numerous people recorded in the Old Testament who were considered righteous because they had faith; they did not merely claim to have faith, they showed it through their actions. Also reread James 2:21-23, as it teaches the same thing.
nothing changed from old testament to new testament. same as it ever was. i better do what you say or i am damned to hell.
In regards to salvation, you are correct, nothing has changed. Those who lived prior to Christ's first coming were saved by looking forward to Him, just as we are by looking back. His sacrifice was prefigured by the ceremonial sacrificing of animals (Hebrews 9:13-10:18).
might i suggest you go back and reread the, who is thy neighbor parable again. if anything else is required HE will pay when he comes back. HE pulled me up out of the ditch, HE brought me to the inn, HE PREPAID the innkeeper for my well being and HE said if any thing else is owed HE will pay on his way back through. WHAT part of that is my performance? i have to get beat up and robbed? thats happened already, i assure you.
The Parable of the Good Samaritan? Jesus told that parable to the man who He was speaking with to illustrate how people should do good to one another. The Jews and Samaritans hated each other; the thought of one doing good to the other was astounding at the time. After telling the parable, Jesus told the man to be like the Samaritan.
"Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise." Luke 10:36-37
In regards to your statement about the law:
also make sure who is speaking to who. i have never been under the law as a non Hebrew.
Which law? The ceremonial law of animal sacrifices, feast days, and circumcision, which was done away with at the cross (Deuteronomy 31:26; Colossians 2:14)? Certainly not the eternal law of God, His Ten Commandments (Psalm 111:7-8).
What does it mean to not be under the law?
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" Romans 6:14-16
What is sin?
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4
Will sinners be in God's kingdom?
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." Galatians 5:19-21
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21
Regarding your next point:
i believe it was the Jerusalem counsel that gave direction concerning non isreal converts.
The Jerusalem Council, which you can read in Acts chapter 15, was convened because some Jewish converts were asserting that Gentiles converts needed to be circumcised (Acts 15:1-12). However, this was determined to no longer be a requirement (Acts 15:22-26).
It was also decided that the previously pagan Gentile converts should be instructed to not commit idolatry or fornication and to not ingest blood (Acts 15:19-20, 28-29). These were issues that were common among the pagans in those days. Idolatry and fornication are violations of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-6, 14), and God forbade the eating of blood to Noah and his descendants (Genesis 9:4).
none the less, add words to HIS words at your own peril.
Definitely.
do you know what you were set free from?
Sin and the penalty for sin/breaking the law, which is death. Jesus paid that price for us.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:14-23
I don't see how you got that out of my previous comments. Obeying the law of God is not legalism. Do you believe that unrepentant sinners will be in Heaven?
so the thief on the cross with jesus did lots of good works before his death. got it.
His good work was expressing his faith in Christ. Had he not acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ and asked for Him to remember him, he wouldn't have been saved.
To reiterate, Jesus saved him, but the thief had to have faith in Jesus and ask to be saved, thereby expressing his faith, to be saved.
God has given us free will and He does not force us to do anything that we don't want to do.
you really are saying nothing changed from the old testament to the new.
I said that regarding salvation there is no difference. People were saved in Old Testament times the same way we are today. It's always been by Jesus.
Also, I apologize and need to correct myself. It's not Hebrews chapter 2 that lists faithful people from the Old Testament, but Hebrews chapter 11. I'll edit my previous comment to clarify that.
here is a bit of knowledge for you, testament means covenant.
I am aware but thank you.
so you just said there is no difference between the old covenant and the new covenant.
I didn't say that. However, there is only one difference between the two covenants.
"For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" Hebrews 8:7-10
The content of both covenants was the same. The difference is that the Israelites presumptuously declared that they would keep the old covenant (Exodus 19:8). Predictably, they failed (Exodus 32:1-6), hence "for finding fault with them" and "because they continued not in my covenant" in the quoted passage above. In the new covenant, God promises to put his laws into the minds and hearts of his people.
Both covenants were made with Israel, that is to say with the Jews. However, God only considers someone to be a Jew if they accept Christ.
"And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise." Galatians 3:29
"For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." Romans 2:28-29
Regarding your comment about bondage:
wow. you cant pull me into bondage just because you are not free.
I'm not putting you in bondage to anything. If you refuse to obey God's law, then you are in bondage to sin.
"Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:34-36
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4
Regarding your next point:
whatever man binds on earth, you are held to your own standard, hope you can live up to it.
Are you referring to this verse?
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Matthew 16:19
I don't see the relevance here to what we've been discussing. Respectfully, I'll assume you misquoted.
1 john 4 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 19 We love him, because he first loved us.
HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US, WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE LOVED US FIRST. NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND
Indeed. The only reason that anyone is motivated to do anything righteous is because of God.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." Philippians 2:13
This means that both the faith that you have and the good works that you do are because of God. Specifically, it is Jesus working through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, to give you a character like His own.
Additionally, earlier in the book and chapter from which you quoted, it says the following:
"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8
In other words, love is the core of God's character and it originates from Him. Anyone else who has love ultimately derives it from God. With that in mind, read this:
"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:8-10
If you love God then you will also obey Him. His commandments are founded on love.
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:2-3
"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." 1 John 2:1-5
"If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15
"Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-19
You're right in that just because you believe something, that doesn't make it true or that it will come true. However, here's the context for the verse you were referencing.
The greater context in James 2 is that you must express your faith in good works. Just acknowledging God's existence won't do you any good, you need to actually walk with Him and obey His Word. Fallen angels believe in God, they know that He exists, but they've chosen to rebel against Him.
In other words, follow His teachings as laid out in the Scriptures.
Addressing your next statement:
No, that is not correct. You are saved through faith in Christ and His sacrifice for you, but your faith is of no effect if you do not live it. I once heard a pastor put it this way, "We don't do good works to be saved; we do good works because we are saved."
Read Hebrews chapter 11. It's very long, so for brevity's sake I won't quote it here, but it gives examples of numerous people recorded in the Old Testament who were considered righteous because they had faith; they did not merely claim to have faith, they showed it through their actions. Also reread James 2:21-23, as it teaches the same thing.
In regards to salvation, you are correct, nothing has changed. Those who lived prior to Christ's first coming were saved by looking forward to Him, just as we are by looking back. His sacrifice was prefigured by the ceremonial sacrificing of animals (Hebrews 9:13-10:18).
The Parable of the Good Samaritan? Jesus told that parable to the man who He was speaking with to illustrate how people should do good to one another. The Jews and Samaritans hated each other; the thought of one doing good to the other was astounding at the time. After telling the parable, Jesus told the man to be like the Samaritan.
In regards to your statement about the law:
Which law? The ceremonial law of animal sacrifices, feast days, and circumcision, which was done away with at the cross (Deuteronomy 31:26; Colossians 2:14)? Certainly not the eternal law of God, His Ten Commandments (Psalm 111:7-8).
What does it mean to not be under the law?
What is sin?
Will sinners be in God's kingdom?
Regarding your next point:
The Jerusalem Council, which you can read in Acts chapter 15, was convened because some Jewish converts were asserting that Gentiles converts needed to be circumcised (Acts 15:1-12). However, this was determined to no longer be a requirement (Acts 15:22-26).
It was also decided that the previously pagan Gentile converts should be instructed to not commit idolatry or fornication and to not ingest blood (Acts 15:19-20, 28-29). These were issues that were common among the pagans in those days. Idolatry and fornication are violations of the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-6, 14), and God forbade the eating of blood to Noah and his descendants (Genesis 9:4).
Definitely.
Sin and the penalty for sin/breaking the law, which is death. Jesus paid that price for us.
I don't see how you got that out of my previous comments. Obeying the law of God is not legalism. Do you believe that unrepentant sinners will be in Heaven?
His good work was expressing his faith in Christ. Had he not acknowledged that Jesus is the Christ and asked for Him to remember him, he wouldn't have been saved.
To reiterate, Jesus saved him, but the thief had to have faith in Jesus and ask to be saved, thereby expressing his faith, to be saved.
God has given us free will and He does not force us to do anything that we don't want to do.
I said that regarding salvation there is no difference. People were saved in Old Testament times the same way we are today. It's always been by Jesus.
Also, I apologize and need to correct myself. It's not Hebrews chapter 2 that lists faithful people from the Old Testament, but Hebrews chapter 11. I'll edit my previous comment to clarify that.
I am aware but thank you.
I didn't say that. However, there is only one difference between the two covenants.
The content of both covenants was the same. The difference is that the Israelites presumptuously declared that they would keep the old covenant (Exodus 19:8). Predictably, they failed (Exodus 32:1-6), hence "for finding fault with them" and "because they continued not in my covenant" in the quoted passage above. In the new covenant, God promises to put his laws into the minds and hearts of his people.
Both covenants were made with Israel, that is to say with the Jews. However, God only considers someone to be a Jew if they accept Christ.
Regarding your comment about bondage:
I'm not putting you in bondage to anything. If you refuse to obey God's law, then you are in bondage to sin.
Regarding your next point:
Are you referring to this verse?
I don't see the relevance here to what we've been discussing. Respectfully, I'll assume you misquoted.
Indeed. The only reason that anyone is motivated to do anything righteous is because of God.
This means that both the faith that you have and the good works that you do are because of God. Specifically, it is Jesus working through the Holy Spirit, who dwells in you, to give you a character like His own.
Additionally, earlier in the book and chapter from which you quoted, it says the following:
In other words, love is the core of God's character and it originates from Him. Anyone else who has love ultimately derives it from God. With that in mind, read this:
If you love God then you will also obey Him. His commandments are founded on love.