PROBLEMS CONCERNING JUSTIFICATION

PROBLEMS CONCERNING THIS DOCTRINE

       1. See Exod. 23:7 “Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not: for I will not justify the wicked.”

 Explanation: This has to do with civil law and relations in the community. Honesty and truth must be maintained. The innocent and righteous should not suffer, and  the wicked cannot be declared righteous when they are not.

       2. See James 2:14 - 26 ARV 14“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?”15 “If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,”16 “And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?”17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.” 19“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”20 “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” 21“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?” 22“Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?” 23“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.”24 “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”25 “Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?”26 “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

- Explanation:

1) James is talking about men who merely "say" they have faith (14, 18) empty profession.

2) James does not regard his argument as opposed to Paul (23).

        3) James was setting intellectual assent over against saving faith. The demons have intellectual assent (19).

                   Saving faith justifies one in the sight of God (Rom. 4:2).  "For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God."

           4) James was dealing with Jews who had been used to regarding faith as a matter of the intellect only (17).