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[quote:268rbnie]How do you figure that I am misreading or ignoring verses? I showed you how works fit the faith alone[/quote:268rbnie]
Right at this point is where you err. You continue to assert that we are justified by faith alone and that works are only an after-effect. St. James says we are justified by works and not by faith alone.
[quote:268rbnie]But how did you treat Romans 11:6? You simply ignored it as well as Romans 3:27-28 and 4:5+6.[/quote:268rbnie]
I addressed it in the half of my post that you did not quote. I shall do so for you:
[quote:268rbnie]St. Paul writes against the Judaizer heresy that afflicted the early Church. The Judaizers taught that Christ alone was not sufficient to save; rather, Christians would also need to fulfill Mosaic law and the Abrahamic covenant through circumcision. The influence of this sect is easily demonstrated by examining the issues that St. Peter and the Council addressed in Acts. It is also obvious throughout St. Paul’s writings, in which he invariably preaches the futility of Christians seeking salvation through the works of the law.[/quote:268rbnie]
Of all St. Paul’s letters, the book of Romans deals with the Judaizer heresy the most.
If you want to see how St. Paul views works of faith, rather than the works of the law, read Philippians 2.
[quote:268rbnie]Did the thief next to Jesus do any good works? Yet the Lord saved him. Would you like to try that again?[/quote:268rbnie]
The thief rebuked a blasphemer and bore witness to Christ’s innocence and His kingdom.
And if for some reason you do not consider that a good work: God can do whatever He wills. The thief was saved despite his lack of works, as he had no opportunity to “work out his salvation with fear and trembling.” God is merciful and just. He does not look at what we could not do but what we could and what we did.
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? … So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Faith without works is dead. Therefore, faith alone does not save.