Faith & Works; Paul & James: 2

Faith & Works; Paul & James: 2
Brad Reiches
Nov 30 2006 10:00PM

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Friday, December 1, 2006
GodThoughtsWired!

"Paul & James;
Faith & Works"

PART 2

Guess who said the following?  "What matters is the keeping of the commandments of God?" (1 Corinthians 7:19).

Practically, the righteous life can never be obtained by obedience to the Law.  James describes the problem in this way.  "Even if a man is able to keep the whole Law, yet stumbles in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10).  Nevertheless, Jesus warned,

"Unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the Pharisees, you shall not enter the
kingdom of God."
Matthew 5:20

The key to our understanding here is found in the awareness that the kind of righteousness that "surpasses" that of the Pharisees is the righteousness that comes from faith.  "We have received grace...to bring about the obedience of faith" (see Romans 1:5; 16:26).  New Covenant righteousness only occurs by grace, through faith.  As opposed to the Old Covenant righteousness that is found in the Law, and thereby, falls short.