Faith and Belief
(James 2:14–26)
O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. Gal 5:7-82Co 11:3Gal 1:6Rev 2:201Pe 4:17Gal 3:3Gal 4:9Heb 11:8 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Rom 10:16-17Gal 3:14Act 15:8Eph 1:13-14Gal 3:5Act 8:15Heb 2:4Act 19:2-6
Are you so foolish? After starting in the Spirit, are you now finishing in the flesh? Gal 5:4-8Gal 4:7-10Heb 7:16-19Heb 9:9-10Gal 6:12-14Heb 9:2 Have you suffered so much for nothing, if it really was for nothing? 2Jn 1:81Co 15:2Heb 10:32-392Pe 2:20-22Ezk 18:24Heb 6:4-6 Does God lavish His Spirit on you and work miracles among you because you practice the law, or because you hear and believe? Gal 3:2Act 14:9-10Act 19:11-12Act 14:31Co 1:4-52Co 13:32Co 10:42Co 12:12
So also, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” 1 Gen 15:6Rom 4:21-22Jas 2:23Rom 4:3-6Rom 4:24Rom 4:9-11Gal 3:9Rom 9:32-33 Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham. Gal 3:9Rom 9:7-8Gal 3:26-29Psa 100:3Rom 4:24Jhn 8:39Luk 19:9Rom 4:11-16 The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and foretold the gospel to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” 2 Gen 12:3Gen 22:18Gen 28:14Gen 18:18Gen 26:4Heb 4:2Rom 3:28-30Gal 3:22 So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Gal 3:29Rom 4:16Gal 4:28Rom 4:24Rom 4:11Gal 3:14Gal 3:7-8
Christ Has Redeemed Us
All who rely on works of the law are under a curse. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 3 Deu 27:26Rom 8:7Rom 3:19-20Deu 11:26-28Jas 2:9-11Jer 11:3Rom 4:15Gal 2:16 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 4 Hab 2:4Rom 1:17Heb 10:38Gal 2:16Ecc 7:20Psa 130:3-4Isa 53:6Job 42:6 The law, however, is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 5 Lev 18:5Rom 10:5-6Neh 9:29Rom 4:14Ezk 20:11Luk 10:25-28Rom 4:16Rom 4:4-5
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 6 1Pe 2:24Deu 21:23Heb 9:12Heb 9:151Pe 1:18-21Heb 10:4-10Rev 5:9Gal 4:5 He redeemed us in order that the blessing promised to Abraham 7would come to the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. Gal 3:28-291Co 12:13Eph 2:18Ezk 36:26-27Gal 3:2Ezk 11:19Act 2:33Rom 8:26-27
The Purpose of the Law
(Romans 7:1–6)
Brothers, let me put this in human terms. Even a human covenant, once it is ratified, cannot be canceled or amended. Heb 9:17Rom 6:19Rom 3:51Co 15:32 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say, “and to seeds,” meaning many, but “and to your seed,” 8 meaning One, who is Christ. Gen 17:7-8Rom 4:13Luk 1:55Gen 22:17-18Gal 3:27-29Rom 4:16Gen 12:7Gen 26:3-4
What I mean is this: The law that came 430 years later does not revoke the covenant previously established by God, so as to nullify the promise. Exo 12:40-41Gen 15:13Heb 11:39-40Rom 4:13-142Co 1:20Heb 6:13-18Rom 3:31Co 1:17 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise. Rom 4:13-16Gal 2:21Heb 6:12-15Psa 105:42Gal 3:29Luk 1:54-55Luk 1:72-73Psa 105:6-12
Why then was the law given? It was added because of transgressions, until the arrival of the seed to whom the promise referred. It was administered through angels by a mediator. Act 7:53Rom 7:7-13Heb 2:2Gal 3:161Ti 1:8-9Rom 5:20-21Rom 4:15Rom 3:19-20 A mediator is unnecessary, however, for only one party; but God is one. 1Ti 2:5Deu 6:4Heb 8:6Heb 9:15Job 9:33Heb 12:24Rom 3:29-30Gal 3:17
Is the law, then, opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come from the law. Gal 2:21Rom 9:31Rom 3:20-22Gal 2:19Rom 10:3-6Gal 2:17Rom 3:31Rom 7:7-13 But the Scripture pronounces all things confined by sin, so that by faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe. Rom 11:32Heb 9:15Jhn 11:25-26Gal 3:231Jn 2:25Jhn 3:361Jn 3:23-24Rom 3:9-20
Before this faith came, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. Gal 5:18Gal 3:24-25Gal 3:19Rom 11:32Rom 6:14-15Rom 3:191Pe 1:11-12Gal 4:1-5 So the law became our guardian to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. Rom 10:4Act 13:38-39Heb 10:1-14Rom 7:24-25Gal 2:16Mat 5:17-18Col 2:17Gal 2:19 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. Rom 6:14Rom 7:4Heb 10:15-18Heb 7:11-19Heb 8:3-13Gal 4:1-6
Sons through Faith in Christ
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. Eph 1:52Co 6:18Jhn 1:12-13Gal 4:5-61Jn 3:1-2Rom 8:14-17Php 2:15Rev 21:7 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Rom 13:141Co 12:13Rom 6:3-41Pe 3:21Eph 4:24Col 3:10Act 2:38Col 2:10-12 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 1Co 12:12-13Col 3:11Rom 3:29-30Gal 5:6Rom 10:12-15Jhn 10:16Eph 2:13-22Eph 4:4 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise. Eph 3:6Rom 9:7-8Gal 3:7Rom 8:17Gal 4:22-31Rom 4:16-21Gal 4:7Tit 3:7