Yes, you have discerned rightly that I am a believer in salvation by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth -- and not by works of the flesh. It is Christ Jesus alone I trust in as my propitiation and atonement for sin, and not my works that I should boast.

We also do not trust in works to gain salvation, but neither do we believe that the grace of Christ gives anyone a license to continue to sin.

To be at one with God, means that we keep all of His laws, which is possible through His Holy Spirit in us. If we keep those Laws of God, we are saved by Grace.

Laura, there are many who trust in good works or deeds to realize the promises of God. However they have not entered into His rest by the "labor of Love", but strive in a "love of labor" that is not of His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. His works are rooted and grounded in the works (or fruits) of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) Paul tells us, what does it profit a man if we should do all good works and have not love? (1 Cor. 13:1-3) Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes [God in] all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Cor. 4-8) These are labors of the heart and find their perfection in grace by faith in Jesus Christ. Love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10) "Now the purpose of the commandments is love from a pure heart from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, from which some, having strayed have turned aside to idle talk, desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully." (1 Tim. 1:1-8) Laura there is a better way than the way you suggest.

Actually I am not the one who suggests that we keep the Law of God if we love God or anyone else. God is the one that tells you that you need to keep His Law in order to have eternal life granted to you as a gift (by grace). Why would God want anyone in His everlasting Kingdom if they are just going to carry on as they do now in sin?

I do not know what you are in prison for, nor do I know if you are actually guilty of the crime that you were convicted of, but for arguments sake, let's just suppose that you are guilty of whatever crime landed you in prison. Were you breaking the law by what you did? If you had been keeping the law, you would be free right now, but since you broke the law you are incarcerated in prison. If your crime involved destruction of property or life or stealing something which did not belong to you, then how does that show love for God or for those you hurt by your criminal actions? Do you understand that every time that you do anything from brushing your teeth in the morning to robbing the local bank, those are all considered to be works. You cannot get away from or eliminate works from your life. It won't happen until you are dead.

With all that said, you can do works for the good of yourself and others, which are acts of love toward God and others or you can choose to commit crimes which are considered to be acts of hatred towards God and others and will result in incarceration in prison and/or loss of eternal life. God gives you the choice.

Love is not something that is only in your heart and never gets out. Love is an action verb. Love is shown to God and to others by your actions which are considered to be works.

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) There is no better way than the way of God. Keeping His law keeps us free, breaking His laws brings on numerous penalties and eternal death.

However, you give weight to your position, by quoting from the Book of James, Chapter 2, verses 18-24, which states a case for faith, justified (rendered or shown [Strong's #1344]) by works; a showing of our faith...

There are many who seek salvation through their good works who use this Scriptural admonishment as an affirmative statement from James, (the brother of Jesus, and Leader of the first century Church body in Jerusalem) as a basis for declaring salvation by works. No where in these verses does James affirm that salvation is justified by works of the law or good deeds that a man should do. James merely states here that our "Faith" is justified by the works that we do. The salvation of God has no part in the deeds of the law of Moses.

And I'm really sorry to disappoint you, but Moses did not invent or make any law. The law which many refer to as being Moses law is actually God's Law.

Faith, grace and works all go together in order for us to receive eternal salvation. You seem to be saying that you are saved by grace through faith, but do not have to keep the law of God. What the Bible says is that we are saved by grace through faith, but we must also keep the law of God in order to receive eternal salvation.

The law of God is based on two commandments of God, love for God and love for neighbor. This expands to the 10 commandments, of which the first 4 show love for God and the last 6 show love for neighbor. These 10 commandments then expand into more details as precepts, statutes, judgments and laws. There is no law of Moses, only the law of God which God gave to Moses to teach to God's people. Unfortunately the Israelites were unable to keep God's law of themselves because they did not have God's Holy Spirit at that time to help them. The only difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant was that God sent his Holy Spirit to His people to enable them to keep His law. Again, as I said, anything you do, from brushing your teeth to robbing the local bank are all works. The bottom line is that you can do good works which show love to God and humanity or you can do bad works which hurt God and humanity. If you have faith and believe in God and yet you murder people or steal from people, you will not receive eternal salvation. If you have faith and believe in God and keep the whole law of God you will be granted eternal salvation by Grace.

To get a clear understanding of what James is saying in these verses (James 2), we need only to look to the other letter James wrote to the gentile churches in Asia on behalf of the Jerusalem Counsel for Paul and Barnabas. The question of salvation by works or grace was resolved by the first century church counsel and recorded in Acts 15. The occasion was prompted when some Jews came from Judea and taught the brethren that they must follow Moses to be saved. (see Acts 15: 1, 5) However, speaking for the Counsel of Apostles and elders, James clearly denies this teaching...

In the Old Testament physical circumcision was used as a forerunner to circumcision of the heart. It was an analogy (which was carried out physically under the Old Covenant). Under the New Covenant, the hearts of God's people are circumcised by the Holy Spirit which then allows God's people to keep His law. There was no command to be physically circumcised in order to keep God's law under the New Covenant. The argument in your above stated scriptures was whether people had to be physically circumcised or not. The argument in the above scriptures was not salvation by works or grace.

Have you considered what Moses has said about faith in God as touching His promises aside from the deeds of the law? Moses was faithful as a servant in all his house (Israel), who were delivered from Egypt and received the Torah at Mt. Sinai. However, they could not enter into the promises to Abraham, even though they were circumcised in the Covenant. They could not enter the promise, by Moses or the works of the law, because they did not have faith in God to deliver them. (Deu. 1:32-38)

But, those who were not circumcised, entered the promises of God to Abraham by their faith in God, without Moses, or the works of the Law. They entered in with Joshua (a figure of Jesus) who circumcised them in their faith (Joshua 5:4-10) after they received the promise -- as Abraham had 430 years before the law of Moses.

I believe you have been misinformed here. Again there is no law of Moses. The law given to Moses to teach to the Israelites was God's law. God's law was in full force at the time of Abraham: Gen. 26:5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. The law that Abraham had and the law that Moses had were the same law.

God didn't let those who came out of Egypt enter the promised land for the following reason, they didn't keep God's law: Joshua 5:6 "For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey."

Moses was not allowed to enter the new land because he did not obey God: Numbers 20:12 "And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them." Moses did not give God the glory when he smote the rock as God commanded him to. Psalm 106:32-33 "They angered him (Moses) also at the waters of strife, so that it went ill with Moses for their sakes: Because they provoked his spirit, so that he (Moses) spake unadvisedly with his lips."

All through the book of Joshua, they speak of keeping God's law as given to Moses. This is all an example for people everywhere to show that you will not enter into the new land unless you keep God's law. In the Old Testament it was a physical location that they were not allowed to enter because they did not keep God's law. For all people today, it is eternal life that they will not enter into unless they keep the law of God. Matthew 19:17 "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into LIFE, keep the COMMANDMENTS." Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are they that do his Commandments, that they may have right to the tree of Life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. For without (eternal life) are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie"

This same figure is written in the letter to the Hebrews in Chapter 3, admonishing the Hebrews, to exhort one another daily while it is still today, least any of them harden their heart as their brethren in the wilderness, as in the rebellion, who could not enter the promise. Moses and the works of the law (Torah) could not bring them into the promise. Only by their faith could they enter through Joshua (Jesus), the promised Seed of Abraham.

But in spite of the testimony of Moses, I have found there are some in the Messianic Jewish community who are "Pharisees", who believe, (Acts 15:5) who insist that we must be Torah observant to receive the promises of God.

I am not a Messianic Jew, but I do believe that none of us will enter into eternal life with God if we do not keep His law. The Bible tells us this over and over from cover to cover. What on earth would be the purpose of life now versus later if it's going to be the same wars, murders, rapes etc.? If sin gets to live on why not just give everyone eternal life right away?

Do people even think logically anymore (if they ever did)? If you do not keep God's law you will not enter the promised land of eternal life. That was one of the lessons of Moses and Joshua.

It is true the Pharisees sit in Moses seat declaring the law, (Matt. 23:2), however, Christ Jesus also declared Pharisees to be blind leaders of the blind who would fall into a ditch. (Matt. 15:14) Those who follow Moses are blinded (2 Cor. 3:15; 4:3-4) to the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ, of grace by faith (Eph. 2:8), not of works of the law least any man should boast. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works (Gal. 5:22) which God prepared before hand that we should walk in them. Christ Jesus is the end of the Law to those who believe. (Rom. 10:4)

Christ Jesus was the one that gave the law to Moses in the wilderness for Christ was with them for the whole 40 years: I Corinthians 10:4 "And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ." Christ was the God of the Old Testament as well as of the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 3:15 "But even unto this day when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart." This verse says nothing about people who follow Moses in the law of God, as being blind. What this is talking about is that even unto this day when people read their Bibles (the law of God), that they do not understand what they are reading. That veil is only lifted when you start to obey God and have His Spirit dwelling in you. The Pharisees were called blind guides because they read the law of God but they did not do what they read. This is similar to what you say, believe in Christ but His law is done away. So you talk about Christ but you don't have to do anything, except whatever you want to do? If you believe that, I am sorry for you, that you will have to learn the hard way in the school of hard knox.

If we will not believe James or Moses, will we believe the very testimony of Jesus Christ Himself, who declared to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:20-24) that the Law of Moses concerning Temple worship (See Deu. 12:5, 11) would shortly come to an end for those who believe. (Rom. 10:4) And the true worshipers would worship in Spirit and truth (that is, with the heart), and not by works of the law at the Temple in Jerusalem.

The sacrificial laws were a separate set of laws which were done away when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD. In Ezekiel it appears that the sacrificial laws will once again be reinstituted when the new temple is built. These sacrificial laws are separate from the other laws which derive from the ten commandment law. The law of God has not been done away, it is now being written on the hearts of God's people through the indwelling of God's Holy Spirit.

The Temple of stone has been destroyed and salvation has come to those who believe, without the benefit of the law. There is no longer a sacrifice for sins. Jesus said...

"If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin [being in Moses] but now they have no cloak for their sins. (Jn. 15:22, KJV) (see also Hebrews 10:26-27)

In John 15:22 and Hebrews 10:26-27 it is talking about once a person knows what sin is because of the law of God and they sin willfully (because they want to), then they are in danger of eternal death. 1 John 3:4 "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." If there is no law then I would suppose that you believe there is no sin either and that would mean that you can do whatever you want even if it hurts other people. Christ died for all people once, but if you continue down the path of sin knowing full well that what you are doing is against God then there is no more sacrifice for your sin, you will be eternally dead.

Without a Temple in Jerusalem, we don't have to follow the ritual purity laws of Moses for Temple worship, because we are clean in Christ Jesus. But religious Jews say we must follow the Torah of Moses in addition to our faith. Why? Because they tell us, it was the Mishnah (oral law) which Christ Jesus nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14) being the middle wall of separation (Eph. 2:14-15) and not the Torah. But isn't it true, that it was Moses' law on ritual purity (Lev. Ch. 11-17, et al) that the Mishnah fenced? However, the Mishnah (oral law) was not a "handwritten requirement" until the 3rd Century A. D. Thereby excluding it from consideration as the "handwritten requirement" mentioned in Colossians 2:14-17. The "handwritten requirements" was the law of Moses that was taken out of the way having been nailed to the cross, being a mere shadow of the things which have their substance in Jesus the Messiah. This also agrees with Heb. 10:1, that the Torah is a shadow which points us to Jesus; it was a tutor bringing us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under the tutor (Torah). (Gal. 3:24-25) But who will believe the report of God.

The Bible is really clear on what bad works are and that if you continue to do bad works you will not have eternal life: Galatians 5:19-21 "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."

Those who are doing the law of God will displaygood fruits (works): Galatians 22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance; against such there is no law."

Again, the law of God tells us what is sin, without the law of God we would not know.

So who should we follow, "Pharisees who believe", who are zealous after the law of Moses, or Jesus Christ who fulfilled the law and the Prophets, and gave us the promise of the Father, which is the Spirit in us, the hope of glory? I have no hope in the works of the law of Moses. For by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in the sight of God (Romans 3:20) This verse from Romans is very clear and unequivocal. Those who seek the promises by their good works will have much disappointment, for the just shall live by faith in the works of God, and enter in through faith in James our Redeemer.

I doubt that you will print this, but I am confident of one thing, that He who begins a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. And I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense until Christ's return, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:6, 8-11)

With love in Christ Jesus

Ron Barlow

Yes, Romans 3:20 is pretty clear, but I feel you are very confused in your understanding of this verse. Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." You can do all the good deeds you want, but it won't earn you salvation. The law of God tells us what sin is. So if we are keeping the law of God we will be sinning less and less. If we don't stop sinning we will not receive eternal life by grace. Faith is knowing that you would be dead eternally if Christ had not died to make eternal life possible for all people. Christ did not die so you could spit in his face by continuing in your sin which can only be known to you if you know and keep the law of God as given to Moses.