CF family,
I've heard
from a number of folks this week already that differentiating between Paul's
use of "work" and James' use of "work" was helpful.
It makes all the difference in the world sorting this out. Consider these
words from our favorite feeble disciple and early church member, Peter.
2 Peter
1:5-10 "For this reason make every effort to supplement
your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and
knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness and godliness with brotherly
affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these
qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being
ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever
lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten
(spelled correctly this time) that he was cleansed from his former sins.
Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and
election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never
fall."
Here you see
faith.......that's supplemented with virtue, knowledge, self-control,
steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love. And all of
those supplements take "effort" and "diligence".
Peter's "work" here would be more in line with James' use of the
word......as fruit of salvation.......describing the life of the
justified.
Another
thought tomorrow from Ephesians 2:1-10.....read ahead and pay attention to
who's "working" in the passage.
Have a good
Tuesday,
Ben
