What a wonderful class yesterday! Contrasting Paul’s teaching concerning justification by grace alone, to James’s teaching of justification by works, helps us to realize that rightly dividing the Word is critical to keeping us from bad doctrine. We know that Paul’s teaching is to us, in this mystery period of the dispensation of grace, while James’s letter is to the 12 tribes scattered abroad — to Jewish believers of the first century who were persecuted and dispersed into the Roman empire after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1). The STHA – Simple Treasure Historic Application is easy to follow, The PTDA – Personal Treasure Devotional Application in the book of James is filled with great things to learn concerning personal faith, personal sin, and personal conduct. The DTDA = Deep Treasure Doctrinal Application of James is a kingdom message for Jewish believers!
We must always remember: Things different are not alike. Things different are not the same. We compare scripture with scripture in order to get a clear understanding of what we are to apply devotionally, and what we are to apply doctrinally. If we approach a New Testament book like James, without a firm doctrinal foundation from Paul’s epistles, bad doctrine, or long, confusing explanations will come about trying to reconcile scriptures into this age, that are not meant for this age! This is a classic situation of trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. We have to use a bigger hammer!
So, when Paul says in Romans 3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified (declared righteous, as though he had never sinned) by faith without the deeds of the law., and James states in James 2:24: Ye see then how that by works a man is justified (declared righteous, as though he had never sinned), and not by faith only., they are both right, because one (Paul) is writing to us in this dispensation of grace, and the other (James), is writing, doctrinally, to the Jews of the tribulation. We must be able to rightly divide the scripture in order to keep our doctrinal understanding straight!
Paul wrote the letter to the Galatians to clear up bad doctrine that had infiltrated these churches, concerning keeping the Law of Moses during this mystery period of the dispensation of grace. Please read Galatians 2:16-21 and Galatians 3:8-14, where Paul emphasizes that our righteousness, our justification does not come from obeying the Law. Christ is dead in vain, if we can be justified through the Law!
I encourage you to remember that “All the Bible was not written to us, but all the Bible was written for us (for our admonition / learning).” Identify what is written to you, and apply it in your daily life. Identify what is written for you, and make devotional application in your life to help you grow in grace! Enjoy the journey into Christlikeness, dear friends.