Romans 3:28 vs. James 2:24 – Bible Basics Class – July 26, 2022

Romans 3:28 – “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

James 2:24 – “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.”

Context of Romans 3:28

Paul is writing to us today, since he is “the apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13).

Romans 3:23 “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God”

“The righteousness of God without the law…is by faith of Jesus Christ…upon all them that believe” (Romans 3:21-22).

We have no ability to save ourselves, and so the Lord Jesus Christ did all the work for us.

We are justified by the faith of Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:16) when we believe in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection as atonement for sin (I Corinthians 15:3-4).

Context of James 2:24

James is writing to Israel scattered abroad (James 1:1) in the fifth cycle of Israel’s chastisement (Leviticus 26:33).

It is written to believers (James 1:2) to have their faith tried (James 1:3) so that they may be perfect (James 1:4), meaning they endure unto the end of the tribulation period and are saved (Matthew 24:13).

They are still under the old covenant (Hebrews 8:13).

If they believe the gospel, they are “judged by the law of liberty,” not by the Mosaic law (James 2:10-12).

2:21-25 Abraham and Rahab were both justified by faith plus works. These are works of faith.

No flesh is justified by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16).

Israel needs works of faith for justification, because they do not receive the atonement until Jesus’ second coming (Acts 3:19-20; I Peter 1:7-9).

Today

We have justification now (Romans 5:9); we have the atonement now (Romans 5:11).

Our lives are hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3).

Therefore, even if we stop believing, God will still give us eternal life, or else He would have to deny Christ eternal life (II Timothy 2:11,13).