Conflicting Verses

Welcome to His Light, your path with Pastor Rod Holler Sr.

Today's devotional is titled Conflicting Verses.

Have you ever read Bible passages that seem to say two different things?

Pastor Holler will help us see that since both passages are found in God's Word,

they are both true. We just need to see how they fit together.

Ephesians 2 verses 8 and 9.

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.

Not of works, lest any man should boast.

And James chapter 2 verse 20.

But will thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead?

What do we do when Bible passages seem to contradict each other?

Since those passages are in the Bible,

therefore they must both be true.

We must not reject one verse to embrace another.

We need to find an understanding that satisfies both passages.

This is often accomplished by the context of the verses.

Our text verses seem to contradict each other concerning salvation.

Ephesians is clearly teaching that salvation is by faith apart from works.

James clearly says that faith without works is dead.

There must be an understanding that satisfies both, because they're both true.

Ephesians 2 verses 8 and 9 are reminding the believers in Ephesus,

that they are saved by faith and not by works.

But faith without works in the context is encouraging believers to Christian service.

What good is faith if it is not accompanied with works?

The context of James 2 is a brother needing help.

Let us read James 2 14 through 16 with comments for explanation.

James 2 14, what does it profit my brethren?

Comment here, it is speaking to born again people and not to people that need to be saved.

Though a man say he has faith and has not works, can faith save him?

Comment, this saving is not the saving of a soul but saved from his need.

Verse 15, still comment, James gives an example of one in need.

If a brother or sister be naked and destitute of daily food and one of you say unto them,

depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body, what does it profit?

The brother needs saved from his current situation for clothes or food as set forth in the text.

He needs his brother in Christ to act and give him some food and clothing.

This man's faith did not help his needy brother.

Faith and action was necessary to save this man from his physical needs.

Believers are to show their walk of faith with God by their good works.

Even so faith, if it have not works as dead being alone.

Yay, a man may say, now has faith and I have works.

Show me thy faith without that works and I will show you my faith by my works.

That wraps up today's devotional conflicting verses with Pastor Holler.

As Pastor Holler pointed out, context is everything.

Ephesians focuses on how we're saved while James highlights how we live out our faith after salvation.

Both are true and vital to our Christian walk.

If you'd like to hear more devotionals from Pastor Holler, visit hislightyourpath.com.

Be sure to join us again tomorrow for another encouraging devotional here on his light, Your Path.

Amen.