Thanks again brother for you reasoned responce. I will try to address some of it now as I only have a short time.
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Originally Posted by JOwen  Quote:
Originally Posted by Civbert
Thank you for posting a Scriptural argument. This gives us something more substantial to work with.
| My pleasure.  Quote:
Originally Posted by Civbert Let me ask you this - if a demon had more than a "bare historical faith", would he be saved? Are there any elect demons? Even if we grant that the demons believe in the whole of the gospel, isn't it also the case that this belief was heart-felt? The demons believed it to the point that they trembled. But can a demon believe the promises to those who believe applies to him? | The text demonstrates the difference between saving and non-saving faith. James is showing that there is a faith (knowledge and assent), that stops short of true faith. This is James' argument, not mine,.. |
This is the point in contention. It is not a given.
James all along has been speaking of works as proof of true faith. And it appears as if he is saying we are saved by works. However, we know that James is speaking about how true faith is demonstrated by the evidence. We are careful to contend we are saved by faith
alone, apart from the works which are the evidence of faith. We need to take that same care as we understand the meaning of faith.
So we still need to determine if Jame's argument is directed at "knowledge and assent" that lacks trust. His point may be not more than a claim to have faith does not make your faith true. And we know that belief in "one God" is only sufficient to damn a person.
But even if James argument was against "knowledge and assent" without "trust", this does not mean that "knowledge and assent" alone does not save - any more than we say that faith alone does not save us. My point, is that just as works are the evidence of faith, so too might trust be considered an evidence of faith. This fits better in the overall scheme of James. Knowledge and assent without trust is dead. Faith without works is dead.