Luke I have had your question on my mind for days.It wouldn't go away and so I have searched and searched the web to find an answer.
I think I found something that will interest you.
http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx166.htm
I hope the link works because it really is interesting
The author of that site is a Church of Christ member if I read correctly. He quotes Max Lucado quite liberally and a lot of the letters to him at the bottom of his pages are from Church of Christ members.
luke I do know that the CoC teach a works based salvation and that you must be baptised etc,but from what this particular man has written I cannot see that he is teaching anything but freedom in Christ.
I personally thought his answer to your question that has gone round and round in my head for days,is actually a simple yet truthful one.
Was James himself teaching a gospel that is different to Paul's? was James still zealous for the law,are Jews saved differently then?..your question led onto those thoughts in my mind.Al Maxey,to me,answered those questions,he showed how Paul did not sin clearly.
Iam sorry if my link is a dud one then Luke,but for me Al Maxey's explanation is worthy to consider as a sound one,if he is CoC then what he says kind of goes against what he would believe...CoC members I have encountered are zealous for the law themselves.He cuts through that and defends Paul's position.
(10-10-2009 09:51 PM)Luke Wrote: [ -> ]Why the contention between the two?
It's not just James 2:24 vs Romans 4:5 and Galatians 2
Galatians 2:12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
The men that came up and caused the strife between Peter and Paul came from James
And when Paul goes to Jerusalem, James and Paul have a chat
Acts 21:20-22 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law: And they are informed of thee, that thou teachest all the Jews which are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children, neither to walk after the customs. What is it therefore? the multitude must needs come together: for they will hear that thou art come.
James is in Jerusalem, and the Jewish believers there are zealous of the LAW. And here is Paul, telling the Jews outside Jerusalem to forsake the Law. James ask - WHAT IS IT?
And then James tells Paul to keep the law!
Paul goes to the temple to purify himself, but then the Jewish believers take him and tell him off for not keeping the law of moses and teaching others the same and it takes the Roman Gentiles to get Paul out of there (James doesn't show up anymore).
This is not the apostle James, because he was beheaded earlier in Acts. This is James the Lord's brother (Galatians 1:19). Is this the same James that wrote the Epistle of James?
What is going on?
Did Al Maxey answer any of these questions with any Biblical truth?..I would like to know as I don't want to believe wrong.
The way he described it, he made it as though James and Paul were getting along great, and were having a chat about how all these Jews just can't stop keeping the law.
He says something at the start about James being concerned because all the jews were still zealous for the law.
But it is quite evident from scripture that James was boasting of his congregations zealousness of the law, and then tells Paul to keep the law.
To be honest, I couldn't read his whole article. I find it hard to read articles from people who are confused over things such as salvation because I can't see how they could be right on anything else. Also, I find it hard to read online. Hurts my eyes.
Point well taken Luke.
I really am interested in the answer to your questions,if you find one,do post it Luke.