Mark,

Thanks for the contribution. I think we agree that eternal security (at least the man-ward side of it) is fundamentally trust. The rest of your comments, however, suggest that you didn’t get the gist of what I’m trying to communicate about Calvinism. Indeed, you’ve essentially voiced a position that is mainstream Calvinism, and a position that I have challenged.

Let me argue why I believe this. The phrase “true believer” is codeword in Calvinism that reflects their view of election where God, not man, sovereignly chooses who is saved and who is not. Those chosen are regenerated at some point in their lives and are granted the gift of faith whereupon they believe. (Note the order of salvation (ordo salutis): regeneration first, then faith. Calvinists believe the reverse order is impossible. (We can argue the merits of this in another forum.) From this start, Calvinists begin construction of their theology. Since they are regenerated, they now have a new heart that loves God and desires to follow and obey him. Note your words, “…the true believer naturally displays God’s essence…” To be clear, I fundamentally reject this notion.

That you didn’t pick up on it in my original post tells me that I was incomplete in arguing my case. After re-reading it I think I see where I should elaborate. In the 8th paragraph of my original post I pointed out the Calvinist view of James 2:14-26. What I didn’t point out was that this was wrong. Indeed, this is perhaps the most misunderstood pericope in all the Bible.

The position you’ve taken is consistent with a relatively recent BibSac paper (BSac 159:633 (Jan 02) p.63) titled “Faith and Works in James and Paul,“ authored by C. Ryan Jenkins. He argues 4 views and concludes the 4th view is correct which says that “James sought to show that a person who possesses faith in Christ will be justified (i.e., vindicated as a true Christian) by his or her works, and that a mere claim to a profession of faith that is not vindicated or evidenced by works is not characteristic of genuine conversion.”

Essentially, Jenkins and other Calvinists see those whom James is describing as failing to demonstrate their faith with works as pseudo believers (mere professors of faith) whose lack of works prove that they do not have a genuine faith. This is where the problem lies. Is there such a category of Christians? Your response above suggests that you are squarely in their camp.

I’m now going to argue that James does not hold such a view. (I should have done this in my original blog entry.) In fact, throughout the entire epistle, I believe that James is addressing a single category of individuals, namely regenerate Christians who have not matured to the point where they can demonstrate the values and works expected of the mature believer.

First, it is important to observe what these “believers” are doing that has drawn James’ criticism. These “believers” are quick to show anger (Jas 1:19-20), are indulging in filthiness and overflow of wickedness (1:21), not doers of the word being in self deceit and forgetful (1:22-24); not bridling their tongue, but deceiving their own heart (1:26); holding their faith in partiality and judging with evil thoughts (2:1-4); dishonoring the poor man (2:6); desiring pleasure (4:1); boasting and lying against the truth (3:13); lusting, murdering and coveting (4:2); praying for the wrong thing (for self pleasure) (4:3); commiting adultery and being friends of the world (4:4); speaking evil of each other and the law (4:11); knowing to do good but not doing it (4:17); living on the earth in pleasure and luxury (5:5); condemning and murdering the just (5:6); and swearing oaths (5:12).

Mixed in this vituperation, James is, on the positive side, telling them to: count it joy when trials come (1:2); be patient (1:4); ask wisdom of God (1:5); ask in faith without doubting (1:6); be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath (1:19); lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness (1:21); be doers of the word (1:22); not be partial (2:1-7); love your neighbor (2:8); speak as those who will be judged by the law of liberty (2:12); show by good conduct that their works are done in the meekness of wisdom. (3:13). Notice the force of 4:1-5. This is clearly addressing believers and at the same time showing that believers can seriously misbehave. He’s telling the very ones who “do not have” because they “do not ask” that they are adulterers and adulteresses, and are friends of the world. (This clearly shows these adulterers are believers.)

To drive home the point that believers (not pseudo believers) are his audience, and that they are doing horrible things, he tells them to submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse their hands, purify their hearts, stop being double minded, lament and mourn, and humble themselves before God. Would you tell an unbeliever to do these things or direct him/her to the gospel? If they are truly unbelievers, exhortation to improve their behavior is a bad strategy.

Now, let’s ask a very simple question. If James really believed these were pseudo or only professing (not genuine) believers, what should be his tack? What is the message of the Bible to the unbeliever? Is it the list of works that James has listed in these 5 chapters or is it the gospel? If James really believed these were unbelievers, he would present the gospel to them? How many times does he do that in this book? Not even once! The book of James is about works, and works are an issue to the believer, not the unbeliever. The issue of a true believer vs. a false believer is a construct developed by Calvinists to fend off criticism about the odios behavior patterns they see in their ranks. There is nothing evangelistic about the book of James. It is clearly written only to believers challenging them to correct their bad behavior. Evangelism is the answer to unbelief, not exhortation to works. If James' audience is lacking genuine faith, they are unbelievers without question. If this is the case, then James is preaching a works salvation to an unbelieving audience. QED.

To sum up, how does all this relate back to your original point that "true believers will naturally display God's essence." If good works are a natural outcome of the "true believer," then James must be addressing unbelievers since they are doing everything but good works. That they are not unbelievers is easily concluded from the fact that if James believed they were unbelievers, he would have an entirely different message for them, viz. the gospel. Since the gospel is not mentioned even once I think we can be assured that James believes his audience is regenerated, and the notion of a "professing" or "false" believer is an oxymoron. Conversely, the phrase "true believer" is redundant.

Over to you.

Ray