James 2:23-26. Abraham was Friend of God; Rahab gave the Word of God.

I am a retired pastor of the Church of God (Tennessee).
My name is Isaac Livingston. I am from Neyyoor India
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Email: Pastor True Gospel

 

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1. What Impute means? Is it transfer from one to another?

The bible must be the calibrating scale to Christianity and to Christian life. But as Satan took the word of God to Eve in the garden of Eden, Satan again takes the bible and teach deception to Christians. So, the bible lost its status of the calibrating scale. At present Satan has a hidden deceptive name for his teaching, and it is called theology. It is the study of the bible by Satan. But Christians think that it is the study of the bible by God. By accepting theology as the study from God, Christians receive Satan as their God, of course without knowing. Everything else follow suit. However, still the bible can be used to calibrate our godly life, if we use our plain common sense and good conscience that God gives to everyone. If we like to study the mysteries of God, pray to God for the revelation by his Spirit. The hint is: God is holy. If the teaching leads to goodness and godliness, it is led by the Spirit of God. But if it is led to hype and excitement, it is by twists, tactics, ulterior motives, etc. Such things are from Satan.

According to Christian theology, 'Imputed Righteousness' is a concept in proposing that the righteousness of Jesus Christ is imputed to whoever say that they believe in Jesus Christ; and it does not matter if they are in sin. Theology says that sin is irrelevant, and righteousness of Jesus Christ is transferred to sinners as if it were belonged to them through faith. So, if a sinning man say that he believes in Jesus, never mind of his sinning, the righteousness of Jesus Christ will be transferred and applied to him; the sinner will be called as a man of God by faith, and he will stand before God the Father in the status of Jesus Christ. It is also called justification. It is so easy; and so, Christians love theology. But it is truly "Satan's bible study". Christians foolishly think that it is from God. So, churches go down to hell by theology. Every theologian is a servant of Satan.

2. Abraham believed God; it was imputed for righteousness.

In the last few studies, we studied what faith is, and how God perfected faith in Abraham, and such things. Now, let us continue our study. "James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Here it says, "Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness". Just now I said about imputed righteousness. In our last study we saw how Abraham was justified, and what justified means. Abraham was not telling people that he was believing God, but he tied up the hands of his son Isaac, laid him on the firewood on the altar, and took his knife to kill him for a burnt offering. All these things were mentioned in one phrase that Abraham believed God. But it is a stumbling stone for theologians, Satan's teachers, to fall. They teach just to believe that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, then we are made righteous, justified, sanctified, and all such good stuff are done, without doing any works, nor even obeying God. Christians believe it and love it. You may refer to the previous studies for details. Preachers say that we must confess that we believe in Jesus Christ, but we must not do what he tells us to do; and if we do, then it will become our works, and we will not be saved by our works. So, they become fake believers, and their faith is dead faith. Deuteronomy 6:25 says, "it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments." Romans 6:16 says, "of obedience unto righteousness." It is simple. Our works are our righteousness. God will not account my work to you and your work to me. So also, God being the most righteous judge, he will neither account the righteous works of Jesus to filthy sinners, nor account the sins of the filthy people to Jesus Christ. But theologians, who are of Satan, teach such nonsense. Foolish Christians believe all the stupid lies since they don't use even common sense.

3. How and why, Abraham was called the Friend of God.

Let us see the next portion in verse "23, ... and he was called the Friend of God." Now, let us look at the old testament and see who were called as the friend of God. "Exodus 33:11 says, ... the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend." This is about Moses. Here, Moses was not called as the friend of God, but the way God talked to him, was as a friend to a friend. "2 Chronicles 20:7 and Isaiah 41:8 say, Abraham is friend of God. So, God's manner of speech to Moses was as a friend to friend, but God called Abraham as friend. What was the difference between the two of them? Abraham did whatever God told him to do immediately with no hesitation, even to sacrifice his beloved son. Even though Moses obeyed God, he hesitated most of the times, and God had to force him to do them. So, God talked to Moses as a friend talk to him, but he did not call him as friend. Please notice this: God refers Abraham as his friend, but Abraham never did refer God as his friend. God is always Lord and God to him; but not anything less than the dignity of Lord and God? Anything less will be blasphemy. God is Lord God Almighty.

Let us look at the new testament. "John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Here, Jesus tells them what Jesus will do for his friends. "14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you." Those who do, whatever he commands them to do, are his friends. Then, "15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you." Here, let us become his servants; and then, if he reveals the mysteries of God the Father to us, it means that he has considered us as his friends. However, we will never call him as our friend; and he will always be Lord and God to us. Calling him less than that, is blasphemy. Blasphemy against the Son of man may be forgiven, but blasphemy against God will not be forgiven. The Lord Jesus Christ is God the Almighty for more than the last two thousand years. Christians are used to the man Jesus, who lived as a man, was treated as a man, and was killed as a man. Now they worship this man as God, and so, this God is a familiarized God. But this is total ignorance. This man was killed, dead, buried, and he does not exist anymore, according to 2 Corinthians 5:16. But he was raised in the Spirit, and was made Lord, Christ, and God. He is no more in flesh, but he is in Spirit. So, we must know that one Jesus, was a man, he was in the flesh body, and he was not God. But the resurrected Jesus Christ is God Almighty, he is with all power of God, he is in the Spirit but not in flesh, and he is God. We must know the difference between the man Jesus and God Jesus. We think that the man is God and so, we see him cheaply as Hindu gods. Our God is the only God, who is in Omnipotent Spirit, and there is no other God. But now, filthy sinners call him as friend, elder brother, and other pet names, probably thinking that he is a man god. It is blasphemy against Jesus Christ, who is God, and this blasphemy is unpardonable sin. Don't do it anymore. If you do it ignorantly, learn the truth, and stop blaspheming Jesus Christ the Almighty God. Refer this link to know more: "Christ God."

4. God has different Covenants for Old and New testaments.

When God looked at Abraham, he knew how obedient he will be, he chose him and made his faith perfect. Abraham was chosen. But when it comes to the children of Jacob, they were not chosen as Abraham was chosen, but they were accepted as a race of people to be on the pedestal for the world to see, how God will treat people. So, gentiles saw through Israel that God will bless those who obey him and will destroy those who will not obey him. God blessed Israel when they obeyed him, but when they repeatedly disobeyed him, God destroyed them. God did that several times, and finally, God himself became a man to "take away the first, that he may establish the second; it is in Hebrews 10:9." God took the kingdom away from them, destroyed their temple, and removed the daily sacrifices from them; that is, the worship was taken away from them. Israel became as a gentiles to God. Israel's name is in few prophesies and those will be fulfilled, but Israel has no special status. "Hebrews 5:10 says Jesus was, Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec," So, Jesus Christ became the High Priest to the Spirit Church, which is also called as the body of Christ. Jesus Christ himself is the head of this church. This Spirit body of Christ is the only true Church in the world and new testament. God's church will be under the Holy Ghost and will guided by the holy Spirit. God has no covenant with common people. We all must know this fact and truth. God did not begin religious Christianity. A group of people around Emperor Constantine hijacked the name of Christ and started the religion. Christianity is one among all other religions in the world, and God is not in it. The name Christ is used for the religion, and the bible is used as their Scripture. In God's providence, the bible was inspired by to the holy men of God and brought to existence by Christians. However, God has rejected Israel as a nation, as well as a people who worship God. God demolished the temple, and it was the end of sacrifices and worship of Israel. Old testament laws and covenant were made void and was taken away by the Lord Jesus Christ. It is in Hebrews 8:6-10, please study. ["8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"] God has established the new covenant with "Spiritual Israel and Spiritual Judah", which is his Spirit Church, which is the body of Christ, who will inherit new heavens and heavenly Sion, by his new covenant. Spiritual Israel will inherit new heavens, and Spiritual Judah will inherit heavenly Sion.

5. Who was Rahab? Was she a harlot, a liar, or a Prophetess?

The next verse begins with saying; "25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot ... and so on." It introduces Rahab as harlot, and so, preachers take time to study about a harlot. Let me bring the other side of this harlot. In the old testament, Jews or Israel were known as the people of God, since God has put them on the pedestal. All others were known as Gentiles or as pagans. At this point Joshua and his people belong to God, and Rahab was a gentile or pagan from Jericho. Bible refers her as a harlot in Jericho. Preachers refer her also as a liar. So, in our eyes, she is in the ditch to begin with. Let me bring a logical point. Adultery was not accepted by God in Israel by the commandment. According to the principle of God, laws will not apply to someone unless it is given to him. God did not give the law or commandments to gentiles. They have their own law. God gave laws to Jews, like circumcision, sabbath days, sin sacrifices, and such things. Will the gentiles be held accountable for these laws? No! And so, Jericho or Rahab were not under the law given to Israel. So, adultery was never an illegal practice to them. It may be a profession there. That was the order of their society. Ignorant preachers talk low of Rahab because of this. Further, when the soldiers came to Rahab, they did not treat her with disrespect. Her house was on top of the wall, which was an important place of safety. And so, she was a well to do person, not so cheap, and seemed respected. She had a business of providing food and lodging, which is like a motel on those days. And she could have provided sex as an item in service. Their nation and society accepted it, their law agreed with it, God's law did not intervene them doing it; then, what is the problem with our preachers? It could have been a legitimate profession in their nation and culture. Circumcision was given to Jews, but preachers do not do it. Are they become outcast because of it? No. But the law of circumcision was not given to them. So, it is not shame to preachers? So also, she was not a shame in Jericho. Bible do not hide anything; and so, the word harlot was there to identify her, not to shame her. Further, the spies went to her for food and lodging, but not for sex. Furthermore, God has chosen her for a greater purpose with a message for that time. Our preachers must have some sense, as they teach scripture. King David took the wife of Uriah; God calls David as man of his own heart; Solomon was made king after him despite him being the son of Bathsheba; and preachers do not say anything bad about King David. Why do not they make the same sense here with Rahab? Is it because Rahab is a woman? Know it, that her name is in the lineage of Jesus Christ. She was honored by God. Do not preach as she was shame. It is ignorance. Further, they call her a liar because she lied to the king's men. It is not warranted at all. Is it to show that they are smart? They are not smart, but it is stupidity. "I Samuel 16:2 And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD." When Samuel was afraid of king Saul, God told him to tell a lie to them to keep the whole thing as secret. Do not these preachers know the concept of God? These smart alecks accuse Rahab of lying to the king's men!?

6. Rahab told the men that the LORD hath given you the land.

Again verse 25 says, "... Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way." Here it says that Rahab was justified, it is by God, and because of what she has done. The details are explained in the complete second chapter in the book of Joshua, in the old testament. I have it below for you to read. I will pick up only the pertinent verses for our study.

["Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country. 4 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them. 6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof. 7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. 8 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you. 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed. 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: 13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. 14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. 15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. 16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. 17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear. 18 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee. 19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him. 20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear. 21 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window. 22 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. 23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them: 24 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us."]

"Joshua 2:1 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there." Joshua sent two men to spy Jericho. They reached the house of harlot Rahab at night and lodged there. "2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country." It was told the king that spies from Israel are here. It seems that they were very alert and smart, and if it was not for the wisdom of Rahab, they would have been caught and killed. When you read the second chapter of Joshua, you will know what all happened. If God reveals the scripture to us, we will know how much Rahab was in tune with God, how wise she was, how meticulous her plans and strategies were, and as for as the spy plans, she was a genius and her wisdom exceeds anyone, even to Joshua in this context, since her faith and hope in God was excellent. She was the beloved of God, and God revealed to her exactly what the spies must know. "9 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you." Rahab gave the word to the spies, their escape route, they were gone safely, and gave the message to Joshua. Her message to the spies was golden, precise to the point, has faith with authority, and proved that she was the prophetess of that war. God told and revealed to Rahab everything, including that our God is the only one God, by the things she said in verses 10&11. Then she made a deal with the spies for the future of her and her families; it was the best negotiation ever made among any war situation. It is in verses 12 to 23. Please read the verses and enjoy her wisdom. What she told the spies on verse 9, was the precise spy report given to Joshua in its entirety in verse 24. Apostle James simply put that by faith she was justified by her works. It is so great.

7. Body without spirit is dead, Faith without works is dead.

"James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." In this example, if our life, which is our breathing, heart pumping, (it is mentioned as spirit, it is not the holy Spirit,) left the body, the body is dead. So also, if the evidence to our faith is not present in some kind of our performance or works that we do, then faith is not there; that is, faith is dead. "Titus 1:16 They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate." Faith with no works is just a cliché with no evidence, those who tell them are liars, and are worthless reprobates. But our examples are Abraham and Rahab, who were number one faith heroes. Let us follow them and have real faith with proof. May God make our faith perfect.

If any point needs explanation, OR, if you find an error according to scripture,
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