Expert: Brian Thompson - 6/27/2011

Question
Hi Brian,
 Hope all is well and you're up to a question concerning James 2:19? I'm not sure what is meant.
 Thanks,
  Hoyt

Answer
hello Hoyt

essentially James is saying belief in God is no qualification, even the demons believe in God. What he is saying is belief in God doesn't elevate you even above the demons so we have to have more than belief in God for salvation. Many religions believe in God but the way to the Father (God)is through Jesus. Those religions who believe in God and reject Jesus do not offer a path to salvation. All of this is in the context of how we should live our lives as Christians. James has been saying there has to be more than just a profession of faith but it must produce fruit, in other words we have not been given the option of just pew warming.

John the Baptist put it on another way when he said I baptise you with water (which was not a baptism of salvation but of repentance)but another is coming who will baptise you not only with water but with the spirit and with fire. he anticipated that there was more