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Do James 2 and Romans 3 Contradict on Faith and Works? | Straight Bible Q&A
Season 4
Episode 18
Published 2 months, 2 weeks ago
Description
Do James 2:24 and Romans 3:28 contradict on faith and works? Plus viewer questions from the July 17, 2026 live Q&A on Genesis 1 and 2, tithing, Numbers 16 and more.
Straight Bible Q&A, hosted by Matt Hepner and TopLobsta.
James 2:24 says "by works a man is justified, and not by faith only," and Romans 3:28 says "a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Matt answers that Romans 3 is about works of the law, while James 2 is about works of faith: Abraham offering Isaac and Rahab receiving the messengers, and neither of them was under the law. There is no smoke without a fire. "For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works," yet "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Other questions: should pastors be paid, should Christians tithe 10%, was Job before Adam (Genesis 1 and 2), the scariest prophecies (Luke 4; Isaiah 61), was Jesus heard in Gethsemane (Hebrews 5:7), Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16), eternal rewards and salvation, non-canonical books, leaving your church, asking angels for help (Acts 12), David's census (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21), why God put the tree in the garden, the book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers 21), alcohol, and whether a registered sex offender can be a lead pastor (1 Thessalonians 5).
Questions answered
- Should pastors be paid? (5:47)
- Should Christians tithe 10%? (33:38)
- Was Job before Adam? (41:30)
- Do James 2 and Romans 3 contradict on faith and works? (56:51)
- Can we ask angels for help? (1:47:56)
- Why was David's census a sin? (1:59:59)
- Why did God put the tree in the garden? (2:12:24)
- Should Christians drink alcohol? (2:41:04)
Previous Q&A (July 6, 2026): https://youtu.be/PL5dK2VfPwk
Next Q&A (July 31, 2026): https://youtu.be/NYKMpatfbA8
Straight Bible Q&A playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playli...
Watch, listen and read
Episodes: https://straightbible.org/epis...
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere podcasts are available.
Chapters
0:00 Does Winning a Debate Make It True?
5:47 Should Pastors Be Paid?
10:47 Viewer Q&A: How Did Jess Know Matt Was the One?
23:41 Why Do Boomers Act the Way They Do?
33:38 Should Christians Tithe 10%?
41:30 Was Job Before Adam? Genesis 1 and 2
51:53 Which Prophet Has the Scariest Prophecies? (Luke 4; Isaiah 61)
56:51 Do James 2 and Romans 3 Contradict?
1:00:46 Was Jesus Heard in Gethsemane? (Hebrews 5, Verse 7)
1:02:03 Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16)
1:03:30 A Believing Mother Living in Adultery (1 Corinthians 5)
1:13:53 Are Eternal Rewards Separate From Salvation?
1:18:19 Should You Read Non-Canonical Books?
1:22:19 Should I Leave My Church?
1:26:07 What's the Deal With the Baptist Church?
1:30:26 A Study on the Armor of God?
1:32:30 Why Did Jesus Ascend Before the Holy Spirit Came?
1:34:04 Israel, the Old Testament and the Church
1:47:56 Can We Ask Angels for Help? (Acts 12)
1:59:59 Why Was David's Census a Sin? (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21)
2:12:24 Why Did God Put the Tree in the Garden?
2:19:49 Who Was the Other Disciple? (John 18)
2:21:13 Do You Need to Be Baptized Again?
2:23:00 How Do I Know the Holy Spirit Is Leading Me?
2:31:21 What Is the Book of the Wars of the Lord? (Numbers 21)
2:36:41 Split-Faith Households
2:40:04 Visiting a Hostile Family Member
2:41:04 Should
Straight Bible Q&A, hosted by Matt Hepner and TopLobsta.
James 2:24 says "by works a man is justified, and not by faith only," and Romans 3:28 says "a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Matt answers that Romans 3 is about works of the law, while James 2 is about works of faith: Abraham offering Isaac and Rahab receiving the messengers, and neither of them was under the law. There is no smoke without a fire. "For by grace are ye saved through faith... Not of works," yet "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Other questions: should pastors be paid, should Christians tithe 10%, was Job before Adam (Genesis 1 and 2), the scariest prophecies (Luke 4; Isaiah 61), was Jesus heard in Gethsemane (Hebrews 5:7), Korah's rebellion (Numbers 16), eternal rewards and salvation, non-canonical books, leaving your church, asking angels for help (Acts 12), David's census (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21), why God put the tree in the garden, the book of the wars of the Lord (Numbers 21), alcohol, and whether a registered sex offender can be a lead pastor (1 Thessalonians 5).
Questions answered
- Should pastors be paid? (5:47)
- Should Christians tithe 10%? (33:38)
- Was Job before Adam? (41:30)
- Do James 2 and Romans 3 contradict on faith and works? (56:51)
- Can we ask angels for help? (1:47:56)
- Why was David's census a sin? (1:59:59)
- Why did God put the tree in the garden? (2:12:24)
- Should Christians drink alcohol? (2:41:04)
Previous Q&A (July 6, 2026): https://youtu.be/PL5dK2VfPwk
Next Q&A (July 31, 2026): https://youtu.be/NYKMpatfbA8
Straight Bible Q&A playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playli...
Watch, listen and read
Episodes: https://straightbible.org/epis...
Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere podcasts are available.
Chapters
0:00 Does Winning a Debate Make It True?
5:47 Should Pastors Be Paid?
10:47 Viewer Q&A: How Did Jess Know Matt Was the One?
23:41 Why Do Boomers Act the Way They Do?
33:38 Should Christians Tithe 10%?
41:30 Was Job Before Adam? Genesis 1 and 2
51:53 Which Prophet Has the Scariest Prophecies? (Luke 4; Isaiah 61)
56:51 Do James 2 and Romans 3 Contradict?
1:00:46 Was Jesus Heard in Gethsemane? (Hebrews 5, Verse 7)
1:02:03 Korah's Rebellion (Numbers 16)
1:03:30 A Believing Mother Living in Adultery (1 Corinthians 5)
1:13:53 Are Eternal Rewards Separate From Salvation?
1:18:19 Should You Read Non-Canonical Books?
1:22:19 Should I Leave My Church?
1:26:07 What's the Deal With the Baptist Church?
1:30:26 A Study on the Armor of God?
1:32:30 Why Did Jesus Ascend Before the Holy Spirit Came?
1:34:04 Israel, the Old Testament and the Church
1:47:56 Can We Ask Angels for Help? (Acts 12)
1:59:59 Why Was David's Census a Sin? (2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21)
2:12:24 Why Did God Put the Tree in the Garden?
2:19:49 Who Was the Other Disciple? (John 18)
2:21:13 Do You Need to Be Baptized Again?
2:23:00 How Do I Know the Holy Spirit Is Leading Me?
2:31:21 What Is the Book of the Wars of the Lord? (Numbers 21)
2:36:41 Split-Faith Households
2:40:04 Visiting a Hostile Family Member
2:41:04 Should