Rightly Dividing The Word Of Truth

I had to smile when I read your post. There are a total of 14 tribes in Israel as follows:

1) Reuben (Gen. 29:32) by Leah
2) Simeon (Gen. 29:33) by Leah
3) Levi (Gen. 29:34) by Leah
4) Judah (Gen. 29:35) by Leah
5) Dan (Gen. 30:6) proxy by Rachael
6) Naphtali (Gen. 30:8) proxy by Rachael
7) Gad (Gen. 30:11) proxy by Leah
8) Asher (Gen. 30:13) proxy by Leah
9) Issachar (Gen. 30:18) by Leah
10) Zebulun (Gen. 30:20) by Leah
11) Joseph (Gen. 30:24) by Rachel
12) Benjamin (Gen. 35:18) by Rachael
13) Ephraim (Gen. 48:5) adoption by Rachael
14) Manasseh (Gen 48:5) adoption by Rachael

In Revelation Chapter 7, John lists twelve of these tribes but leaves out Dan, and Ephraim both of whom are from Rachael. In the classic sense however, the two adopted tribes are not counted. Nevertheless, when the kingdom of Israel split, Ephraim was the dominant tribe of the northern part of the kingdom. Thus, the two halves of the kingdom were called Ephraim and Judah. There was such enmity between the two kingdoms that at one point Ephraim conspired with Syria to overtake Judah (Isa. 7).

It should also be noted that Levi was the priesthood tribe and was dispersed among the other tribes, and Benjamin was destroyed to near extinction. It perhaps would have been easier for John to have left these two out of the Rev. 7 count; but he kept them in for some unknown purpose.

To suggest that these tribes somehow disappeared is to satisfy a preconceived doctrine. Paul himself was of Benjamin (Romans 11:1) showing that the tribes were accounted for during the time of Christ. Thus, two tribes were in Judah and ten tribes were in Ephraim and two tribes were not counted thereby holding to the classical count of twelve (ie. Rev. 7).

It should be easy to see that when James wrote, there were 12 tribes in the Assyrian dispersion and two tribes remained in the land of Israel. Later at 70 AD the remaining two tribes were dispersed by the Romans. There is also one technical point with reference to the tribe of Levi. Although this tribe was in the Assyrian dispersion, it also remained in Judah (Acts. 4:36). Again, the reason was that the tribe of Levi was dispersed among all the tribes of Israel so that all would benefit from the priesthood. 

So since the general consensus here is that R.D. is wrong; the whole Bible was written to me, a gentile. ( i.e. I am the audience for the entire Word of God )

I am to:
Ignore all verses where a direct audience was clearly defined and written. (I'll use a black marker, or pen to scratch through them)
Especially Matthew 15:24

So if I want to enter the Kingdom:
I must follow the commandments of the law given to Moses (Mark 10:17-22 )
I must sell everything I own and give to the poor (Mark 10:17-22) & (Acts 4 - Sell everything and share it with the community)
I also have to be more righteous than the scribes and the Pharisees with the law (Matthew 5:17-20 )


Is this right?

James 2:21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

-----> "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." <--------

Remember...
James 1:1 1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

"The directions to give everything away was to reveal where that man's heart was. To point right to his idol."
This is an incorrect.

“Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 

Without justification, you are found guilty of the law.  Thus you are not saved.  Period!

If you want a not guilty verdict, you MUST be justified in the law.

So which is it?
Justified by faith alone in the Gospel written of in Paul's letters to the Jew first and then Gentiles?
Or
Justified by faith + works in James' epistle to the 12 tribes of Israel?

A "Right Divider" sees the audience physically written in ink for everything given throughout the Word of God and applies those facts.
You make the assumption "that James taken as a whole says our works show our faith not that works are needed for salvation."

-----> "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." <--------