Contradiction with Romans 3:10
States that there is none righteous, no, not one, suggesting that drawing near to God through purification is not possible.
Romans 3:10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Contradiction with Jeremiah 17:9
Describes the heart as deceitful and desperately wicked, implying that humans cannot truly purify their hearts as James 4:8 suggests.
Jeremiah 17:9: The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Contradiction with Isaiah 64:6
Claims all our righteous acts are like filthy rags, contradicting the idea that we can cleanse ourselves to draw closer to God.
Isaiah 64:6: But we are all as an unclean [thing], and all our righteousnesses [are] as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Paradox #1
The potential contradiction or inconsistency in "James 4:8" could be the expectation for humans to always be morally clean or pure. Some people might feel that despite trying their best, they sometimes still make mistakes or don't live up to the standard of being "pure" in heart or actions. This expectation may seem at odds with the idea of human imperfection, leading to feelings of guilt or inadequacy.