Faith - Faith vs. Works

Grow In Christ>>101-level Topics>>Faith>>Faith Vs Works

Genuine and Active Faith

Part III - Faith vs. Works

Article Posted: August 31, 2004

Throughout its many articles, Grow in Christ argues that faith in Jesus Christ is the only path to Heaven. Salvation can not be earned. Outside of Jesus Christ, no human, through his/her own efforts, can ever meet God's perfect standards for purity and justice. Yet, James 2:14-26 declares that works (good deeds) must accompany faith for that faith to have meaning. Do James' arguments contradict Paul's statement in Ephesians 2:8-9? Do human works actually play some role in the plan of salvation? That is the question this article seeks to answer.

Here, Paul is making his appeal to legalists. These are people who believe that they can be justified in God's view by following every aspect of God's law. In other words, legalists believe that they can earn their way to heaven by their works. The following passage represents one of many in which Paul condemns this earn-your-way-to-heaven approach to salvation.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.	Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

James is not promoting the idea that human works provide salvation. He simply explains how appropriate human works demonstrate and express genuine faith. Faith is more than the mere acknowledgement of an object; faith is the degree of belief revealed by conviction in that object.

Example: A person's knowledge of the protective capabilities of handguns and bullet-proof vests does not confirm that that person is willing to place his/her trust in those capabilities. On the other hand, police officers who place their lives in harms way, confidently trusting in their weapons and vests for protection, reveal their genuine faith in those weapons.

What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.

James 2:14-17 (NASB)

Similarly, despite the firm belief held by Satan and his angels that Jesus is God's Son, these inciters of evil will certainly not be spending eternity in heaven. Their conviction leads them to oppose Christ.
You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder.	James 2:19 (NASB)

Conclusion: Salvation is not by faith and works. Rather, salvation is by faith that works.

The belief that good deeds provide salvation contradicts Jesus' reason for coming to earth. God sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for the sins of mankind. Trusting in God's work, through faith, is the only human work required.

Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

John 6:28-29 (NASB)

In accepting grace (God's generous gift of salvation), a person becomes a servant of Christ. Over time, God shapes this Christian into a rugged and trustworthy vessel—one ready to effectively carry out God's will. Human works are not performed for the sake of salvation. Rather, God works through people who have been saved by their faith in Christ.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NASB)

Those unwilling to strive to commit their lives to the Lord Jesus ought to consider just who or what the object of their faith is. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus acknowledged that His Heavenly Father had placed Him in charge of all that is in Heaven and on earth. One cannot accept Him as Savior without committing to serve Him as Lord.

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

Simply giving Jesus the label of "Lord" does not guarantee genuine acceptance of Jesus as "Lord." God knows whether or not a person's is sincere in his or her commitment to trust in Christ.

These are Jesus' words:
Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.	Matthew 7:21 (NASB)

Works publicly testify to one's faith. Since Christ's work on earth continues through willing Christians, others can come to some level of understanding of Christ through a Christian's actions. People can usually tell the difference between actions performed for the sake of personal gain and actions performed out of a genuine love for God and for others.

Jesus spoke these words:
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.	John 13:34-35 (NASB)

The Apostle Paul understood that God's excellent work is performed in, and revealed through, those who give their lives over to God for His pleasure:
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.	Romans 12:1-2 (NASB)

Paul realized the importance of his life as a vessel for the continuation of Christ's work on earth:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.	Philippians 1:21 (NASB)

Humans need tangible clues to help them to discern the genuineness of their faith. For example, a willingness to acknowledge the personal need for God's forgiveness reveals faith in the One through whom salvation is granted. Here are some of the avenues God provides to help people who desire to comprehend the nature of their faith:

The genuine Christian has a strong desire to confess Christ to others.
Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.	Matthew 10:320-33 (NASB)

One faith response God requires is repentance (turning away from a former lifestyle guided by worldly ideals in acceptance of a Christ-ruled life). By the way, simply saying, "I am sorry!" is not repentance. Repentance is an attitude, a pledge of involvement, not solely a feeling of regret.
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.	II Corinthians 7:10 (NASB)

Christian baptism beautifully illustrates and identifies one with the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. A person who refuses to be immersed reveals that person's lack of acceptance of Jesus as Lord.
Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.	Romans 6:3-4 (NASB)

Communion (a.k.a. the Lord's Supper or the Holy Eucharist) provides the Christian with an opportunity to ponder the meaning and personal impact of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross. Christian brothers and sisters come together to partake of a loaf of bread (representing Jesus' broken body) and of a cup filled with the fruit of the vine (representing Jesus's shed blood). Through a process of personal reflection, and examination of the meaning of Christ's life and sacrifice, the Christian rededicates his/her life to the faith.

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes. Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

I Corinthians 11:26-28 (NASB)

Having already obtained the gift of salvation by committing to faith in Christ, the principal goal of a Christian should be the on-going development of a high-quality, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In so doing, the Christian is living by (and growing in) his/her faith. Through prayer, Bible study, the enlistment of Christian mentors, and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Christian perpetually grows in his knowledge of God and God's will. In return for seeking and following this will, God promises Christians the joy and fulfillment that comes from answered prayers and other forms of guidance and direction.

Jesus gave this promise:
Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full.	John 16:24 (NASB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NASB)

Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

Isaiah 40:31 (NASB)

Christians are not perfect. Even those who earnestly strive to live for Christ will, at times, fail to meet God's standards for righteous living. Satan's evil influence on humanity is responsible for much of this difficulty. Fortunately, God graciously forgives sinners who are willing to admit their sinful condition. That is why Jesus had to die on the cross. Jesus paid the price for "all" sins (past, present, and future) and for "all" sinnners under the New Testament Covenant. For this reason, all who have commited their lives to serving the risen Savior can relish in the comfort of their heavenly destination.

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

I John 2:1-2 (NASB)

In review, good works do not directly provide salvation. Rather, they reveal the faith in God's grace, through which salvation is provided. Although God knows the intent of each person's heart, humans need the revelations of faith that works provide in order to discern Christian faith from mere belief. Specifically, people often come to know Christ through the actions of devout Christians. Furthermore, God gives humans certain works (i.e. belief, repentance, confession, baptism, communion) in order to aid them in comprehending their own faith.

While eternal life is the ultimate prize for the Christian, continuing Christ's work on earth until His return should remain the Christian's primary objective. Committing to Christ in this way reveals the type of belief in Jesus Christ with which God is pleased.