BY JPDSUMMERS24
There has been ongoing discussions and debates about faith and works. It goes as deep as making Saint Paul and Saint James contradict each other's writings. However, most people don't realize is that there is always context in verses. We cannot just pick those which goes along with our argument or premise. Let us try to review some and I hope we can all learn something from it.
In his epistle to the Ephesians, Saint Paul wrote:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--
Not because of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:8-9 (RSV)
While in his own epistle, Saint James wrote this:
"What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."
James 2:14, 24 (RSV)
Just based on these verses, it might seem that Saint Paul preaches that faith can save without works while Saint James says without works, you cannot be saved nor justified. But do they really contradict each other?
Let us remember:
"All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them."
Proverbs 8:8 (RSV)
"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,"
II Timothy 3:16 (RSV)
There is nothing twisted or crooked because the words of God are inspired by Him. So what is the case, really? Can faith save? Can works save? Going back to Ephesians, it was clearly stated that:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--"
Ephesians 2:8 (RSV)
By grace, we can be saved through faith. He did not say we can be saved through faith alone.
But let's stop right there for a moment. How about works?
"To them who, in patient continuance of good works, seek for glory and honour and incorruptibility, life eternal."
Romans 2:7 (DBY)
Surprisingly, Saint Paul also says that works can save and can actually lead you to eternal life. So, is Saint Paul contradicting himself? Or are we missing something?
Saint Paul is talking about good works. So what kind of works will not be able to save?
"Not because of works, lest any man should boast."
Ephesians 2:9 (RSV)
"Not by works done in righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,"
Titus 3:5 (ASV)
We will not be saved if it is the work we did ourselves. Why? Is there someone else needed in works besides our own selves? And why did Saint Paul write it as "good works" specifically? Our Lord Jesus Christ said:
"I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."
John 15:5 (RSV)
Apparently, all the works we did without Christ are not counted. But when we say "good works", Christ is included. In fact, if we would just continue reading the letter of Saint Paul, God was the one who prepared it for us.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God--
Not because of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Ephesians 2:8-10 (RSV)
See? Not of works, but we are created for good works. And God has equipped us for good works.
"All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
That the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
II Timothy 3:16-17 (RSV)
To make it simple: faith and good works go hand in hand. Saint Paul emphasized the importance of faith, and with it, good works are present. Saint James emphasized the importance of good works, and because of it, the faith is completed and perfected.
Here are some examples.
Both apostles used Abraham and Rahab but differ in approach and emphasis. They even quoted the same passage in the Genesis of Moses:
"And he believed the Lord; and he reckoned it to him as righteousness."
Genesis 15:6 (RSV)
Check this out:
"What then shall we say about Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.
For what does the scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.
Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.
And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness."
Romans 4:1-5 (RSV)
Let us take note that Saint Paul did not use the term "good works". He just used "works" to imply that if Abraham did things on his own, he has something to boast about. His emphasis is on "Abraham believed in God". In other translations -
"What does the scripture say? Abraham had faith in God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."
Romans 4:3 (CEB)
"Abraham had faith in God" - which conforms with the very definition of the Greek word "pisteuĊ" (G4100) - to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing). This Greek word is in relation with "pistis" (G4102) which means faith.
Here's the approach of Saint James:
"Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar?
You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works,
And the scripture was fulfilled which says, Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness; and he was called the friend of God.
You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."
James 2:21-24 (RSV)
While Saint Paul's emphasis is on faith, Saint James' is on good works. Saint James did not use the term "good works" because in context of his letter, he was not talking about other kinds of works.
One of the good works that Abraham did to complete his faith was offering his son Isaac upon the altar.
And just the same, Saint James accentuated on the good works of Rahab.
"And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?"
James 2:25 (RSV)
By doing good works, Rahab's faith was completed. And she did it when she helped the messengers or spies of Joshua. On the other hand, Saint Paul stressed that Rahab did those things because of her faith.
"By faith Rahab the harlot did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given friendly welcome to the spies."
Hebrews 11:31
Also, let us not be confused between "save" and "justify". A person is not saved if he is not justified. And a person is not justified if he is not saved. It might not be used interchangably, but it is synonymous to a person's deliverance.
"For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved."
Romans 10:10 (RSV)
Speaking of salvation, let us know what kind of God is the God written in the Bible.
"This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."
I Timothy 2:3-4 (RSV)
God wants all people to be saved, regardless if the person is a believer or not - regardless if that person has faith or not.
"For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."
I Timothy 4:10 (RSV)
Do we have proof that God can save and/or justify people without faith? Let us read:
"For when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves;
In that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them;"
Romans 2:14-15 (ASV)
Saint Paul put the Gentiles as an example. Gentiles have not heard any law so they will be judged according to their conscience and thoughts because there is law written in their hearts. This is also based on the writings of prophet Jeremiah which Saint Paul quoted on his epistle to the Hebrews:
"But this is the covenant which I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Jeremiah 31:33 (RSV)
"This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,"
Hebrews 10:16 (RSV)
We can also be sure that those Gentiles Saint Paul was talking about have no faith. Those Gentiles have not heard any laws whatsoever in their lives.
"So how can they call on someone they don’t have faith in? And how can they have faith in someone they haven’t heard of? And how can they hear without a preacher?"
Romans 10:14 (CEB)
"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
Romans 10:17 (KJV)
If faith comes from hearing the word of God, how can the Gentiles have faith in someone they haven’t heard of?
But they can still be saved and justified. Because if a person has not acquired faith yet, God can save him in other ways.
"For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified."
Romans 2:13 (RSV)
Even if you heard the law, but you did not obey, you will not be justified. But if you did not heard the law and you are doing the things of the law (written in your heart), you will be justified. This is also stated by Saint James and even Christ Himself.
"And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand;
And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it."
Matthew 7:26-27 (RSV)
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror;"
James 1:22-23 (RSV)
If you have not acquired faith, you can be saved by your good works. But if you already heard the word of God, the good works are also needed to complete your faith.
Now, even if you have faith but don't have the opportunity to do good works, God is gracious to also save and justify you. One great example is the thief or criminal crucified beside Jesus. He believed and he was saved.
"And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
And he said to him, Truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in Paradise."
Luke 23:42-43 (RSV)
The thief believed but does not have any opportunity to do good works, yet Jesus saved him. God has the power to call the things that are not, as though they were.
"As it is written, A father of many nations have I made thee before him whom he believed, even God, who giveth life to the dead, and calleth the things that are not, as though they were."
Romans 4:17 (RSV)
Even if you were not able to finish what you did, because of unforeseen circumstances, God sees it as though you have completed it already. Just like what Abraham did to his son Isaac.
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer up his only son,
Of whom it was said, Through Isaac shall your descendants be named.
He considered that God was able to raise men even from the dead; hence, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."
Hebrews 11:17-19
In reality, Abraham was not able to kill and offer Isaac. Here's the account written by Moses:
"When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood.
Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham! And he said, Here am I.
He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.
And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns; and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son."
Genesis 22:9-13 (RSV)
Abraham had a ram replace Isaac to be offered to God. And even though the offering of Isaac was not finished, and the offering was replaced, it was still recorded that Abraham had sacrificed his own son.
Let us not be deceived that if we acquired faith, we no longer need to do good works. The thief had no opportunity at that time so let us not make that as an excuse. Saint Paul tells us:
"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-10 (NKJV)
Let us remember, God has variety of ways to save and justify us. Let us not put salvation into a box, believe that we can only be saved through faith alone and make excuses of things written that is not applicable to us. God, by His grace, can save us both through faith and/or good works because they go hand in hand.
~ JPDSummers24 ~
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