Faith And Works

What Does The Bible Say About Faith And Works?
Did you ever try to row a boat with only one oar? Regardless of which one you use, you
will merely go around in circles.

Just like that, some religious people have only one oar in the water when it comes to the
matter of faith and works. They want to accept faith or works, rather than rowing with
both oars.

Many people want to make heaven by faith alone. Belief is enough for them. Their belief
neither demands commitment nor does it inconvenience them. Actually, it allows a
person to do as little as he can get by with, justifying himself by his belief and the half-
dozen passages he knows which command faith (John 3:16; Romans 5:2).

Other people depend on meeting a quota of good works and entering heaven based on
that accomplishment. Going to church, saying prayers, contributing money, and doing
other good works are done mindlessly—by force of habit—all to bring us to heaven.

We cannot be justified by one without the other.

“Faith only” is a misnomer. There can be no such thing—at least not real faith! Real faith
produces works because of the nature of faith, “Thus also faith by itself, if it is does not
have works, is dead... You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith
only.” (James 2:17,24).

If our actions are not consistent with our profession of faith, then that faith is shown to
be insipid and lifeless, “They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being
abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.” (Titus 1:16).

If works do not follow our faith, then what we have cannot really be called “faith.” “What
does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can
faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you
says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give him the things
which are needed for the body, what does it profit?” (James 2:14-16).

At the same time we cannot be justified by works alone either. It is good to do them, but
Jesus said “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which are
commanded, say ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to
do.’” (Luke 17:10).

Salvation can never be earned, even with the greatest works, “For by grace you have
been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest
anyone 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).

Thus, even though saved by grace through faith, God created us to be active in works!

It is the grace of God which brings salvation to man (Titus 2:11). But He purified us to be
a people zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). We do not earn salvation by those works
(Titus 3:5), yet He expects us to maintain good works (Titus 3:8).

As you can see, faith and works are inseparable!

Why did anyone ever think that faith and works had to be separated anyway?

One of the great heroes of Scripture—Abraham—is shown to be a prime example of
faith and works. In cooperation, these two caused him to stand justified before God.

Abraham was justified by his faith, “For if Abraham was justified by works, he has
something of which to boast, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say?
‘Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” (Romans 4:2-
3).

But the Scripture also says he was justified by his works, “Was not Abraham our father
justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was
working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect.” (James 2:21-22).

There is no contradiction!

Why is it so difficult to accept both? Perhaps because faith is easy to claim, whereas
works are tangible proofs of faith.

Whatever the reason, the worst scenario would be for us to be “up the creek without a
paddle”!

--Rob Harbison