What happens when two Bible authors go to battle on a subject? This is the attitude we approach Paul’s declaration that we are justified by faith and James’ declaration that we are justified by works.
As they used to say in the UFC… Are you ready? Are you ready? Let’s get it on!
Faith vs Works
The Bible Passage: Justified by Faith
There’s more than just one, but allow me to quote just one for our purposes…
Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
The Bible Passage: Justified by Works
There’s also more than just one for this one, at least more than one that express this idea, but here’s the major one…
James 2:24 “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”
Typical Approach to Faith vs Works
Typically the Bible teacher will take the seemingly opposing ideas and seek to resolve them by showing how true faith leads to works. The idea is that if you have true faith, it will naturally lead you to works. Case closed.
This is where the discussion, along with some other proof texts, is halted. Simply faith leads to works.
Now, I think that argument is valid AND true, however, I don’t think it takes the discussion far enough.
So allow me to take it a little further.
Why Faith Without Works Really is Dead
Salvation Brings the Holy Spirit
You will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…
This conversation typically focuses on the moment of salvation, or the justification of the sinner. This makes sense since both verses declare that faith justifies and works justifies.
But the thing I don’t see in this conversation is the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit in the justified person. Surely, once someone is saved, they are given the gift of salvation and the gift of the Holy Spirit who changes them, brings fruit from within them, and compels them to works.
Producing Fruit is Evidence of Justification
Jesus gave the disciples a powerful word picture (you can read it in John 15) about how He is the vine and His followers are the branches. The gardener (or vinedresser) is the Father and He evaluates the condition of the branches and sees if they are producing fruit. Jesus says that we must stay connected because if we don’t, we’ll be cut off and thrown into the fire (His words, not mine).
In other words, if the branch doesn’t produce fruit (like it was meant to do), it is dead and subsequently cut off from the vine.
Like the branch, Christians (and I think this was the point Jesus was making) are meant to have fruit come from their lives. They are not the source of the fruit (that is the vine’s job), however the branch is the place the fruit is manifested.
The New Testament Pattern for Life Change
Jesus = Justification
Jesus’ sacrifice and resurrection open the door for us having the opportunity to be justified by His blood. It is by His wounds that we are healed! Every ounce, speck, and glimmer of sin that plagued our lives was paid for at the cross of Christ. Nothing was left on the ground, it was all nailed to that cross.[shareable]Every ounce, speck, and glimmer of sin that plagued our lives was paid for at the cross of Christ.[/shareable]
Holy Spirit = Sanctification
Forgive me for using these weird theological terms. Allow me to explain very simply – sanctification is the process we go through in becoming holy, by the power of God’s Spirit. What results? The fruits of the Spirit.
Good works.
Faith vs Works, Faith Without Works
Allow us to not see these two things as opposing ideas. James understood the fact that a saved person is on a journey of sanctification and will naturally, by the power of the Holy Spirit, produce fruit (works). And those works (fruit) will have been propelled by the saved person’s faith in God.
If you have faith, but no works, there’s a problem. It’s an error in the system of life change. It’s like a branch that isn’t producing fruit coming from a vine that is full of life. It doesn’t make any sense, does it?
That, I think, is James’ point.
What Do You Think?
I’d love to hear your view on this subject. Comment below or let me know on Facebook or Twitter.
