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DOCTRINAL CHALLENGE

by linzy bruno
8/30/2021 / Christian Apologetics

WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, but why then does nearly all of James 2 teach that our faith is dead without works?

And inasmuch as we are saved by God's Grace and His Grace alone, what does James 2 mean? Isn't it a contradiction?

Absolutely NOT, James 2 does most certainly not contradict the passage in Ephesians that reminds us that we are not and cannot be saved by our own works.

With all the falsity floating around concerning salvation, it seems apparent that these passages are vastly different, however, when given a closer look, we can see that they fit together seamlessly.

No matter how many good works we do, or how selflessly we devote ourselves to charity, or how many inspiring articles we pen, these good works cannot save us, as only Jesus Christ, our Lord can save.

So then what is one to think about that? Does that imply that we spend all our free time sitting around relaxing; doing whatever we please and tell ourselves not to worry because we said the salvation prayer? NO!

James 2:20 tells us that faith without works is indeed dead--

"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"

BUT, wait a minute, what does the entire passage say? We should make certain of the context of this verse by looking at those surrounding verses; perhaps then we'll understand the complete meaning and make sense of it if we put it alongside the so-called contradicting verses in Ehpesians.

Here is the entire passage in James.....

Faith Without Works Is Dead

"14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

So then, what should we say is the complete concept here? If we truly love the Lord and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, then we will be like a new creature:

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." (2Corinthians 5:17)

This verse makes it crystal clear; when we give our lives to Christ, He comes in and cleans up after our sloppy lives and suddenly we no longer want to do the things we used to enjoy. We start to see our own sin and hate it and we begin to work with God's Spirit to make the necessary changes He wants to make in us. We don't actually do anything. All we have to do is not resist, just simply allow God to have His Way in every aspect of our lives--

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Hence, our unfeigned love for God and others become the motive and we begin to crave what God would have us to crave: obedience to what His Spirit Commands and personal leadings. Consequently, we do begin doing all sorts of good things; we love our neighbor like we love ourselves. We feel a strong urge to help others. We begin to pray more selflessly. We cannot ignore the needy and when we can we bless our friends and even our enemies, we do so. In short, love becomes our motivator, 1Corinthians 14:16.

The verses on works in James are like a mirror for those who are truly in Christ. They reflect doing God's Good Pleasure and encourage us to keep it up, which is also an example for anyone who is confused as to how good works are defined. Responding to the overflow of love that God imputes into our hearts is a righteous thing and should be declared as such. For this is not likened to works of the flesh; things we do apart from God in a legalistic manner (which can lead one to act as though God can be manipulated). But as works of love and obedience which overflow from the love God imputes into our hearts!

In order to rightly divide the Word of Truth, it's important to understand James 2:20 and how it most certainly does not contradict Ephesians 2:8-10--

"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)

Only Jesus can save us.....

We cannot save ourselves; (if we could, we wouldn't need JESUS!) BUT, after that, when life continues, do we continue behaving like we did before we were saved? Not if we are truly saved. For the Holy Spirit changes us and conforms us into the Image of Christ. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit changes us and we no longer love our sin, but instead, find ourselves loving God more and more that we love people more as well, Mark 12:31b. Serving mankind becomes a pleasure, rather than a chore and/or obligation......

To conclude, therein lies the seamless connection.

One last Scriptural case-in-point is that when we meet the Lord, He will judge us in accordance with our works--

"And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books." (Revelation 20:12)

NKJV

Linzy has been writing for many years; seriously since her 3 kids were still young and inspirational. She has taken 2 courses in Bible studies and completed "Four Soils" Bible study course in a 26-month period; earning her certification in Bible Counselling.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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