Expert: Rev C.Brian Ross - 1/5/2012

Question
QUESTION: Hello Rev C.Brian Ross,

I have a question for your concerning James 2:14-26 - especially verse 24.

I ran into this website article, here: http://www.realchristian.net/savedbyfaithalone.html, where the writer says we are not saved by faith alone, but by faith AND works. The writer uses James 2:24 as their main support for this.

But what about Ephesians 2:8-9 which says that salvation is a gift of God, by grace through faith, and NOT by works! Also in the beginning of Romans, Paul spends a lot of time on faith, but less time on works.

Now I always thought that we are saved by God's grace through faith. Our works are evidence of that faith - the works themselves are not what saves us (not even PART OF that saving). I get this from James 2:17 (which says "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.") Besides, the context surrounding James Chapter 2 verse 24 seems to indicate not that we are saved by our works, but that faith without works is dead. One with living faith will display works but one with dead, useless faith will display no works.

So are we saved by faith or by faith plus works?

Thanks,
Tressa

ANSWER: Hi Tressa - and a very happy New Year to you.  :-)

Many folk have tried to put the words of Paul, in Eph.2:8-9, in contrast to the words of James, in James 2:24, in order to show (as they would put it!) that the Bible is "full of contradictions"!   However, God the Holy Spirit does not make mistakes.  These two passages are most definitely NOT in contradiction of one another, but are complementary to one another.

The problem is, as I suspect I mentioned to you before, one of taking words out of context.  If we look at the James passage, it actually states that "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone." (RSV).  Note that James is <b>not<b> speaking about salvation, but justification.  He also makes it clear that he is not setting faith <b>against<b> works, but showing that faith must be outworked.  It is not sufficient to claim faith on its own!

In the Pauline passage, we find the same thing - provided we read on to v.10 (and remember, Paul did not write his letters in chapters and verses any more than you or I would.  These are merely a fairly recent innovation that allows us to refer to a particluar passage with more ease!).  So, we read: "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, <b>created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them<b>." (RSV)  In other words, even Paul is not suggesting that faith is all that is required to live out the Christian life; only that it is WHAT is required for salvation.

Neither Paul, nor James, would have suggested that we may 'work' our way TO salvation.  Both would affirm that our salvation is confirmed by the works following!

This connection between faith and works is seen, also, in the words of the Lord Jesus, Himself.  For example: "This is the work of God, that you believe [have faith] in Him whom He has sent." (John 6:29;RSV)   "Believe [Have faith in] Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe [have faith in] Me for the sake of the works themselves." (John 14:11;RSV).

I trust that the above will make sense to you, and that it will allay any fears that the other writer may have raised.  As always, if you wish.need to do so, please do not hesitate to come back with a supplementary question!

Blessings, and shalom.

C.Brian Ross (Rev)




   


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello again Rev. Ross,

Thanks for answering so quickly! However your answer has raised another question for me: does all of this tie into Matthew 7:21? "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter." When it says the will of the Father there, is it referring to the very thing James and Paul talk about? A dead faith that results in no works and is thus useless?

Thanks,
Tressa

Answer
Hi, again, Tressa!

You are absolutely correct in what you suggest.  When I taught in a Scottish Secondary School (ages 11-18), I would often point out to my pupils that 'talk is cheap'.  I am in the happy situation of being reasonably articulate; I have a good command of the English language; and my vocal chords are in excellent condition.  I can, therefore, make all sorts of claims.  "I am the richest man in the world"; "I am the king of Siam"; "I am a government spy on a special mission."  Now, it so happens that not one of those claims is even remotely true!   But I can make them!

The way in which you might check out those claims is by watching me, not just listening to me.  If you discover that I live in a £10million mansion set in 100 acres of prime real estate; that I have a number of expensive cars - Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, etc.; that I own properties in all of the most exotic places on the globe; that I have a multi-million pound, fully-crewed, ocean-going cruiser; that all of my clothes are hand-made in Saville Row, London; that my food is all delivered from Harrod's; etc., etc., then you might be persuaded that I am, indeed, the richest man in the world.  However, if you see my relatively modest, single, home; my equally modest, single, car; the number of items of food in my kitchen that are purchased, at a reduced price, because they are about to pass their recommended 'Sell By' date; the clothes that have come from Charity shops; etc., etc., then you would be quite right to question my claim.  (I'll let you work out the detail of the other claims, yourself!!!)

Likewise, if I tell you that I am a disciple of Jesus, but you discover that I never read (let alone study!) my Bible; that I never pray; that I never attend a worship service (except, perhaps, the annual Christmas Watchnight one!); that I do not tithe my income, and add a love-gift to that; that I am constantly fighting - physically, or verbally - with my wife; that I am having an affair with my secretary; etc., etc., than you have every right to question my claim.

Of course, the reverse is also true.  I may be living the most upright, honourable, respectable lifestyle imaginable but, if I have never made that conscious commitment to the Lord Jesus, in repentance and faith, then I am still not His.

I hope that this is of some help.

Keep them coming!!!!

Every blessing.

C.Brian Ross (Rev)

PS You might find my audio-blog to be of some passing interest. It's where I have some live, and some studio, recordings of messages that I have preached, and is at www.revcbross.blogspot.com     I think that I have given the address for my main blog as part of the automatic signature to my answers!!!!   CBR