"They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works..." (Titus 1:16, HCSB).
"Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds' ... You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete" (James 2: 18, 22, NLT).
It is our natural inclination to believe that our works must count for something to gain the approbation of God; however, you never know in a works religion--God doesn't grade on a curve and the only way to be saved is by grace, not merit, which works imply. The Bible is not against works, just those done in the flesh, for man cannot please God in the flesh (cf. Rom. 8:8). All our righteous deeds are as filthy rags or useful for nothing (cf. Isa. 64:6).
All of the works of a believer are done by letting Christ live through him and He gets the credit, as we are just vessels of honor (Isa. 26:12). Paul, himself, would venture to boast of nothing, except what Christ had accomplished through him (cf. Rom. 15:18). We are not saved by works, but unto works, as Eph. 2:10 says "unto good works." We are not saved by works, but we are also not saved without them: Paul would say that he'll show you his works by his faith; while James would tell you that he'll show you his faith by his works. The two, are distinguished and inseparable, and they cannot be divorced.
All coins have a flip side and can be seen in a twofold manner. Antinomians believe we are saved by faith, but that works do not necessarily follow, so they say that faith equals salvation minus works. On the other hand, the Reformers taught that we are indeed saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone--true faith always generates good works as validation. Having no works is equal to no faith, just like a branch without fruit--YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS (cf. Matt. 7:16). Faith must have fruit, for this is the reason we are saved, and no fruit means no faith.
Many think that works are a substitute for faith, but they are the evidence of it! The problem with some sincere people is that they are "incurably addicted to doing something for their salvation," (according to Charles Swindoll), but the work of God is to believe in Christ (cf. John 6:29). Works are indeed important in their own right because we are judged and rewarded for them, not our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6). There are two issues concerning do-gooders, or those enamored with good works: some cannot do enough because they put their faith in their works, not in Christ; while others are too confident in their faith that they think they don't need good works.
The Reformed formula for salvation is that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone; nonproductive or dead faith doesn't save. James says, "Can that faith save?" It should be noted that we can only do God's work by God's power, for Christ said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (cf. John 15:5). Our good deeds are meant to show our faith and to win over others as Jesus said in Matt. 5:16, ESV: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
The problems encountered with some who do good works are that you can have works without faith--but not faith without works--each must examine himself. We all need to put our faith into action because the faith you have is the faith you show! We turn our faith into deeds or translate creeds into deeds, you might say--seeing we are not saved by knowing a creed, but knowing a person. We are all called into the service of our Lord, and we are not saved by our service, but unto service! The only true measure of faith is obedience as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."
Living the good life really amounts to abundant life in Christ, doing His will for your life, and serving in whatever capacity you are equipped to do by talent, gift, resources, opportunities, relationships, time, and circumstances. The whole purpose of good works is that they give proof of our salvation, for without them our faith is suspect. Theologically, faith and works are distinguished, but not separated--juxtaposed. But works are the result, and outcome of faith, not the cause of it or part of it; we are not saved by faith and works, which is legalism, but by faith alone, but only a faith that is productive. We do good works because we want to--not because we have to.
In summation, it boils down to the two viewpoints (Paul's and James's): Paul teaches that works must spring from faith; James teaches that faith must be proved by works!
"Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds' ... You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete" (James 2: 18, 22, NLT).
There are four contradistinctions: Works equal salvation (religion); works plus faith equals salvation (legalism); faith equals salvation minus works (antinomianism), and faith equals salvation plus works (Reformed and evangelical theology).
It is our natural inclination to believe that our works must count for something to gain the approbation of God; however, you never know in a works religion--God doesn't grade on a curve and the only way to be saved is by grace, not merit, which works imply. The Bible is not against works, just those done in the flesh, for man cannot please God in the flesh (cf. Rom. 8:8). All our righteous deeds are as filthy rags or useful for nothing (cf. Isa. 64:6).
All of the works of a believer are done by letting Christ live through him and He gets the credit, as we are just vessels of honor (Isa. 26:12). Paul, himself, would venture to boast of nothing, except what Christ had accomplished through him (cf. Rom. 15:18). We are not saved by works, but unto works, as Eph. 2:10 says "unto good works." We are not saved by works, but we are also not saved without them: Paul would say that he'll show you his works by his faith; while James would tell you that he'll show you his faith by his works. The two, are distinguished and inseparable, and they cannot be divorced.
All coins have a flip side and can be seen in a twofold manner. Antinomians believe we are saved by faith, but that works do not necessarily follow, so they say that faith equals salvation minus works. On the other hand, the Reformers taught that we are indeed saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone--true faith always generates good works as validation. Having no works is equal to no faith, just like a branch without fruit--YOU SHALL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS (cf. Matt. 7:16). Faith must have fruit, for this is the reason we are saved, and no fruit means no faith.
Many think that works are a substitute for faith, but they are the evidence of it! The problem with some sincere people is that they are "incurably addicted to doing something for their salvation," (according to Charles Swindoll), but the work of God is to believe in Christ (cf. John 6:29). Works are indeed important in their own right because we are judged and rewarded for them, not our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6). There are two issues concerning do-gooders, or those enamored with good works: some cannot do enough because they put their faith in their works, not in Christ; while others are too confident in their faith that they think they don't need good works.
The Reformed formula for salvation is that we are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone; nonproductive or dead faith doesn't save. James says, "Can that faith save?" It should be noted that we can only do God's work by God's power, for Christ said, "Apart from me you can do nothing" (cf. John 15:5). Our good deeds are meant to show our faith and to win over others as Jesus said in Matt. 5:16, ESV: "In the same way, let your light shine before men, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."
The problems encountered with some who do good works are that you can have works without faith--but not faith without works--each must examine himself. We all need to put our faith into action because the faith you have is the faith you show! We turn our faith into deeds or translate creeds into deeds, you might say--seeing we are not saved by knowing a creed, but knowing a person. We are all called into the service of our Lord, and we are not saved by our service, but unto service! The only true measure of faith is obedience as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."
Living the good life really amounts to abundant life in Christ, doing His will for your life, and serving in whatever capacity you are equipped to do by talent, gift, resources, opportunities, relationships, time, and circumstances. The whole purpose of good works is that they give proof of our salvation, for without them our faith is suspect. Theologically, faith and works are distinguished, but not separated--juxtaposed. But works are the result, and outcome of faith, not the cause of it or part of it; we are not saved by faith and works, which is legalism, but by faith alone, but only a faith that is productive. We do good works because we want to--not because we have to.
In summation, it boils down to the two viewpoints (Paul's and James's): Paul teaches that works must spring from faith; James teaches that faith must be proved by works!
THEREFORE, YOU ARE NOT SAVED BY (BECAUSE OF) YOUR GOOD BEHAVIOR, BUT UNTO (FOR THE PURPOSE OF) GOOD BEHAVIOR! TO BE BLUNT: TRUE FAITH EXPRESSES ITSELF. Soli Deo Gloria!
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