Are Works Imperative?

There is a grand distinction between religion and Christianity: works out of a pure motive and not for applause; i.e., to ingratiate oneself or get brownie points with a deity. Christians are not "do-gooders" per se but do good deeds because they want to, not because they have to. The key is not "in order to" but "therefore." Good works logically follow a changed life, through which Christ lives. We are not saved by good works neither without them! We're not saved by good works but unto good works! (cf. Eph. 2:10). In a works religion, you never know how much is enough! Since salvation is a gift only in Christianity, the person is free to do good out of gratitude.

"...Set an example of good works yourself..." (Tit. 2:7).
Americans have fallen prey to the misconception that achieving the "American dream" is the ideal and living the "good life" is a "salvation." God requires perfection so any attempt to earn our way is in vain--we need grace and heaven is that gift which is by faith alone, but only a living faith.

Some misguided souls subscribe to the credo that since salvation is by grace alone works aren't necessary (we say that grace is necessary and sufficient and that faith is a gift according to Rom. 12:3; Acts 18:27; 2 Pet. 1:1: John 6:29; Phil 1:29; Acts 14:27). The Reformed doctrine is that salvation is "by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone." Works equaling salvation is the essence of religion and mixing works with faith for salvation is legalism. The prevalent view that grace is both necessary and sufficient--there's no place for merit) without any evidence will suffice is erroneous. This is known as Antinomianism or "no-lordship salvation."

Nota bene that if you don't have good works to "work out" or a spiritual workout (cf. Phil. 2:12) your salvation is suspect. The kind of works I am referring to is good deeds--not works of the law. We are not saved by works; but not without them either--but unto works! Works prove, validate, and authenticate, faith to others, God, as well as yourself (cf. Isa. 32:17); but are not the substitute for it. We must put our faith into action--as James would say, "The faith you have is the faith you show."

There is no irreconcilable difference between Paul and James; they saw two vantage points: Paul was dealing with those who couldn't do enough and thought the law was necessary; James was dealing with "do-nothing" libertines. Paul would say, "I'll show you my works." James would counter, "I'll show you my faith." Paul talked about being "rich in faith" (1 Tim. 6:18). James talked about being "rich in deeds" (James 2:5). James says, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, I have deeds,' Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do" (James 2:18).

Faith doesn't have a dormant or inert stage; it can't be left in mothballs! Faith and works are distinguished, but cannot be separated. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17, 26).

Our works will be judged (for reward) not our faith since faith is a gift (cf. Rom. 12:3)! We are judged according to our works, not our faith (cf. Romans 2:6; Prov. 24:12; Psalm 62:12) "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" the Bema or tribunal) (1 Cor. 3:15; 2 Cor. 5:10). "[God] 'will reward each according to what he has done'" (Rom. 2:6). Our works have to do with our testimony (Matt. 5:16; Tit. 1:16, 2:14)--"By their works they deny Him." We are to be a people "zealous of good works". We are to be "thoroughly furnished unto all good works" and "are created unto good works" (2 Tim. 3:17; Eph. 2:10).

It is important that we give glory to God (Soli Deo Gloria). "I will not venture to boast of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me" (Rom. 15:18). Jesus said, "Apart from me you can do nothing, " (cf. John 15:5). Isa. 26:12 reads, "All that we have accomplished you have done for us." The reason God blesses us is so that we can bear fruit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:8). No fruit means no faith. We are known by our fruits. We are commanded to do good works (Gal. 6:10; Phil. 2:12). Most of all the importance of it all is summed up: "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10) [Note how they are correlated.]

NB: WE ARE NOT SAVED BY WORKS, NOR WITHOUT THEM EITHER. WORKS VALIDATE FAITH AND WITHOUT THEM OUR FAITH IS SUSPECT! Soli Deo Gloria!

The Goody-Goodies

"Trust in the LORD and do good, Then you will live safely in the land and prosper"  (Psalm 37:3, NLT).  

"All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit [motive]"  (Prov. 16:2, ESV).

"Turn from evil and do good, and you will live in the land forever"  (Psalm 37:27, NLT). 

"For who sees anything different in you?  What do you have that you did not receive..." (1 Cor. 4:7, ESV).

"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one good, not even one"  (Rom. 3:12, ESV).  

"Who has given me anything that I need to pay back?  Everything under heaven in mine"  (Job 41:11, NLT).  

This is the dangerous lie of New Age worldview or mental outlook:  "You do not become good by trying to be good, but discovering the good inside."  

God alone is good by definition and He invites us to let Him authenticate Himself, as the proof of the pudding is in the eating:  "Taste and see that the LORD is good!  ..."  (Cf. Psalm 34:8).  

We are to repent in the manner of ceasing to do evil and learning to do good, but Jeremiah 13:23, NLT, says that the evil cannot do good:  "Can an Ethiopian change the color of his skin? Can a leopard take away its spots?  Neither can you start doing good, for you have always done evil." The problem in a works religion is that you never know how much is enough!  I am not against works per se, but only those done in the energy of the flesh without the Spirit's enabling.  What I mean is that you can distinguish faith and works, but you cannot separate them, God has made them go hand in hand and not to be divorced.  (Mark 10:9 says, "What God has joined together, let not man put asunder.")  Therefore, man can do nothing to please God, or gain His approbation by good behavior, but can only be used by God for His purposes.   On the other hand, a Christian is one whose mind thinks for Christ; whose heart loves for Christ; whose voice speaks for Christ; and whose hand helps for Christ.

There is no inherent goodness in man, in the Fall we have ceased to be good, but haven't ceased to be human.  Our dignity and goodness are extrinsic due to being in the image of God and we are merely enabled by the Holy Spirit to do good.  We all have feet of clay and a dark side to our character, but Jesus sees through the veneer and loves us despite this fact just the way we are.   The problem with man is that he thinks he can be good enough to be saved--au contraire, we are never good enough to be saved, but bad enough to need salvation, and we cannot know how bad we are until we've tried to be good, and we must know how bad we are to be good (the catch-22 of C. S. Lewis fame).  We are in a dilemma and under the delusion, we are good and must be convicted of our sin--man doesn't see his sin without the work of God (cf. John 16:8).

The reality is that God doesn't grade on a curve--we're all in the same boat and have fallen short of the glory of God.   Man is mistaken to compare himself with others and do not realize the majesty, glory, and goodness of God that should humble him. Of course, you may look like a saint, comparing yourself to the likes of a ruthless dictator or tyrants like the leader of North Korea, or Hitler, if you know your history!  We tend to look down on the likes of Judas and think we are much better, but George Whitefield said it best when he saw a man go to the gallows:  "There but for the grace of God, go I." To humble believers, it must be pointed out that they were not saved because they were good in any way; for nothing in them merited salvation!  In a works religion, you never know how much is enough; and the ironic thing is that "man is incurably addicted to doing something for their salvation," according to Charles Swindoll.

We are not called to be goody-two-shoes, or people who are do-gooders with an affectation or pretense (note that these are slur words and used in a derogatory manner).  Our good deeds spring from faith, as the direct fruit of the Spirit and as a result of walking with the Lord in fellowship (fulfilling all that He has ordained for us to do per Eph. 2:10).  Good deeds automatically follow saving faith and are its evidence, not its substitute.  Works are fruit, and no fruit implies no faith.  We shall know them by their fruits, by the way, and so we are fruit inspectors (cf. Matt. 7:16).

Some merely get converted to the program, not to Christ and are not spiritual at all but just out to make an impression as a people-pleaser.  We ought to do everything in the name of the Lord and to His glory, and then there will be justified reward for our efforts (note that the success is up to God). There are many do-gooders out there who have gained a reputation and name for themselves, but it cannot be rewarded due to the motive behind the deed.  Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart and sees motives (cf. Prov. 16:2; Sam. 16:7; Prov. 21:2).  We are not in a position to judge where someone is spiritually, but there are many wolves in sheep's clothing out to devour the flock and lead it astray, and their chief methodology is that they try to do good and be good without God in the equation.

There is no such thing as good without God, who alone defines goodness and is good (note that this is the essence of God and not just a description of His acts).  Our righteousness is as "filthy rags" according to Isaiah 64:6, and that means that it's useless and good for nothing. Lost man's good deeds will not be rewarded on Judgment Day, for they fall short of God's standards.  Our righteousness must be God's gift to us, not our gift to God (cf. Isa. 45:24; Hos. 14:8; Isa. 26:12; Rom. 15:18)!  We don't give God anything in our good deeds but only are used by Him as vessels of honor to bring Him His glory.  Yes, it's ironic that God rewards us for working through us!  Even if we could be good, it would profit God nothing, for He alone defines and delimits what it is. God has nothing to gain--the glory belongs to Him despite us.

The only good that counts is that done in the power of the Spirit. Remember that Jesus said that no one is good but God and we mistakenly think we are good.  Genuine saving faith produces works or it's not validated; as the Reformers taught: We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone!  Works must be the byproduct and prove the reality of faith, otherwise, it's bogus and suspects.

James says that faith without works is dead; you can have worked without faith, but not faith without works!  It must be stressed that we are not saved by works, but unto works, we are not saved by works, but not without them either!  If we had to do some good work, we'd fail! James would say that he'll show you his faith by his works, while Paul the converse:  showing you his works by faith.   Or it's also been said that Paul teaches that works must spring forth from faith and James teaches that faith must be proved by works.

Note that Jesus didn't come to make bad people good, it is said, but dead people alive!  He came to give abundant, eternal life (cf. John 10:10) in the Spirit and to share His life with us as we live for Him, not ourselves--we are never out to get the spotlight, the attention, or the applause of others, but to bring glory to Christ in all we do.  Don't celebrate or boast that you are doing something for God, but that He is using you for His glory!  If you boast, boast in the Lord, according to 1 Cor. 1:31. We are enabled by God himself;  Jesus told the disciples:  "Apart from Me you can do nothing"  (cf. John 15:5).  Elihu sums it up in Job 35:7 as follows:  "If you are good, is this some great gift to him?  What could you possibly give him?" And yet again the LORD speaks to Job in Job 40:11, saying, "Who has given me anything that I need to pay back? Everything under heaven is mine."   Soli Deo Gloria!  

Works Religion

"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).  

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!  

Faith In Action

"No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised"  (Rom. 4:20-21, ESV).  
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out ..." (Heb. 11:8, ESV).
"... The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love"  (Gal. 5:6, NIV, italics mine).


The theme of James is that "the faith you have is the faith you show!"  You may indeed have faith to move mountains, but don't just brag about it!   You can boast of great faith, but if it accomplishes zilch, what good is it?  James would say to us that he wanted to show his faith by his good deeds or works; Paul, on the other hand, would show us his works by faith--these are two complementary assertions, depending on which side of the coin you see.  James is appealing to do-nothing believers, who won't practice their faith and put it into action;  while Paul sees believers who are trying to justify themselves by the works of the law--no one shall be justified by the works of the law, but by grace through faith in Christ alone--it's not how much faith, but the direction of it per Ephesians 2:8-9.

It has been wisely put by theologians that saving faith is only manifest in obedience:  Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." Obey wholeheartedly!   We must not legalistically obey out of obligation rather than love, like Amaziah, who did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not with a whole heart (cf. 2 Chron. 25:2).  The two are correlated and what God has joined together, let not man put asunder (cf. Mark 10:9).

You can no more separate faith and works than your body and spirit--they are distinguished, but not separated--we are not a soul encased in a body, but a soul and body unified in one being, as distinguished; however, if you separate the soul and body, you're dead--likewise with faith and works. We must translate our creeds into deeds to be alive in the Spirit.  Anyone can say he has faith, and faith is not being credulous, for we don't believe in spite of the evidence--we have sound reasons to believe--but in obey despite the consequences!

Some imagine that great faith necessitates great emotion, but this is not always the case, God may withdraw feelings to see what is on your heart and to test your obedience.  Faith, then, is not walking around on some religious or spiritual "high," or around on cloud nine, but being in fellowship with God, being in touch with reality and the real world, and reacting according to God's will.  We cannot have a religious ecstasy or euphoria and walk around in its glow the rest of our lives; we must learn to grow in our relationship with Christ and in our knowledge of Him and in grace itself, in order to become vessels of honor and to live our lives in glory to Him as our purpose (cf. Isaiah 43:7).

True faith is not accepting our "fate," but walking in obedience to whatever God wills and making no plans without consulting Him.  Even David knew the pits of despair and what being downcast or having the doldrums meant, so much more must we to grow, but our victories will be all the more sweet after we know what defeat is and the price it cost Christ and the discipline it takes.


Martin Luther wondered if James was an epistle "of straw" because he thought it was teaching salvation by faith plus works.  Actually, we are saved by faith alone (though these exact words are not in the Bible, it's taught), according to the teaching of the Reformers, but not by a faith that is alone. Dead faith doesn't save and isn't profitable (cf. James 2:17,20,26), and we need a living faith--a little is a lot with God in it, implying that it grows and thrives. James aptly said that the kind of faith that doesn't produce cannot save, period!  Roman Catholics believe grace, faith, and Christ are necessary, but not sufficient--you must add merit to grace, works to faith, and the Church to Christ, not to mention adding tradition to the authority of the Word as equal validity.

We want to see faith in action in our family of believers, even as we are the ambassadors of Christ in the world, and people want to see the gospel in shoe leather, as it were, and this means the only gospel some will see is the one we live out--that's why it's paramount to practice what we preach and to keep our testimony from becoming jeopardized.

Some say that talk is cheap (we must beware of mere lip service, as in Isaiah 29:13, which Christ condemned, too), but we are called to preach the gospel not only by our lives as a witness, but in our words, and sometimes we are called to listen as the greater gift, but our testimony is fundamental: Actions can speak louder than words!

We must look for the open door to be lead by the Spirit in our witness and then it will be the Lord speaking through us as we are led by the Spirit.  Actions open the door to preaching the Word and usher us into the presence of God and the open door.  We are not to become mere do-gooders or be known as a goody-goody, but to live out the works that Christ has ordained for us that we should walk in them (cf. Eph. 2:10).  Faith, then, is not something you have, but something you show--we say, "Show me your faith!" Remember, Romans 2:6 says we will be judged by our works, not our faith!  If you have no good works, your faith is suspect, because if there's no fruit, there's no faith!

I'm not advocating a "works religion," but one proved by its works; in a works religion you never know how much is enough--we don't do works in order to get saved, but because we are saved out of gratitude.  Our works must be consistent with our talk, as we don't just talk the talk:  "They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works..." (Titus 1:16, ESV).  The point is that faith expresses itself!  In sum, Works are no substitute for faith, but the only evidence that it's there.  We are not saved by works, but unto works, and, though we are not saved by works, we are not saved without them either!  There are works without faith, but not faith without works!  Soli Deo Gloria!

Show Me Your Faith!

We don't need another to-do list. Works are evidence of faith, not a substitute for it. Faith is something we do, no something we have. Paul would say, "Show me your good works by your faith." James would say, "Show me your faith by your good works. The only works we are to do are the ones foreordained for us (cf. Eph. 2:10). Faith has legs; it is a verb and it must be alive and grow, not become stagnate.  "[W]ho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works" (Tit.2:14, NKJV).

In a works system, you never know how much work is enough. You can never know you are secure in Christ or are saved eternally. Martin Luther always wondered if he had fasted, prayed, gave enough away, etc. to be saved. It is important to realize we are saved by grace alone through faith alone. But not by a faith that is alone (without works). We are not saved by works, but we are not saved without them either.

Faith and works are inseparable. They can be distinguished but not separated. What we need on this earth Christ has the power to change lives from the inside out. In his book Through the Valley of the Kwai,  Ernest Gordon tells the story of POWs in the Malay peninsula that was reduced to subhuman savagery until they find a New Testament and decided to read it-- and found out that the Word of God has the power to change lives, not just inform intellects.  Paul said, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love..."  (cf. Gal. 5:6).   To some it is just interesting, to others it is life-changing. James says, "I'll show you my faith by my works," while Paul says, "I'll show you my works by my faith." To sum up, we shall know them by their fruits (cf. Matt. 7:16, 20), as Jesus said. 
 Soli Deo Gloria!