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Question:
Many people say faith alone is needed to have
salvation. While I understand that all the works in the world will not
save you without faith in Christ, what am I to make of James’ "faith
without works is dead?" Are good works the "fruit" of true faith?
You are correct
in saying that "works" will not save you. Paul writes in Ephesians 2: 8—10
these words:
"For by grace you have
been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift
of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For
we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which
God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." ("bold" is mine)
This, and other
passages, certainly makes it clear that we are saved by faith alone, but
it also states that we are His "workmanship" (often translated: His
work-of-art) created in Christ Jesus for good works. You ask in your
question if good works are the "fruit" of truth faith? Although that might
be a way of putting it, I would rather say that good works are the
"result" of our faith. Good works should be a response to what God has
done for us in Christ Jesus.
James’ epistle
has always been considered a very practical approach to our faith. He
still affirms that we are saved by faith alone, but if works are not
coming in response to our faith, it is a dead faith. It is important to
understand that James and Paul are not in conflict with each other. The
difference between Paul and James is that they begin at different times in
the Christian life. Paul begins at the very beginning of the Christian
life insisting that no one can ever win or earn the forgiveness of God—the
initial step must come only from the initiative of God.
James begins
with the professing Christian, the one who already claims to have been
forgiven and believes that he is in a right relationship with God. As a
result, that person’s faith should respond in good works.
Paul affirms the
importance of good deeds:
Romans 2:6 "(God) will render
to every man according to his deeds."
Romans 14:12 "So then each
one us shall give an account of himself to God."
2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we
must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be
recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done,
whether good or bad."
Jesus said in
Matthew 5: 16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may
see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in heaven."
As William
Barclay put it: "The fact that Christianity must be ethically demonstrated
is an essential part of the Christian faith throughout the whole New
Testament." The same is true for us today. As I stated earlier, our faith
is to respond in good works in gratitude for what Christ did for us on the
cross.
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