Relationship between faith and works is most time confusing. This confusion can have serious consequences since an erring view of their relationship could lead someone into believing and teaching something that is very unbiblical such as the heresy that we are saved by cooperating with God by doing good works.
First of all, justification is the legal declaration by God upon the sinner, where God declares the sinner to be righteous. This declaration is based completely and totally on the work of Christ on the Cross. A person is justified by faith that is, he is made right before God by his faith in Christ (excluding the cults that teach a false Jesus). Our works does not save us or our works added to the sacrifice of Christ. Our works, our good deeds, have absolutely no affect upon our salvation. Our good works do not get us salvation, nor do help us keep our salvation. This is because our good works are filthy rags before God. Besides, if works could save us, then righteousness would have been based on the law and Christ would have not needed to die. says, "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. But, Christ did need to die which proves our works cannot save us.
What about those who do works and faith together? Do this mean that we need not have works? By no means no. Christian of good standing should have works, which is accompanied by faith. Scott points out that, “Faith is the only response essential for salvation. However, the central rules remind us that salvation evidences itself in good works. For Wesley, even repentance should be accompanied by fruits meet for repentance, or works of piety and mercy” 1 I would argue that with both we are saved. Furthermore, the Bible says that once we are saved, we are not free to be bad. On the contrary, we are obligated to be good. This goodness simply means doing the right works, which helps us to be good Christians.
The above statement seems to confuse anyone who reads it. In this paragraph I want to explain. We are not saved by our works because we cannot be. The only way to be saved is to trust in the finished sacrificial work of Christ on the cross. But, once saved, the person is now changed. He is a new creation and the old things have passed away. This means that our old sinful ways are gone (or on their way out as we struggle against them). It also means that we then do good works to honor God. We don't do good works to be saved or stay saved. We do good works because we are saved. I once heard it said that good works does not save you, but you aren't saved without them. This means that our good works don't save us in any way, but once we are saved we naturally obey God's law and do good works, which is a sign of our being saved.
So the relationship between faith and works is simple. We are saved by faith, not by works. But, once saved, we do good works because we are already saved. This relates to whether something is necessary conditionally or unconditionally. Faith is necessary to salvation unconditionally. Good works are necessarily only conditionally, that is; if there is time and or opportunity. In James 2:14 we read; What doth it profit , my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have no works? Can that faith save him? Here James is not talking about saving faith, but about a person who claims to have faith but really does not. The obvious answer is that faith without works cannot save, something Paul wholeheartedly believed too. Faith that yields no deeds is not saving faith. The New Testament does not teach justification by the profession or the claim to faith; it teaches justification by the possession of true faith. Calvin said: "We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone." Both Paul and James would have agreed to this statement.
In conclusion, let me ask again. How do the two seemingly contradictory functions of faith and works relate, interact and compliment each other? By faith alone, in Christ alone, we are saved. Faith is the instrument, Christ is the Saviour. By works we prove the genuineness of our faith. We are saved by faith alone, but not by the faith that is alone.
Christians are justified before God as they place their trust in Jesus Christ, the Sin-bearer, and the Substitute who bore God's wrath in our stead. The Christian starts and lives his life by faith. He does not look inside him but outside, to Christ. By faith his hope is sustained (Hebrews 10:35-12:3).
Faith is not simply a feeling, a mere sentiment that results only in positive speech. It is not an optimistic decision. Neither is it passive orthodoxy. Faith is a response, directed towards Christ as it satisfying object. That is why faith must have content. Truths about Christ must be understood and believed. Christian faith is trust in the eternal God as revealed in Scripture and His promises secured by Jesus Christ. It is called forth by the gospel as the gospel is made understandable through the supernatural and free work of the Holy Spirit. Christian faith is not inherited or passed mechanically on; it is a personal act, involving the mind, the heart and will. It is not faith in an idea or philosophy, but in the Triune God.
Faith involves three steps or aspects: knowledge, agreement and trust. Redemptive facts must be made known so that they may be accepted (Romans 10:14). James does not speak about how a man is reckoned as righteous before God, but rather about the justification or validity of his faith in the eyes of men (James 2:18: "Show me your faith....").
We are justified by faith alone, but works justify our faith, and declare that we are justified. Men cannot see our faith, except by our works (cf. Luke 7:47,50). If you have faith, demonstrate it. The only evidence visible to human eyes is the deeds of obedience. Though God can read the heart, our only view of the heart is by the sight of outward fruit.
1 Scott J. Jones. United Methodist Doctrine, the extreme center Pg 188.
First of all, justification is the legal declaration by God upon the sinner, where God declares the sinner to be righteous. This declaration is based completely and totally on the work of Christ on the Cross. A person is justified by faith that is, he is made right before God by his faith in Christ (excluding the cults that teach a false Jesus). Our works does not save us or our works added to the sacrifice of Christ. Our works, our good deeds, have absolutely no affect upon our salvation. Our good works do not get us salvation, nor do help us keep our salvation. This is because our good works are filthy rags before God. Besides, if works could save us, then righteousness would have been based on the law and Christ would have not needed to die. says, "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly. But, Christ did need to die which proves our works cannot save us.
What about those who do works and faith together? Do this mean that we need not have works? By no means no. Christian of good standing should have works, which is accompanied by faith. Scott points out that, “Faith is the only response essential for salvation. However, the central rules remind us that salvation evidences itself in good works. For Wesley, even repentance should be accompanied by fruits meet for repentance, or works of piety and mercy” 1 I would argue that with both we are saved. Furthermore, the Bible says that once we are saved, we are not free to be bad. On the contrary, we are obligated to be good. This goodness simply means doing the right works, which helps us to be good Christians.
The above statement seems to confuse anyone who reads it. In this paragraph I want to explain. We are not saved by our works because we cannot be. The only way to be saved is to trust in the finished sacrificial work of Christ on the cross. But, once saved, the person is now changed. He is a new creation and the old things have passed away. This means that our old sinful ways are gone (or on their way out as we struggle against them). It also means that we then do good works to honor God. We don't do good works to be saved or stay saved. We do good works because we are saved. I once heard it said that good works does not save you, but you aren't saved without them. This means that our good works don't save us in any way, but once we are saved we naturally obey God's law and do good works, which is a sign of our being saved.
So the relationship between faith and works is simple. We are saved by faith, not by works. But, once saved, we do good works because we are already saved. This relates to whether something is necessary conditionally or unconditionally. Faith is necessary to salvation unconditionally. Good works are necessarily only conditionally, that is; if there is time and or opportunity. In James 2:14 we read; What doth it profit , my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have no works? Can that faith save him? Here James is not talking about saving faith, but about a person who claims to have faith but really does not. The obvious answer is that faith without works cannot save, something Paul wholeheartedly believed too. Faith that yields no deeds is not saving faith. The New Testament does not teach justification by the profession or the claim to faith; it teaches justification by the possession of true faith. Calvin said: "We are justified by faith alone, but the faith that justifies is never alone." Both Paul and James would have agreed to this statement.
In conclusion, let me ask again. How do the two seemingly contradictory functions of faith and works relate, interact and compliment each other? By faith alone, in Christ alone, we are saved. Faith is the instrument, Christ is the Saviour. By works we prove the genuineness of our faith. We are saved by faith alone, but not by the faith that is alone.
Christians are justified before God as they place their trust in Jesus Christ, the Sin-bearer, and the Substitute who bore God's wrath in our stead. The Christian starts and lives his life by faith. He does not look inside him but outside, to Christ. By faith his hope is sustained (Hebrews 10:35-12:3).
Faith is not simply a feeling, a mere sentiment that results only in positive speech. It is not an optimistic decision. Neither is it passive orthodoxy. Faith is a response, directed towards Christ as it satisfying object. That is why faith must have content. Truths about Christ must be understood and believed. Christian faith is trust in the eternal God as revealed in Scripture and His promises secured by Jesus Christ. It is called forth by the gospel as the gospel is made understandable through the supernatural and free work of the Holy Spirit. Christian faith is not inherited or passed mechanically on; it is a personal act, involving the mind, the heart and will. It is not faith in an idea or philosophy, but in the Triune God.
Faith involves three steps or aspects: knowledge, agreement and trust. Redemptive facts must be made known so that they may be accepted (Romans 10:14). James does not speak about how a man is reckoned as righteous before God, but rather about the justification or validity of his faith in the eyes of men (James 2:18: "Show me your faith....").
We are justified by faith alone, but works justify our faith, and declare that we are justified. Men cannot see our faith, except by our works (cf. Luke 7:47,50). If you have faith, demonstrate it. The only evidence visible to human eyes is the deeds of obedience. Though God can read the heart, our only view of the heart is by the sight of outward fruit.
1 Scott J. Jones. United Methodist Doctrine, the extreme center Pg 188.
