LEARNING ACTIVITY #43

Faith and Works in the Scriptures

There has been a continuing belief in the church that an inconsistency of doctrine exists in the New Testament between Paul and James on the question of justification.

1. Galatians 2:16 ________________

2. In the verse above, what does Paul appear to be saying about justification?

3. Romans 3:20

4. In the verse above, what does Paul say about justification?

5. Romans 4:2 _
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6. What does Paul say about Abraham's works in the verse above? _
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7. Ephesians 2:8–9 _
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8. The scripture above is a classic of Paul's on this subject. What do you see it saying about salvation? _
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While Paul is making the above statements, James is making the following statements on the subject.

9. James 2:14

10. What does James appear to say about works in the verse above?

11. James 2:17 _

12. What does James say about the subject of faith and works in the verse above? ______________

13. James 2:21 _

14. What does James say about Abraham in the verse above?
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15. James 2:24 _

16. The scripture above is James' classic statement on the subject. What does he say in this verse?

In all of the scriptures above, the English word "work(s)" is the Greek word "ergon" which has the meanings of: to work; toil; an act; task; employment; a deed."

I think you might agree from what I have selected to present above that there does appear to be an apparent contradiction in what these two biblical writers are saying. However, the solution to the apparent contradiction is found in the field of operation, or what we would today call "where they were coming from" as well as the sense in which each of the two are using the words "faith, works, and justification."

When the complete writings of Paul are read and studied you will find that Paul has a strong message against legalism because the thrust of his work was with the Gentiles and he would have none of Judaism being brought into the New Covenant church! James, on the other hand, primarily labored among the circumcision (those coming out of Judaism), see Galatians 2:9, and he presented the gospel to his audience from a place of building upon the language of the Old Covenant (such as James 2:8 where he speaks of fulfilling "the royal law"). James is writing to his Jewish brethren of the dispersion (see James 1:1–2), while Paul is addressing the doctrine of salvation as it originated in the mind of God before the foundation of the world as applicable to the entire human race as it emerges from Adam!

When we analyze the totality of what Paul and James have to say in the Scriptures we find that there is really no contradiction at all. Paul has behind his statements the works of the law which some were trying to use as a way to obtain a legal form of righteousness before God based upon what they did. The works James refers to are works of piety such as visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction (James 1:27) and ministering to the needs of others as found in James 2:15–16.

It seems to me that James does not deny the necessity for faith and Paul does not ignore the importance of good works! What James is opposed to is faith without works. He is against anyone who says he has faith but his life does not manifest the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. He says that any such faith that does not manifest the character of Christ is dead (James 2:14–17). Paul, on the other hand, opposes the practice and idea that a person can merit God's favor of righteousness by his individual self-effort in keeping the law. But Paul does not deny the necessity of good works (the manifestation of God's character) as evidence of a person being a believer.

17. Galatians 5:6 _
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18. In the verse above, how does Paul describe faith? _
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In 1 Corinthians 13:2, Paul states that although a person has all faith but does not have love, he is nothing.

In Philippians 2:12 Paul states that "...as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Here, Paul is telling the believers in Philippi to do the good works that result from salvation (having Christ within). Belief brings salvation and active obedience demonstrates that our belief is genuine.

In Ephesians 2:10, Paul states that "we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained (or prepared) that we should walk in them." Paul could not have made a stronger statement supporting the works of the believer.

If you are not convinced that Paul understood the importance of works, consider the following statements that Paul has made in the Scriptures.

A. "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile" (Rom. 2:10).

B. "Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do" (1 Cor. 16:10).

C. "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10).

D. "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father" (1 Thess. 1:3).

E. "If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work" (2 Tim. 2:21).

F. "That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (2 Tim. 3:17).

G. "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works" (Titus 2:14).

Both James and Paul are in agreement with the teaching of Jesus Christ.

19. Matthew 12:33 _
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20. What application can we make to our subject from what Jesus says in the verse above? _
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