Christians: Faith vs works?

Question

Paul advocates that we are saved by faith. where as James, Peter and John all advocate that it should be a combination that we are saved by faith and works. How can they be reconciled?

all such wonderfull answers i am having a hard time choosing who to pick as the best answer.

Answer 1

We are saved through faith all works are as filthy rags.
Isaiah 64:6. Works come about through faith. They are our evidence of our faith.
Basically how can you say you have faith in Jesus and not show his love through your life. If you truly have the love of God in your heart it cannot help but shine through in your works.
pay particular attention to verse 18
James says it best
James 2
14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Answer 2

What Paul is trying to say is that works -without faith- aren't going to get your ticket punched. Sts. P & J refer to BOTH works and faith because -as Paul would agree- if you HAVE the faith, you'll do the works. That leaves open the possibility that there are those who DO have the faith but for whatever reason CAN'T do the works; someone in a death bed conversion perhaps, or maybe someone who is terribly handicapped.

No big deal here.

Answer 3

Actually, Paul very clearly says we have to stop sinning. Read chapter 6 and 8 of Romans very carefully. The Bible is clear, if you are a true Christian you will stop sinning. Now, does that mean you are perfect? No, it means you will get rid of your known sins. James, Peter and John are not saying you are saved by works, but you can be lost because your works are not in accordance to your faith. Your works show whether or not you truly have Christ in you. Read Paul, that's what he says. Does Christ live in you or not? You works of the law will testify to this. If you are not doing his works then think about what Christ has done for you. Morning and night look upon his salvation for you and truly believe he has given this to you.

Answer 4

As James pointed out, faith without works is dead. You get faith (and continue to maintain it) by doing good works.

Take the 25th chapter of Matthew, for example. Those on the Lord's right hand (the ones who were saved) were there because they helped out other people, while those on His left hand (those who were NOT saved) were there because they didn't help out others. The Lord never said, "Those of you on my right hand are there because you simply believed in me, while those of you on my left hand are there because you didn't believe."

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (in Luke chapter 10) was provided because someone asked the Lord what it took to gain eternal life. Never once in the whole exchange does the Lord ever say "Believe in God," but instead first off cites the two great commandments (Love God and love thy neighbor), then tells of a Samaritan who was neighborly by helping the victim of a mugging, with the final commandment of "Go, and do thou likewise" (indicating action).

Moses also brought down TEN commandments, not one, once again indicating that there's more involved than simply believing (and as James pointed out, even the Devil believes, yet most Christians will agree that Satan isn't going to be saved in the end).

In a way, it's like me getting into my car. I can have all the faith in the world that it's going to run, but unless I put the key into the ignition and turn it, that car's not taking me anywhere.

Answer 5

One must understand the context of the New Testament historically and by Tradition to understand that this shows no disparity between the apostles.

When Paul was admonishing the Corinthians about being saved by faith alone he was fighting the Jewish Christian opposition demanding the gentile Christians follow Jewish law in order to become Christians. The "works" Paul addresses were adherence to the Jewish law including circumcision. This was eventually decided by the Church at the Jerusalem Counsel. The only "works" required of the new, gentile Christians were the abstinence from immoral sex, blood and sacrifices to idols. Paul admonished his flock to perform many Christian works in service to Christ.

James, Peter and John were addressing what I refer to as lazy Christians. These people were speaking their belief without practicing faith. That is the point of all of these apostles trying to push these Christians into the good works capable of any Christian with the gifts Christ gives us. These Christians had forgotten or never heard the many sayings of Christ that many who call themselves friends of his will be cast out. He also said that if you believe in God it is good, but even the daemons believe and shiver.

As far as being saved. Jesus saved everyone when he died on the cross. All he requires is that you never deny the Holy Spirit who is in your heart drawing you to respect, be humble before God.

Answer 6

They're all referring to an application-oriented faith. That is, a faith which applies itself. There are those who have a workless faith. Such faith is vain. James argues against such faith. There is also a faith in works. Paul argues against that. But they're all advocating the same faith.

Answer 7

If Satan were to have a box in which to store his devious tricks that he uses to keep people from accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour, this one must surely be his favorite and the most effictive. - "WORKS"

It seems that a part of sin's deception is to somehow convince us of God's INABILITY to save our souls from Hell without human help. Mankind has the false idea that some kind of religious acts must be performed before God will PLEASED WITH US.

Read the following Scriptures which announce to all, that if a sinner realizes his spiritual condition... will admit to himself and to God his need to be saved... will then repent of his sins... calling upon the Name of Jesus in FAITH to save his soul from Hell... he will spend eternity with God in Heaven. Romans 3:23; Romans 5:12; John 3:16; John 3:18-19; John 3:36; John 5:24; Galatians 3:26; and Romans 10:9-13.

Answer 8

Faith actually leads to service which leads to Godly works. It isn't a matter of reconciling faith vs. works. It is a matter of what in a person's heart is the motivation for the works.

Answer 9

I don't think they have to be, becuase I'm not certain that they're in contradiction.

Paul's point is that no matter how "good" a person is, s/he cannot live up to every letter of the Law. Jesus Christ, the propitiation of sin, makes up for our inherent inadequacies. If we do not possess faith in Christ - if we stubbornly try to win our own salvation through our own good works - we will fall short of the mark.

The others (James, Peter, John) do not speak to that particular situation. In their writings, faith in Jesus Christ is already assumed. What, they ask, ought to the be faithful response of believers? With unending gratitude and thanksgiving for the gift of salvation, how now shall we live? James, Peter, and John suggest that good works must naturally flow from a living faith - that it is the natural response of believers to perform good works out of faithfulness to Christ's example and gratitude for his saving work. So when James says "faith without works is dead" he suggests that a faith which does not impel the believer to follow Christ's example in this way is a dead faith that is of no use.

In short: faith in Jesus Christ is a prerequisite for salvation. If, however, we do not live out that faith through our own good works and our concern for the less fortunate, then the "faith" we claim to possess is just an illusion - we are deluding ourselves, and we are just as dead as the unrepentent sinner trying to win his own salvation. A living faith - one that impels the believer to good works - is one that justifies, while a dead faith - which offers no evidence that a person's life has been transformed by Christ's saving work - does not.

Answer 10

Faith can be described by what we believe and works as what we do. We are saved initially by what we believe but what we do is the outcome of what we believe. Faith is not founded on works but works are the external proof of faith. In the end salvation is based on faith alone.

In James 2:14-16 it gives the illustration of someone with faith turning away a fellow believer who is hungry and naked. What good is this man's faith? James 2:26 says "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is also dead."

So faith alive bears works.

Answer 11

We are saved by grace through faith in Jesus' atoning sacrifice. No one can work to GAIN salvation. We accept it as a gift.

But once we have that connection, the Holy Spirit empowers us to good works, e.g. do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Good works through the Holy Spirit are needed to RETAIN a connection with God. It is impossible for someone who has the Holy Spirit to continue to deliberately live in sin without making an effort to change for the better.