CHRISTIANS: Paul said we are justified by Faith, but James said Faith without works is dead. Which is it & why

Question

These statements seem mutually exclusive, so only one can be true.

Answer 1

Well they are both men - remember that. Being men that means they have a point of view and they have opinions that will differ. One was Jewish and was used to works and the other was all for freedom from the law. So you can easily judge for yourself what was important to the writer.

That said -

One can say that faith is dead if you don't back it up with action.

Christian works is useless without faith.

Answer 2

I know a lot of people say that these verses contradict each other, but let me try and explain it. Both Paul and James are right- they are just talking about 2 different times in a person's life. Paul is right in saying that we are justified by faith. There is nothing we can do to save us- it is all Jesus. No good works, that we can do can ever be good enough to save. However as James said= faith without works is dead. If we are saved by faith in Christ, and do not do works, then that faith is dead. Which means once we are saved, we are to do the works that God has planned for us to do, long before we were even created. Works, do not save, but they are done with a thankful heart to the ONE who gave His all for our salvation. Does that help?

Answer 3

Both are absolutely correct. The point being that we come to Christ through faith........and even that is from God. We can not come to God by our works or good deeds. That's not the way......we don't get brownie points to get to heaven. How many good things would a person have to accomplish to get in? No amount of good works will get us in. Only believing in Christ's work on the cross will get us in..........through faith.
Having said that what James is saying is that if we truly are saved by Christ, He will begin to change us to be like Him. It's a very long process that won't be fully completed before we actually get to heaven. It's a process. The proof of our Christianity will show in the way we live our lives. There will be some distinct changes people will begin to notice. The person we used to be will begin to have new interests and new habits......for the good. Along with that we will have a desire to do more and more good works. This is a proof of our faith. It is not a condition to be met to get into heaven, but it is evidence of our faith. Both Paul and James agree on this if you'll not take scriptures out of context. It might be harder to understand without the Holy Spirit revealing it, but there it is. No contradiction at all. They both agree that we are saved by faith, and our lives will show evidence of the change by how we live (works). If there's no evidence or fruit of the spirit, then we surely are not saved. A lot of people say they are saved (justified by faith) but are not really saved. Sad but true. Usually the ones that do a lot of talking but no real ministry to anyone. I've never understood what they get out of the pretense because the real experience is life changing and so fulfilling.

Answer 4

We are justified by grace through faith. JUSTIFIED=forgiven, made right. Faith without works is dead, meaning that if a person has faith then show it. Share it. Help others to be saved too. A person might be very smart, well educated,etc. etc. But if that person just sits at home, doesn't work, makes nothing of his/her intelligence, how much good is the education? They might be smart, but they aren't putting it to use. The fact that they have little or nothing to show for their education doesn't mean they aren't educated. They are just mistakenly not putting their intelligence to use. They are smart, but don't use or employ their education. It can be similar with a Christian. They may have faith but not show, use, share it. Both verses you sight are true One is given by the grace of God, the other is if/how a person uses it.

Answer 5

That's good that you noticed. They are all too often rationalized as saying the same thing. See if you don't get some who say it's that way.

As I understand it, Paul and James were at odds. You can see it in Acts 15, which is my case in point. James did not understand Jesus, his half brother. And he also didn't believe Jesus, the Gospels state that clearly. If you'll notice in Acts 15 that Peter stands up and talks to the council:
7 After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8 God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9 He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10 Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11 No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

And there you have it. Peter wasn't listened to. Of course. James was a legalist. And James thought that the Bible could be explained by works, something that he tough won God's favor. But Paul, even though he proved to be weak around James, and Peter, even though he had his flaws having to do with the way he valued the Ebionites and their view of him.

And then there are the words of Jesus:
John 3
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.

So the Bible shows us the fallible, errant people who were a part of Christianity's birth. And it shows us the truth, as it did with Jesus, Paul, and Peter.

Answer 6

They are not mutually exclusive at all -- what about the verses which speak of the fruit of the Spirit being love, joy, peace...

The Bible cannot be read in isolated chunks -- but must be viewed as a whole. Also, God is so extremely vast and complex, that a word which reveals Him will likely hold that same characteristic. That is why knowing God is meant to be a pursuit -- a growing experience that bears fruit and is at other times dormant.

I caution you against taking one verse in order to create your entire theology -- very dangerous. Even murderers can justify their actions by doing that.

Answer 7

Faith is not said to be alone by Paul. protestant's made satanic additions in their bibles, adding the term "alone" to Faith in Paul's letter. They also considered throwing out James statement that we are not saved by Faith alone, when they changed Paul's "Faith" to "Faith alone".

There is no contradiction. There is a whole book called Not By Faith Alone.

Nikki's comment seems silly to me: isn't it obvious that Faith without works is dead? Think about what you are saying people!

Answer 8

Paul was speaking about our position before God, that we are justified by our faith in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ which makes us acceptable to God as if we never sinned. When James adds the "Faith without works is dead", he is not saying that you can perform certain works that would make you acceptable to God. Rather, real faith prompts you to conduct yourself in a certain way. Imagine if I came to you and gave you a key to a vault and told you that there was 1 million dollars in it for you. If you really believed me or had faith in what I said, it would prompt you to action to go and get the money from the vault. You didn't have to earn it but you did have to go and claim it. If we believe that we are justified by faith, the works that are produced in us will prompt us to walk in obedience before God knowing that we are not condemned because Christ blood makes me acceptable before God. My life should show (works) that this is what I believe. Faith is an action word. It commands a response. If we were in a tree and I asked you if you believed that this branch would hold you, then you would be willing to walk out on the edge of that limb if you really had faith in that branch. Faith is the same way. Saying you have faith in something, but then not acting on it, makes your faith dead. Which means you really didn't believe at all.

Answer 9

James also said "we are justified by works, and not by faith alone". Which is why Luther intended to throw James out of the Bible along with two other New Testament books. Fortunately his followers wouldn't hear of trashing the writings of the Apostles. Otherwise Protestants would have an incomplete Bible of 63 books instead of an incomplete Bible of 66 books.

Answer 10

The entire Bible has a consistant message that salvation is by faith - faith alone..by works of the flesh is no man justified. What James was talking about was that faith produces works (not for salvation, but as God's new creations).