Faith vs Works: The Quest: Day 10.0

“I’m spiritual, not religious”

Oh, no. Not this one again! Bear with me, brothers. The old rag above has indeed returned. I promise some exposition of scripture to justify its use, but never its veracity. Today we move into ye olde debate, Faith vs Works.

The foundation

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law

Romans 3:23-28

Briefly, then: All have sinned. Grace is a gift. Redemption is through Christ. Christ is received by faith. Justification is through faith alone, in Christ alone, not by works. Justification is through faith alone apart from works. So why faith vs works?

The writer of Hebrews states, And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. We can say with confidence, “without faith it is impossible to please him [by works].”

That’s the foundation. Justification by faith alone, in Christ alone.

Faith without works is dead

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:14-17

I do not think there is any disagreement between Paul, James, and the writer of Hebrews. James is not saying we are justified by works and faith. Nor is he saying we are justified by works alone. He is saying that real saving faith is manifested in charity (works of love). In other words, this is not a faith vs. works debate! Trying to make it one is a red herring.

I never thought I would say this. You know what the key word in the above passage is? It’s the lonely that. What a useful word, so often overlooked. Apparently, in James’ day he already saw or heard of people going round claiming faith, but demonstrating nothing. James is not attacking faith alone, he is attacking that kind of faith. James asks, “Can that faith save?”

Defining that

James finds that faith dubious. But, what faith, or which faith, is James referring to? We’ll contend here that it is the nominal faith, or notional faith, claimed by hearers of the word who remain non-doers (James 1:22).

15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

James 2:15-16

What good is that? The inner man has not been transformed. Faith in action is not present. Faith is claimed, but it is a dead faith. Augustine actually calls that faith the faith…of devils. What is he talking about? Here’s a bit more James, then we’ll read what Augustine said in a better light.

What good is that?

17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

James 2:17-19
The faith of devils

St. Augustine refers to this faith as “not the kind that could presently have worked through love, but dead faith and that which James did not hesitate at all to call the faith not of Christians but of devils.”* If your faith is that there is a God, Augustine says, fine. It is a faith shared by demons, and it leads nowhere.

Devils over hypocrites

In his Commentaries, John Calvin says this, From this one sentence it appears evident that the whole dispute is not about faith, but of the common knowledge of God, which can no more connect man with God, than the sight of the sun carry him up to heaven; but it is certain that by faith we come nigh to God. Besides, it would be ridiculous were any one to say, that the devils have faith; and James prefers them in this respect to hypocrites.**

Show me the money

But the truth of faith includes not only inward belief, but also outward profession, which is expressed not only by words, whereby one confesses the faith, but also by deeds, whereby a person shows that he has faith, according to James 2:18, “I will show thee, by works, my faith.” Hence it is written of certain people (Titus 1:16): “They profess that they know God but in their works they deny Him.”

St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Question 124: On Martyrdom

Christ concurs

So, sure, I have quoted both papists and reformers. And, why not? These were men of God. They are part of the Church universal. If the Holy Spirit can move my heart and mind when studying the scriptures, surely He could (and did) the very same in the hearts and minds of these men.

But, why quote fusty old dead types, and not our Lord? What does Jesus have to say on the subject of faith and works, or even on faith vs works?

Bear much fruit

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

John 15:1-6
Real religion

34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’

Matthew 25:34-36

If we have real faith in Christ we will produce fruit. What is the fruit? Both James and Jesus point to charity toward the downtrodden. Real faith takes action in the world. It does not merely claim faith and go on its way.

The fearful alternative

Here’s a fearful verse: Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away. That sounds ominous. If a branch is not really grafted in, where is it? Not in Christ. What happens to those branches outside of Christ? If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Faith + works

So, is there really any debate between justification by faith and by works? I see no argument between Paul, James, and the writer of Hebrews. James is calling out false faith. He claims to know it is false because it produces no fruit. Real faith produces fruit, which are the good works of charity (using the old definition for “love”) which Christians perform in the world. We know that good works are the proof of faith because scripture tells us that those who received the gift of faith were destined (let us say, predestined) to do them by God. So it isn’t faith vs works at all! It is faith + works.

Let’s close with a proof of the fact stated above. God bless you. I hope this was beneficial to you. At least, I know it was so to me.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:8-10

*Fathers of the Church, Vol. 16, Saint Augustine ““ The Eight Questions of Dulcitius, Question #1 (New York: Fathers of the Church, Inc., 1953), p. 437

**Commentaries on the Catholic Epistles. Translated and edited by the Rev. John Owen, (Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Grand Rapids, MI), p. 280

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