Question:  Dear Greg,

            I’m wondering how to reconcile what Paul says in Romans and what James says in regards to justification.  In Romans 5:1,2 Paul seems to be saying “justified by faith alone”.  In James 2:24 James seems to be saying “justified by works and not by faith alone”.  Please explain what seems to be a contradiction.

            Thanks,

            Pedro

Answer:  Dear Pedro,

            What some believe Paul says about grace and what they see as James’ teaching about law creates (for them) a dilemma--perhaps even a contradiction.

            Paul says we are justified by faith, not by works (Romans 4)—while James seems to say (James 2) that we are justified by works. 

            One key is in understanding that the word “justification” has different meanings.  Paul uses it in one way in Romans 4, while James uses it in another way in James 2.  There is a difference between the justification that God accomplishes and when a human justifies himself or herself.  God justifies by giving sinners his righteousness, applying it to their account.  When humans try to define and understand justification, we look for something that is tangible—we want to see it and prove it.  This is the second definition of “justification”—not in terms of God giving something, but in terms of proof that is offered as evidence.

            Paul is referring to the action that God alone can take, and does take, through his holiness and righteousness--by his grace.  James is speaking of the evidence in our lives that God produces in and through us.

            James is not saying that we produce the works that prove our faith.  He is saying that God produces in us, by his grace, the fruits of the Spirit, the evidence of our faith, the evidence of our salvation, which are gifts of God.

            Paul notes that Abraham was justified by faith because he believed God (see Genesis 15).  James speaks of Abraham’s faith, when God worked in and through Abraham (see Genesis 22) to produce the evidence and proof of a changed life, a life lived by faith.

            Abraham was justified by faith in Genesis 15 because he believed, but James makes the point that God will use that belief and faith to bring about and produce change in a person’s life (the point that James makes about justification and works, referring to Genesis 22).

            Works, in the life of those who believe God and who have faith in him, are the result of justification, which God alone can give and which comes by faith.  The salvation which God gives is always accompanied by proof (Titus 3:4-8).  However, salvation is not produced by human performance, but by Jesus Christ who lives his resurrected life in those who accept him (see Galatians 2).

            Paul is speaking about what happens to a Christian internally—the justification that God alone gives, by his grace, when we believe and trust in him.  James is speaking of the external change that is the evidence of the internal change.  The external change is also produced only by God, not by human resources.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht