Question:
Hello,
I
have a question regarding the book of James and the teaching of Paul.
I recently read that the book of James was not included in the canon for
quite a while because of its apparent disagreement with much of the gospel of
grace ministry preached by Paul. At
face value it would be easy to understand why this would occur.
Can you bring some clarity and unity to the teachings of both Paul and
James in regards to “works” so that I may better apply them to my life?
Bill
Answer: Dear Bill,
People
who become perplexed by the apparent contradiction between what Paul teaches
about grace and what James appears to teach about law often have some background
in legalism. James is often used as
a “proof text” that individuals must perform good works, and that they must
prove their faith by what they do. But
this is not what James is saying.
One
of the key words in this discussion is “works”.
We need to define this word for the purpose of a Christ-centered and
biblically based discussion. Paul
tells us in Ephesians 2:8-10 that we are not saved BY works, but that we are
saved FOR works. We are not saved
because of anything we do or produce. Our
performance is not the foundation of our salvation.
Jesus’ work on the cross is the basis of our salvation.
Nothing more, nothing less.
But
in this passage in Ephesians Paul tells us that we are saved in order to be
God’s workmanship, so that Jesus might live his life in us (Galatians
2:15-21), producing in us the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).
We are saved by grace so that Jesus might live in us, and in turn he will
produce righteous works in and through us.
Paul
also tells us, in Romans 4, that Abraham was justified by faith.
The righteousness of God was accounted to Abraham, not because of his
works and deeds, but because of God’s goodness and grace. Abraham
did not earn his justification. It
was imparted, given freely, by God. See
Genesis 15 and Romans 4.
But
when some read James, or have James read to them and interpreted, they come away
with a different perspective. James
quotes the example of Abraham and says that Abraham was justified by faith.
James goes on to explain that faith is only genuine faith if it produces
change, some kind of evidence. But,
as Paul explains, we do not generate this change and evidence by our own steam
and effort. We can never do enough
good to justify ourselves. We are
not capable of doing so.
James
is saying that works are a result of justification, works are a product and
result of being saved. “Our”
works prove “our” faith—but neither works nor faith can be primarily
credited to our efforts—they are gifts of God.
The only requirement for Christians to be saved is to submit completely
and entirely to Jesus Christ—to trust in him alone, believing that Jesus is
sufficient for our salvation.
If
we accept and believe Jesus Christ we will accept and believe the fact that our
works, the deeds we perform and the things we do and don’t do, have nothing to
do with our salvation. We will
accept and believe Jesus as being the entire answer and entire solution to our
salvation—not Jesus plus what we do, but Jesus alone.
Faith alone, grace alone, Christ alone.
In
Christ,