Faith or Works?

Christianity is a grace based faith. All other religions, quasi Christian and cult groups in the world are works based. That makes Christianity stand out as unique. It says this is the only way because God, the true and living God has declared so. And we can show how it is the truth among all beliefs. 

Works or Faith? And what Fruit is proof it is righteous works not sinful works?

Q: I am talking to my friend who does not believe..... I told him you Must be Saved by Grace through Faith and Not by Works... He then quoted me the Scripture verse "Faith without works is dead".... not sure what should I say to continue the conversation. What does Scripture say?

A: The below shows the context of the verses and a peek into the topic. I have a feeling he doesnt know this whole portion and what the rest of Scripture says, and likely doesnt even realize he agreed with you. And it is because many are taught about "works" wrongly, in fact, the whole world is, and it is because they do not know nor understand the truth that God himself has revealed to us in the Bible.

James 2:14-26

Faith Without Works Is Dead

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus 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 without works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

[That is pointing to her doing good works because of her faith]

26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Here are some thoughts to think through and verses, so you can come up with a solid response to help witness to your friend. 

James was saying that if you claim to have faith but it doesn’t produce works then it is not true faith. Righteous selfless works are the proof of your faith. Works also require a sacrifice of some kind that costs you, and you dont do them to get something out of it. You do it because it is right and loving and to glorify God. 

Eph 2:10

For we [redeemed] are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

James was talking to believers. If you claim to be a believer and have no works, then you are not "in the faith". The Holy Spirit leads believers to do good works. Righteous deeds, not selfishly motivated ones. 

This isnt talking about how to be saved but a proof that you are. Of course biblical Christians know the only work needed for Salvation was accomplished by Jesus.

Human works are not necessary for salvation at all. Jesus's blood was the only necessary contribution, and God saves people to himself. However, a if you have a faith without any works, more than likely you have a dead faith. It's not a part of obtaining salvation, it's more of a proof that you are saved, like having "the fruit of the Spirit" is another proof. 

James 2:18 

"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"

The only works that save us are the works of Christ. We are saved by grace through faith, but faith that comes from God... [actively] works. In other words, if we have been born again, our life will bear fruit in the form of works. If it doesn't, we aren't saved at all.

Salvation is by that trusting faith in Christ alone, yet once we are saved, faith is affirmed by change in our lives. 

Notice Paul's explanation:

Ephesians 2:8-10: 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. For we are his WORKmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good WORKS, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Believers are "being filled with the fruits of righteousness" Phil. 1:11. If they are saved they are showing the fruit that proves they are indeed in Christ, transformed by him. 

Note: Gifts are not earned. They're freely given by the giver. Here God is clear He gives salvation, He does all the saving. Scripture shows this in that He provided the Savior and He calls us to repentance and He causes us to be born again and He gives us the Holy Spirit. And then he gives us works to do, (which God is actually doing through us). 

On faith...

If you have to get across the country in 8 hours, and say you have faith in the airplane that is sitting at the gate ready to take you to the other coast, but you refuse to get on it, you don’t really have faith in that airplane. You arent acting in that faith you claim to have. 

If you are offered a parachute on a plane, you would desperately take it, ever grateful, and put it on  not for a comforable ride, but  because it is going down and you have to jump out any minute...and would die without it. 

Scripture says "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" in Rom. 13:14 and 

Ephesians 4:24 says "and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.

Job 29:14

“I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

And in Revelation it speaks of the righteous recieving and putting on the righteous white robe. 

 

Likewise, if you say you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son, who died for your sin, and rose from the dead, but dont believe IN [trusting] and you refuse to submit yourself to obey Him, you don’t really "believe He is God" or you don’t "love Him because He first loved you", so either way, you don’t really have faith. No amount of self-works can make you good enough to get saved. No amount of faking it will cause you to be saved. Those who think they can do works to be saved don't really understand that is a useless attempt at bribing God, and he wont be bribed. Plus Scripture is clear that the works one tries to do apart from being righteous [in Christ] are not actually good works since they are done by those still in their sins. 

Isaiah 41:29

"Indeed they are all worthless; Their works are nothing..."

Isaiah 64:6

"All of us are dirty with sin. All the good works we have done are like filthy pieces of cloth [menstrual cloth]. All of us are like dead leaves, and our sins like the wind, have carried us away."

Titus 1:16 

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

So a faith [without being in Christ] doesn’t naturally result in works [of righteousness] because they do not posess it [salvation/righteousness] to do it [righteous works]. They are not IN the faith. They dont actually have faith. I can be nice to a person all day long without loving them, and i can do it with ulterior motives, but I can’t love them rightly without showing them that love in real righteous selfless ways.

There's a difference from a belief of God and a belief in God. The Demons believe and tremble, but they do not have belief IN Christ. They are not following him and he is not their Savior, but it is possible for humans. God's unearned grace makes that possible. Once we are born again [as Jesus said we have to be] then God will do good works in us that he planned to do thru us. 

A quick visual:

Works and faith do not lead to salvation. 

Faith leads to salvation and works. 

Faith + Works ≠ salvation 

Faith = Salvation + works

Eph 2:8-9

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.

Titus 3:5 

"He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit"

Praying for you and your friend as you minister to him. You can also share this Gospel link which shows why we need Jesus.

But agree on that point but explain it. "Yes works show a person possesses faith if they are doing good works, but those works are done by Christ through "you" who is following and obeying Him. If we claim to be radically transformed and a new creation in Christ, the fruit of that change will show in our life." And you can share verses like these:

1 John 1:6 

So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. 

Matthew 7:15-20

"Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits."

1 John 3:7-10 

"...let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous... whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother." 

Matthew 7:21 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

John 6:28-29 

Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

John 5:24

Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life."

Believe in the Father and the Son.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 

Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Jesus said, 

"unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

"Repent and Believe the Gospel." Mark 1:15

You can, after this conversation, ask your friend to check this out if he was or is a catholic, (it is the gospel shared with catholics), and ask him to genuinely think about it and give you his thoughts on it. Then ask him "what would prevent him from getting right with Christ today," and reminding him "tomorrow isnt guaranteed. So dont let Satan whisper in your ear to delay or put off till tomorrow because tomorrow isnt guaranteed. Satan wants humans to go to hell, dont listen to that evil one. Simply pray to God and repent of your sins (once and for all) and trust in Jesus, in who he is and that he paid the fine in full to God to free you from the eternal punishment of sin." 

For more answers for skeptics go here, and to minister to those of any belief background go here. 

Hope this helps. God bless. 

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And for born again Christians, if you are wondering if you are really saved, God through Scripture calls us to "examine ourselves" to see. You can see fruits and proofs of a believer here. 

And this can help you as you grow in the faith. 

God bless