29/04/2023
FAITH WITHOUT WORKS
In part one of this series, we brought out his untold confessions where he indicated his idea of unfairness concerning eternal salvation. In part two we also brought out his doctrinal confusion of the difference between salvation and spiritual growth. In this part three, we shall look at some of his doctrinal confusion which involves some scriptures he believes supports the belief that a saved man can lose his salvation.
It is emphatically stated in Ephesians 2: 8- 9 that,
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (KJV).
This means that getting saved and remaining saved is by grace through faith in Christ. it does not depend on your morality or good deeds or works. It is only by faith.
It is also stated in the book of Jude 24 that,
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
This means that the person responsible for keeping us saved is not the saved but the saviour who is Christ Jesus. But he quickly referred me to James 2: 24 and verse 26. Which says that,
“Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only…For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”
To him, what this scripture is saying is that if you are saved by faith and you don’t show it by your good works, your faith is dead and for that matter, your salvation will die, or you will lose your salvation. By this interpretation, he believes that a person can lose his salvation.
First of all, we must understand that there is no contradiction in the bible. The bible cannot say at one place (Ephesians) that Salvation is by faith without works and at another place (James) contradict itself by saying, Salvation is by faith with works. This contradiction can only happen when we wrongly interpret the scriptures to suit our own prejudices.
One major rule in bible hermeneutics or interpretation is interpreting scriptures in context. It is a great error to pick text out of context to make it agree with what you already have in mind or make the scripture say what it never said. The context of Ephesians 2:8-9 is far different from the context of James 2:24.
Let us consider Ephesians 2 from verses 4 to 10,
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV).
Let us also consider James 2 from verses 14 to 25,
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
From the above contexts, the difference is clear. In Ephesians, it was discussing salvation in relation to the love of God expressed through the death and resurrection of Christ for our salvation. Paul was saying that this was the work of Christ and it is received by faith.
However, in James 2, he was discussing love among brethren and meeting the needs of brethren. The faith in the context of James is not salvation but the faith of wishing brethren well. The works in that context are our activities of love towards the brethren. James was saying that if a brother is in need and you just wish him well and you do nothing about his needs, your good wish is nothing. He is telling us to prove our love or good wish by doing something to help the brethren in need (works).
The reference of Abraham and Rahab justification of their faith by their works is not contradictory to the justification by faith without works preached by Apostle Paul.
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (KJV)
Galatians 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (KJV)
The works of Abraham and Rahab was not moral conduct or a good lifestyle. The truth is that Rahab was a pr******te. Their works were what they did to express faith in what Jesus will do in his redemptive work. Jesus had not died and resurrected and for that matter, faith was expressed in things and activities as typology in hope of what Jesus will do in future. The acts of Abraham and Rahab was their proof that they believed in Christ.
Hebrews 11:1-2
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. (KJV)
After the death and resurrection of Christ, our justification is by expressing faith in what Jesus has done.
Our work is believing in Christ’s redemptive work.
John 6:28-29
Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (KJV)
In conclusion, we can see that James was not saying that a man’s faith for salvation is justified by his conduct or morality. Rather he was using the expression of the faith of the Old Testament saints to teach love and liberality among brethren. The sacrifice of Jesus was for our salvation and also an example for us in conduct. We love the brethren because Jesus loved us, we forgive the brethren because Jesus forgave us. James used the redemptive work of Jesus as expressed by the Old Testament saints to teach liberality and love among brethren. He says, don’t just wish or hope that it shall be well with a brother or sister in need of food or clothing, go further to do something to help them as an expression of your faith that it shall be well with that brother or sister in need.
It is, therefore, an error to use the context of faith and works in the book of James to explain salvation. There are no contradictions in the scriptures.
We shall consider another doctrinal confusion he expressed in our next series.
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