SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH WORKS OF FAITH

 

Did you know that we are saved by grace through works of faith? Yes, the bible never says we are saved by faith alone; rather in James 2:24 “You see a man is not justified works and faith alone”. This is the only place in the bible where the phrase “Faith alone” appears. Now we know that James has said elsewhere that a faith that doesn’t produce fruit or good works is not a saving faith. This rubbed Martian Luther the wrong way as it seemed to contradict his doctrine of Sola Fida (faith alone) and he tried to have the book of James and Revelation removed from the canon of scripture. Faith alone was never taught by the church until the Protestant Reformers.

Many believe in a truncated gospel and take the faith alone message out of context. A saving faith is a faith that produces obedience to God. Jesus said many times in many ways “Why do you call Me Lord and don’t do the things I tell you?” When Paul writes about our not being saved by the works of the law or works of righteousness; he is talking about the ceremonial and dietary portions of the law – never the moral law of God. This is further evidenced in a parchment of the Dead Sea Scrolls titled The Works of the Law. It was a letter written to the Pharisees from the Essenians. These Essenians were writing to instruct the Pharisees how to keep the Mishpatim (ceremonial law). When Paul refers to the works of the law or works of righteousness, he is referring to the Mishpatim. Could you imagine Jesus ever telling us that we are not to keep God's moral law?

When I was a boy, I was in the basement with my father, and as he was cutting my hair. I asked him what faith was? He said to me; son, do you see that staircase across the room? I said yes. He then said; I can look at the stairs and assess that the lumber is fresh, and the staircase is well constructed and will carry me to the top. He then said, that reasoning alone is not faith; rather faith is walking up those stairs. Wow what a gem that I had carried through my life.

If you say that you are a follower of Jesus, you need to inspect your deeds and make sure that you are living in obedience to Christ. If not you have a hollow faith, for even the demons believe (reason in their minds) in God; and they have the good sense to tremble. A faith that doesn't produce obedience to the Spirit to do the will of Christ is no faith at all. If Jesus isn't your Lord (evidenced by obedience to Him), than who is?

What are some biblical examples of these works of faith? Consider Abraham sacrificing Isaac, this was a work of faith that he did, and then God reckoned him as righteous. Noah building the Ark is another work of faith, anything that God commands us to do or not to do are works of faith if we obey Him. I believe that if the Reformers had access to the Dead Sea Scrolls they would have never gone off on the tangents that they did. I hope this gives you something to think about!