I grew up in a church where the doctrine of salvation by faith and not by works was impressed into our heads as by a baseball bat - constantly, almost on every service in the extreme. So that it caused mass lethargy and deep sleep among believers. Any attempt to do something, every initiative was stopped on the ground - "Not by works!"
Over the years, the difference between what we were hearing from the pulpit and what it says in the Word grew larger. Even greater was the difference with the reality - many people doubted their salvation, despite their faith and despite assurances from the ministers.
Where is the missing link? Where is the key to understand this doctrine? Do Paul and James contradicted to each other? And Paul would he not contradict to himself, once said one thing and sometimes another?
There is what it is about:
Ephesians 2:
"8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
FAITH
Our faith (not just faith alone) in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer is the cause, the reason, the base for our salvation. (John 3: 15-16, Acts 13:39, Romans 4: 5; Romans 10: 4)No need, I think to dwell on this part of the coin because it was on display before our eyes for a long time, as opposed to the time of Paul when the Jewish believers were trying to teach Gentile believers salvation by works of the law. Paul makes the following argument to them:
Galatians 2:20, 21
"I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
WORKS
Works (not works alone), which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them, are the result of true faith, proof of it, and of our salvation.Acts 26:20
"...But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance."
James 2:
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 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.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 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.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
So if we really believed and repented, the evidence of this would be our works corresponding to repentance - Greater and grater hatred of sin, a growing desire for repentance of anything inconsistent with the will of God in our lives. If we really believe and our faith is alive, it should be clear from our works arising from faith, as James writes to us.
BUT
THAN OUR FAITH IS DEAD, vanity and our salvation is not real!
"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
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