Q16. Works and Grace

[GoRaysXD]

Q4. (2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)? 

 

 

Paul maintained that works or religious ritual could not save a person from sin and death. Salvation is found only in faith in Jesus Christ's atoning act on the cross.  His sacrificial death on the cross for all of humanity.  This wasn't just a thought or faith held in the mind, but action in permitting God's will to be carried out in Jesus' actual life and actions.  This teaching does not conflict with James' teaching that faith without works is dead. 

 

Once a person repents of sin and puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation from sin and death and accepts God's Word as a way of life that person then begins to live out God's Words in actual words and deeds..  In other words a person's faith and trust God is actually lived out in every day life.

 

What is the point accepting Jesus Christ as personal Lord and savior, reading God's Word, and inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives if this doesn't include impacting our actions.  The point is we live out what we believe and what we put our faith in.  Actions always reflect what we believe.  Faith, life, and actions are all interrelated.

 

Unless we live out our faith in God, there is no point in having that faith.  Because God's Word commands and directs us to carry out a myriad of things in this life.

 

[lighthouse2014]

Q4. (2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?

James's point of the necessity for works as compared to Paul's faith through grace is that id a true believer in Christ has faith, then through his faith works will follow. James is speaking to those that are ready Christians, but are producing no fruits in their faith.

Paul teaches new believers or gentiles that we saved through faith in Christ, it is a gift from God. Paul is establishing churches, James is teaching those who are already believers. 

[Tyreek]

James is referring to the acts of love and help towards others which are essential for salvation. That is, the things that you don't do and should do if you had true love for others which are a result of that love and faith in Christ. James shows that faith that does not produce mercy and compassion and objects of favors are dead and in vain. The type of works Paul is referring to is trying to earn your salvation by keeping the law perfectly, which we cannot do, and why it is faith in Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.

[hanks]

Q16. (2:20-26) 
How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul’s emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?
There is no conflict here at all. James is concerned with the claim to having faith; the worthless/useless/ dead faith; and real faith. Teaching us that faith without good deeds/good works is no faith at all. This faith is not a saving faith; it is a faith that involves a total commitment that will result in a changed life. One that will bring glory to our Heavenly Father. Real/true faith and works are inseparable. Paul on the other hand is more concerned with saving faith; a faith that is a free gift from God.
It is given to those who are utterly unworthy of it, on the basis of the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Not by our works, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:9). 
It all originates with the grace of God: He takes the initiative in providing it. We are not saved by works, nor by faith plus works. We are saved through faith alone. 
 

[Lisema Ralitsoele]

Q16. (James 2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)? According to Ephesians 2:8-10 Paul says we are saved by Grace, if we have the required faith without which the Grace is wasted and we cannot perform the good works we were fore-ordained to walk in. James agrees that the people of a dead faith are not doers of the Word of God; it is only those who look into the perfect law of liberty continually without forgetting, but being doers of the work who shall be blessed.

[Katy]

Q16.We are saved by believing that Jesus died for us to redeem us from hell. When we have truly repented and are starting to walk with God, we want to live and work for Him. We then go forth and do good works. James is saying that if we have faith then we must show good works or else our faith is dead. Paul is telling us that our works do not save us , we can only be saved by God’s grace, by Jesus dying on the cross and us accepting that and repenting of our sin. So they are both saying the same thing but approaching it from different angles.

[Neil NRG2]

How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works?

James says if we have faith then this will show in good works, like a healthy fruit tree. Paul emphasises that faith is a gift from God, so noone would boast.

[Perry Ford]

Q16. (James 2:20-26) How does James’ point about the necessity of works jive with Paul’s emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?

The way it jives it that his works manifest the truth and liveliness of his faith and not necessarily about works to be done. There has to be a corresponding action to accompany you faith and that action is work, because faith without works is dead.

[haar]

. (James 2:20-26) How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?

Both James and Paul agree that good works are the result of living faith.
 

[Janzie]

On 12/17/2004 at 2:58 PM, Pastor Ralph said:

Q16. (James 2:20-26) How does James’ point about the necessity of works jive with Paul’s emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?

Salvation is by grace not by the works of the law. Eph.2:8-9 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Titus 3:5  It is only after we put our faith in Christ.  "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do" Ephesians 2:10.  In other words, we are not saved by works, but saved in order to do good works.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Eph. 2:8-10 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.

[Irmela]

Q16. (James 2:20-26)

How does James' point about the necessity of works jive with Paul's emphasis on salvation by grace without works (Ephesians 2:8-10)?

James points out that works are the outcome (proof) of faith. Alternately put :  When you have faith, works will follow. If there is no works then that faith is dead or non-existent. Abraham's actions showed that he had faith. Rahab's actions showed/proved that she had faith.  Faith is shown to be genuine by what you do, by your works.

Paul points out that we are saved by grace through faith and that it is a gift of God.  Nothing that we did or didn't do brought about this salvation.  He then adds or explains further that we are God's workmanship to do good works.

So both are saying the same thing from a different angle. 

After you are saved by grace through faith, good works will follow.  (The good works do not save you).

[Carolina]

When James refers to works-in 2:22-"Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?"-he gives the examples of those who believed and then had works and the result. In Ephesians when Paul states in 2:10-"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath ordained that we should walk in them"-this matches up with what James had wrote because we are created in Christ Jesus (those who have faith) for we are his children and by our good works faith is made perfect and evident.

[Old Jerry]

I think that they are both saying that it is faith that saves us not works. But the natural outcome of faith is works. We are saved to do works.

[James M]

The point by James is that good works are the evidence of salvation; Christ saving and living in saved person should lead that believer to habitually do the good works.

The foregoing is no contradiction to Paul's assertion that works cannot save.

Paul's point is that no amount or extent of good works can bring about salvation. God saves purely by grace through Jesus. For instance, Paul's own account is that Jesus graciously reached out to him while he was in the very process of dong "bad works" against Christ's church! He spent the rest of his life focused of doing the work of Christ, as evidence of salvation by grace ! Cornelius of Ceaseria (Acts 10) had great "good works" to show but salvation only came after the Holy Spirit lead apostle Peter reach out to and baptize him.

We are saved not because of any works, however good, but purely by grace. However, if no good works are produced by our faith, there is a problem with our salvation. That is James' point.