By Works or Not?

by Terry Wane Benton

An atheist thinks he sees the following verses as "contradicting" each other.

Atheist: Salvation by Faith or Works:
• Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace you have been saved through faith…not a result of works.”
• James 2:24: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Answer:

Once again, the atheist shows his ignorance of context and word usage. In Ephesians 2, the “works” are contrasted with “grace through faith”. Thus, works of perfect-law-keeping where grace is not needed. None is right with God because of works (perfectly doing what is right without sin). We have all sinned; therefore, works are not the basis of our right standing with God.

However, James is not on that same topic at all. He is talking about the nature of faith. Is it an active and obedient faith? Or is it faith alone with no works (actions) to show it? He speaks of works in an entirely different way than Paul does in Ephesians 2.

Paul speaks of meritorious works of perfect law-keeping where grace is not needed. If I do the law perfectly (work), I don’t need mercy. On the other hand, since I need mercy and need grace, what kind of faith do I need? Is it mental faith alone? Or does it yield in obedience to Jesus? (Hebrews 5:9). Does it need to be like the men in John 12:42, where they believed in Jesus but would not confess Him? Is that a faith that saves? No! We have to have the kind of faith that confesses Jesus and obeys Jesus.

James is speaking of works of faith, not works of merit (perfect law keeping). So, again, both verses are true, and in context do not contradict each other at all. Our right standing with God is “not of works” (our perfect and sinless performance) but by grace through faith. What kind of faith is involved? A working, obedient, active faith. This needs mercy and grace, and these come through an obedient faith in Jesus. In fact, remission of sins comes to those with the kind of faith to "repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for remission of sins," and please note that the "gift" is given at that moment, not when they first came into mental faith alone (Acts 2:36-41). Their faith was not just about belief, but a working faith.