Bible Question: James 2:14-26 contradicting Apostle Paul's repeated teachings that we are saved by faith alone and not by any works? |
Bible Answer: Nope. We are saved by God's grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The true faith in Christ is the foundation for works that please God, but Paul makes it very clear that Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness (Romans 4). In James, we see that Abraham's faith is a true and living faith rather than a dead, empty profession of faith because it resulted in works. Notice that James 2:14 asks the question, "What good is it, my brothers, if someone SAYS he has faith but does not have works?" The whole of James 2 supplements teh importance Jesus places on works as the fruit -- the evidence -- of true saving faith (Matthew 7:15-20). The biblical model is not: faith plus works results in salvation, but rather: faith results in salvation plus works. The works are an inevitable sign and evidence of the saving faith we possess, but our works are not the basis of our salvation. Christ's works are. --Joe! |