Bible Question: I know its been debated for years but can someone explain to me ,in simple terms, the apparent contradiction between James 2:24 and Ephesians 2:8..Are we in fact saved by grace or must there be works involved in our SALVATION...Is our salvation in anyway shape or form dependent upon works...Thanks... |
Bible Answer: Dear Shortstop45us: Brother Tim has made an excellent point, and I'm going to build on it just a little. Many religions say salvation is based on works so first let's look at why this cannot be. Is. 64:6 states: "For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away." Now, you may ask how does this verse fit in with your question. Let's look first at Eph. 2:8,9 which state: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast." This verse makes it clear that salvation is by grace through faith. Now let's go back to James 2:14-18. I'm going to only quote verse 18 as at the very end you see the explenation. James 2:18 states: "But someone may well say, "You have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." The very end of this verse explains this supposed contradiction, you do not show your works to show your faith, you show your faith by doing the works. It is only when we have faith in God that indeed we can do truly Good Works. One more passage and then I will finish, Eph. 2:10 states: "For we are His (Christ's) workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, (these good works) which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." You see the good works we do once we are saved are God's good works. All goodness, purity, holiness, etc is in God, and therefore it is only once we are saved that we can do these good works for with out God, we have no goodness, purity, holiness, etc. I hope that this helps you. In Christ, Pastor Paul Is. 6:8 |