Justification by Faith Alone

[SyCarl]

How can a Protestant reconcile James 2:24 with the belief that we are justified by faith alone? James tells us:

You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. (James 2:24 NASB)

First we should look at see what else James has to say about works. A few verses earlier he states:

Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? (James 2:21 NASB)

James seems to say that Abraham was justified by works. However, James is not the only biblical writer to deal with Abraham’s justification. In Roman 4:12 Paul says:

What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. (Romans 4:1-2 NASB)

Paul would seem to be contradicting James by saying that Abraham was not justified by works. Scripture does not contradict itself and, therefore, the two statements must be reconcilable. We can see that Paul does qualify his statement by saying that Abraham would not be justified before God by works. James doesn’t include this qualification so, if he is not to conflict with Paul he must be speaking about being justified before someone other than God, in other words he is speaking about being justified before man.

How does being justified before God and man differ? God knows what a man believes while one man cannot know what another truly believes. Therefore it is not enough to merely tell another that you have faith, you must show him you have faith. The evidence that you have faith are the works that you do. That this is the meaning of James’ words is shown by another part of the same passage.

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.” (James 2:18 NASB)

It is not necessary to show God anything to prove your faith since He already knows. However if I tell someone else I have faith, the only way he will know this is if I have the works to show it.

James also shows that when he is speaking of faith or belief, he is referring to an intellectual assent to a proposition rather the true faith that is defined elsewhere in the Bible. James can speak of demons believing.

You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. (James 2:19 NASB)

Yet these demons would not have faith as defined by the writer of Hebrews who says:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NASB)

The demons would have the conviction of the things not seen, but they would not hope for them as someone who has Christian faith would.

Works are not only the evidence of our faith; they are the natural and necessary consequence of that faith. Paul clearly differentiates between faith and works when, in Ephesians, he tells us that we are not saved by works, but we are saved for works.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10 NASB)

Jesus tells us that we should not expect a reward for our works since we already owe God all the God works we could possibly do.

"He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he? “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.’”
(Luke 17:9-10 NASB)

What then about statements that we will be judged according to our works? There is a difference between being judged according to our works and being saved by our works. Being judged according to our works is the same as saying we will be judged according to the evidence. It has nothing to do with the fact of whether we are saved or not; just as the evidence in a murder trial does not make the accused guilty or not. A person is either guilty or not guilty before any evidence is introduced. The evidence just shows that the verdict is the right one. God does not need evidence since He knows the truth but we are told that he will not only be just but He will also display His righteousness.

This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
(Romans 3:25b-26 NASB)

God will be right in his judgement and we will be shown that He is right because of the evidence of good works.

 

[holdencaulfield]

How can a Protestant reconcile James 2:24 with the belief that we are justified by faith alone? James tells us:

First we should look at see what else James has to say about works. A few verses earlier he states:

James seems to say that Abraham was justified by works. However, James is not the only biblical writer to deal with Abraham’s justification. In Roman 4:12 Paul says:

Paul would seem to be contradicting James by saying that Abraham was not justified by works. Scripture does not contradict itself and, therefore, the two statements must be reconcilable. We can see that Paul does qualify his statement by saying that Abraham would not be justified before God by works. James doesn’t include this qualification so, if he is not to conflict with Paul he must be speaking about being justified before someone other than God, in other words he is speaking about being justified before man.

How does being justified before God and man differ? God knows what a man believes while one man cannot know what another truly believes. Therefore it is not enough to merely tell another that you have faith, you must show him you have faith. The evidence that you have faith are the works that you do. That this is the meaning of James’ words is shown by another part of the same passage.

It is not necessary to show God anything to prove your faith since He already knows. However if I tell someone else I have faith, the only way he will know this is if I have the works to show it.

James also shows that when he is speaking of faith or belief, he is referring to an intellectual assent to a proposition rather the true faith that is defined elsewhere in the Bible. James can speak of demons believing.

Yet these demons would not have faith as defined by the writer of Hebrews who says:

The demons would have the conviction of the things not seen, but they would not hope for them as someone who has Christian faith would.

Works are not only the evidence of our faith; they are the natural and necessary consequence of that faith. Paul clearly differentiates between faith and works when, in Ephesians, he tells us that we are not saved by works, but we are saved for works.

Jesus tells us that we should not expect a reward for our works since we already owe God all the God works we could possibly do.

What then about statements that we will be judged according to our works? There is a difference between being judged according to our works and being saved by our works. Being judged according to our works is the same as saying we will be judged according to the evidence. It has nothing to do with the fact of whether we are saved or not; just as the evidence in a murder trial does not make the accused guilty or not. A person is either guilty or not guilty before any evidence is introduced. The evidence just shows that the verdict is the right one. God does not need evidence since He knows the truth but we are told that he will not only be just but He will also display His righteousness.

God will be right in his judgement and we will be shown that He is right because of the evidence of good works.

Thank You, I don’t think anyone will argue about this again.

 

[c659smith]

Sola Scriptura does not work and all Christion even those that claim this follow

Sacred Scripture --the bible

Sacred traditions—the Christmas Tree—passover/last supper
Why Christ on Holy Thursday did the washing of the feet do we not follow this teaching and tradition in our Churches?

Sacred Teachings for if one does not have this then they should have no Bible Study and these Christians would not believe in the Holy Trinity as the word Trinity is not in the bible.

As John Wrote if everything that Jesus taught and showed us****** well you answer how many books would there be?***** It’s in Scripture (the bible)

 

[c659smith]

Here is the only place in the Bible where the two words faith alone are seen. In no other place in the bible are these two words side by side.

The phrase “faith alone” does occur in the New Testament: one time, in James 2:24. There the inspired apostle denies that justification is from faith alone. Let me quote it: “You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

Where Faith Alone arguments come from is the believer of this having a disagreement with what he or she does on this earth. They want no ramification for not following Jesus’s Instructions or God’s Ten Commandments. For if they believed and had faith it would be necessary to work for their salvation by the faith they do have.

They do this by reading into the bible through mixing verses from different chapters and not reading the book as a whole when this argument is given. As with Paul many of his writtings were to the Churches still paticipating in the area of following numerous gods not the One God.

They also do this by confusing who Paul was talkingto or about such as his wanting the Gentiles to join this new Jewish sect and not having the follow the works of circumcision.pork. etc…

Are we ever good enough the answer is no.

That is where faith comes in that Jesus will show us Mercy and not judgement as for everyone is guilty in the eyes of God–no one is good enough for He is perfect.

But do not be fooled for Jesus comes as a thief in the night and will seperate the sheep from the goats.

When I was hungry you gave me no food
When Iwas thirsty you gave me no drink

I do not know you.

 

[Pwrlftr]

I don’t understand your reply?

Earlier you posted:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14)

No reformer thought that a dead faith was a faith that would save. In short, a faith that is only an intellectual assent would not be a faith that would be a saving faith.

Does that help at all?

 

[holdencaulfield]

Earlier you posted:
"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? (James 2:14)

No reformer thought that a dead faith was a faith that would save. In short, a faith that is only an intellectual assent would not be a faith that would be a saving faith.

Does that help at all?

So in those words one must have good deeds to have faith. So Protestants really do believe that one must have good deeds and faith to be saved because otherwise you would not have faith.

 

[Pwrlftr]

So in those words one must have good deeds to have faith. So Protestants really do believe that one must have good deeds and faith to be saved because otherwise you would not have faith.

A dead faith (one without works) would not be a saving faith.

 

[SyCarl]

While justification is by faith alone it is not by faith that is alone. It must and will result in works.

Is it possible that people might feel they can do whatever they want if salvation is by faith alone. Yes they might think that but Paul anticipates it and addresses it.

And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim that we say), “Let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.
(Romans 3:8 NASB)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
(Romans 6:1-4 NASB)

Paul had to address antinomianism because if the Gospel was not properly understood, it could be viewed as allowing it.

 

[SyCarl]

So in those words one must have good deeds to have faith. So Protestants really do believe that one must have good deeds and faith to be saved because otherwise you would not have faith.

I think that the main concern of Protestants is that our works do not merit anything. I think that we are actually closer than we think because while Catholicism does talk about merit, it also recognizes that when talking about God an man, merit can’t really apply.

2006 The term “merit” refers in general to the recompense owed by a community or a society for the action of one of its members, experienced either as beneficial or harmful, deserving reward or punishment. Merit is relative to the virtue of justice, in conformity with the principle of equality which governs it.

2007 With regard to God, there is no strict right to any merit on the part of man. Between God and us there is an immeasurable inequality, for we have received everything from him, our Creator.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/_P70.HTM#R

 

[mydoxy]

If I’m not mistaken, Luther famously remarked about James to the effect that it is an epistle of straw and relegated it to what became known as the apocrypha. To show that it was not canonical, not properly part of Scripture, and therefore not inspired, I suppose.

As he also added (in his own German translation) the word ‘alone’ to the even more notorious passage in Romans concerning justification by faith, his motives for doing so have been questioned.

Personally speaking, I wouldn’t mind having a word with St Paul as, to my mind, he gets off very lightly indeed. I daresay it is taken for granted that the Holy Spirit is backing him up, but even so, these texts have stirred up no end of trouble, and for centuries on end.

A brief note from the (human) author pointing out that justification by faith is more or less the central tenet of Christianity might have helped. Although in that case Catholics would almost certainly have enquired as to why this particular doctrine isn’t occupying centre stage in the Gospels. Perhaps it is and I’ve missed it.

For most of us, terms like ‘justification’ and ‘grace’ are not all that familiar through everyday use. And when we do use them, it is generally in a different sense. Hardly surprising that the Catholic Church, Luther, Melancthon, Zwingli and others developed rather different ideas about their meaning and importance.

Perhaps we are not intended to understand them. At any rate until our churches have matured a little more.

As they say in the East, ‘those who know don’t speak, those who speak don’t know’. Maybe they have a point.

 

[c659smith]

So then all here agree that faith (true faith) encompasses the necessity to do good works in order for faith to be true.

If that is the case then we are all in agreement and can be that closer to being one church.

For the Catholic Church does not teach that if a fully informed individual of Jesus Christ does works works works but never accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior a better chance of a camel going through the eye of a needle.than that person entering the Kingdom of Heaven

For the Catholic Church teaches that if a person taking Jesus as Lord and Savior but does no works,works,works a camel going through the eye of a needle would would have a better chance than that person entering into the Kingdom of Heaven

For it is faith through works and works through faith that keeps us on the right path.

As far as merit I cannot earn my way into Heaven for if I tried I would truly fail as any merits I do are God’s and not mine for all glory is His.

If I was judged would be cast into the fiery depths of the lake of fire but by Christ’s Mercy I am Saved.

So in this realm which is what I am taught by the Catholic Church any different than that of the Christian Community.

 

[planten]

So then all here agree that faith (true faith) encompasses the necessity to do good works in order for faith to be true.

If that is the case then we are all in agreement and can be that closer to being one church.

For the Catholic Church does not teach that if a fully informed individual of Jesus Christ does works works works but never accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior a better chance of a camel going through the eye of a needle.than that person entering the Kingdom of Heaven

For the Catholic Church teaches that if a person taking Jesus as Lord and Savior but does no works,works,works a camel going through the eye of a needle would would have a better chance than that person entering into the Kingdom of Heaven

For it is faith through works and works through faith that keeps us on the right path.

As far as merit I cannot earn my way into Heaven for if I tried I would truly fail as any merits I do are God’s and not mine for all glory is His.

If I was judged would be cast into the fiery depths of the lake of fire but by Christ’s Mercy I am Saved.

So in this realm which is what I am taught by the Catholic Church any different than that of the Christian Community.

**Faith and good deeds are both required for salvation. If some one believes that Jesus is god (i.e. for the christians) and he does not do any good work, he cannot be a true follower of Jesus and will not be saved.

Similarly, if some one (christian) does the best of deeds but does not believe well in Jesus then all his good work is useless. Faith comes first. That is essential. After that are the good works.

In Islam, every where in the Quran, it is emphasised the faith first and then the befitting deeds. I hope it is same in christianity. Only the matter of belief is different. Muslims and christians do not agree in the matter of beliefs.
Also, in Islam, it is believed that even though faith and good deeds are required, every one will be saved by the grace of Allah.
**