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Are we saved with works by our faith or by faith to do good works? Jas 2:17 “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is
dead.v.18 But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me
your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James I will show you my faith by my works, which means he has faith before he did any works. Our faith is invisible and can only be expressed outwardly to man by our works. This is the point that James is trying to emphasize; we show our faith by our deeds to our fellow man - Not for our salvation. Faith that is not accompanied by works is not living faith. It is not an either or. James challenges them to show him their faith without works. It’s impossible, because only God can see the heart so he challenges them by giving himself as an example. “I’ll show you my faith by my works.” James 2:21 Abraham showed his faith by his work of offering up his son. James is not asking them to work for their salvation. But challenging their works to accompany their profession. James is explaining what kind of faith results from salvation. If it is true faith it is alive. All works are acts of faith which one must possess beforehand. James is pointing out what kind of faith is actually saving faith. If they possess it, they should show it. Actions are a result of what we believe, James is saying show me what you believe. In this way their faith is useless (v.20), because they were not even helping their fellow brethren that was among them. the problem is that James is not explaining how to be saved but is telling them if they are saved they should show it by their works, understand the difference- good works comes from being in Christ. Good works do not put us in Christ. The proof of this... The Savior is a person and it is His work that one must believe in to be justified (legally declared righteous). We are not justified before God from the works we do. No religious work like baptism or our own works of obedience, good deeds, prayer, witnessing will not justify anyone. In Heb. 9:26 Christ put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Past tense- have been saved by what? Grace through FAITH. not of yourselves- which would be works. We are saved by faith alone but it is not alone - it is accompanied by works. Our works have no merit before God for salvation; however, we are created in Christ to do good works. We are not doing good works to be created in Christ; we are doing good works because we are already “in Christ.” Paul makes it clear about works not having any merit for salvation Titus 3:5:" Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us his mercy he saved us." Over and over the Bible makes the point it is not in man to inherit salvation. Its origin is found in God who saved us. This fully agrees with what he wrote in Ephesians 2:8-10. So what is the use of good works? It shows others what we actually believe and reserves rewards in heaven for those who do them in Christ. Titus 3:8 “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” Titus 3:14: “And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” Heb. 10:24: “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works” 1 Peter 2:12 “having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.” Faith Alone (in Christ’s work) brings salvation If I think that my work, my obedience in law-keeping, or my baptism have given me salvation, I’m denying the perfect and all - sufficient work Jesus Christ did by His crucifixion, the only work God the Father accepted. Then His Atonement by itself is insufficient to save. Hebrews 10:14: “For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.” As Gal. 3:22: "that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." Jesus asked people to believe to be saved. Not by works, not by the law is emphasized over and over. Paul warns those who are inclined to believe in their works having merit for salvation: Gal. 2:16: “knowing that a man is NOT justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus,” “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; (obedience and works) ye are fallen from grace” (KJV) (Gal. 5:4 also Gal. 2:16, 21, 3:10,12). Rom.4:4: “Now to him that works the wages are not counted as grace, but as debt. V.5: But to him that works not, but believes on him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness." One that works their outcome is counted as unrighteous, only the one that does NOT work but simply believes to be saved has their faith accounted as righteous. For a study on the crucial scriptures of James A study in the second chapter of James
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