Faith & Works Controversy - Addendum

Faith & Works Controversy - Addendum

Some have claimed there is a contradiction between the Apostle Paul’s teaching salvation by grace and not of works with the context of James’ teaching a believer must demonstrate good deeds… or works in their life.  Even the great Martin Luther called the Book of James an “epistle of straw” because of his strong stance against those who promoted salvation by works.

Let’s take a closer look at what the Scriptures have to say about good deeds.  We have already learned there are no good deeds prior to salvation.  We are first saved by grace and not by works as Paul pointed out in Ephesians 2:8-9.  The book of Romans, also written by the Apostle Paul, tells us the same thing: “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who is seeking God.  All have turned away, they have together become worthless, there is no one who does good, not even one” (Romans 3:10-11).

Once you are saved it is a different story.  A saved person is a changed person...changed by God.  We call it rebirth...we call it being born again.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone and a new life has begun” (New Living Translation).  As a new person...a new child of God, adopted into His family, we have been given a new purpose.  We no longer live for ourselves, but now live to serve God. 

Did you know God had a plan for you to serve him before you even got saved? ...before you were even born?  Remember those two verses in Ephesians that told us we were saved by grace through faith and not by any works on our own part (ref: Ephesians 2:8-9)?  Remember how I explained how good deeds only comes into play “after” salvation...as James is teaching us?  Read Ephesians 2:10 with me, “For we are God’s workmanship (meaning God has skillfully made each of us), created in Christ Jesus (meaning we became this new creature because of Christ dying on the cross) to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Now that you are saved God expects you to live like one.  So we see James calling us to live a life that represents a true believer in the Lord.  In Ephesians Paul tells us we should be living in accordance to “good works which God prepared” for us to do.  How about Jesus? ...did Jesus teach that we should be living in accordance with good deeds once we are saved?

In Matthew, chapters 5 through 7, we find the great “Sermon on the Mount” preached by Jesus.  He starts his teaching with what is known as “The Beatitudes” which actually details the plan of salvation (Matthew 5:1-12).  We will have to study the beatitudes more closely at another time, but look with me at what Jesus says starting with verse 13.  Now remember we must stay in context...verses 1-12 deal with salvation so the next verse will be based on a person who has obtained this salvation in their life.

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.  You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:13-16

I wish I had time in this commentary to break down all the wonderful and deep teachings of Jesus’ sermon, but we need to stay within our text in James.  We have read James’ teaching on how the believer should be demonstrating good deeds in their life.  Paul stated the same case in Ephesians as he described the good works God has prepared for us to do.  Now here in Matthew we see the words of Jesus Christ himself telling us the exact same thing.

Jesus said in verse 14 we are “the light of the world” which describes a person who is saved.  Notice how he continues his example by saying the Christian is to give light (which represents good deeds) “to everyone in the house.”  Focusing in on verse 16 we see Jesus teaching how a light source is meant to give light so that other can see.  In the same way the Christian is to let their “light shine before men” so “they may see your good deeds.”  Jesus expects the believer to show good deeds to others...in the same way Paul taught and in the same way James is teaching.  Jesus finished by telling us why we should be living out these “good deeds” in our lives so “they” (other people) “may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

So as you can see there is no and has never been a controversy between the teachings of Paul and James in regards to salvation and good works.  We see total harmony between Paul, James and Jesus regarding this subject.