Works and Faith

One man in church told another that he considered going to church to be an insurance policy. If there really was a God and a heaven, then he would be able to say, "Hey God, I came to church on Sunday, you've got to let me in!"

Your works can be considered good or bad, depending on your intentions. The Pharisee of the Gospel parable spent much time in fasting and prayer, but he did so to show off his good works to others. The mere knowledge of religious truth, without a changed way of life, condemns him; as Christ said, "That servant which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes" -Luke 12:47.

The doctrine of faith only was made popular by Martin Luther. His break from the Roman Catholic Church resulted in the first protestant denomination. Martin Luther's protest of salvation by the works of the Catholic Church was the cause of his contending for salvation by faith only. The Protestants were wrong when they implied that merely by believing certain propositions we would be justified before God, and the Catholics were wrong when they said that simply by obeying the commandments we would be just. Neither is sufficient.

True faith in God requires a personal response to God. This response involves a personal reliance on God, a trust that is exhibited in how one lives. Faith always results in action and our "works" are a natural outcome of faith. Works prove the character of our faith. Just as important as what you do, is why you do it. Your motives must be pure; not for selfish motivations, such as bigger rewards in heaven, or trying to impress your church. Simon Magus believed and was baptized, yet was not saved (Acts 8:13-23). He had no evidence of a new life, no saving faith. James 2:20 "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

Eph 2:8,9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." It has been said that justice is giving a person what they deserve, mercy is not giving them what they deserve, and grace is giving them what they don't deserve. Because we sin daily, we don't deserve to get to heaven, but through faith in Jesus Christ, we will be given the eternal life we neither deserve nor earn.

Look upon a faith of acknowledgment of His existence only, as the faith of demons:
James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well; the devils also
believe, and tremble." They tremble, not out of reverence, but hatred and opposition to God, on whom they believe. This is faith without works.

Salvation through works results in people seeking after a righteousness they never achieve (Romans 9:32). We would have to live perfectly in order to be saved through works (James 2:10). Yet, we all stumble in many ways (James 3:2).

The word works is used in at least three ways in the New Testament.
1. It refers to the works of the Old Testament, or the law of Moses.
2. It is used to refer to traditions devised by men. 3. It is called the "works of God."

In John 6:28 people came and asked Jesus " What shall we do that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answers in verse 29 "this is the work of God that you believe on him whom He hath sent." Faith in the Lord is a work of God. It is not the kind of works that Paul is speaking of in Eph. 2:8, 9. Jesus said it was the work of God.