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FAQ # 19
QUESTION 19 : James makes a demand in his
letter, "But someone will say, 'You have faith, and I have works.'
Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by
my works" (James 2:18). James' question falls under the category
of 'epistemology,' - of how we can know that something is so - versus
'ontology,' - of what is. In James's letter, works are offered as sign
or evidence of faith. As James points out, what a man does is more compelling
than what he says. But does God, who knows our thoughts afar off, require
evidence?
In a sense this is right, but more importantly this
is wrong. 'Works' in this scripture can equate to evidence, as being a
sign of faith, but more importantly faith doesn't exist without the 'works'.
In other words, ''the 'works' is not just some side spin-off of faith,
but it is the reason for the faith and the result of it. It's not evidence
as how evidence is used in court, but rather, it is the faith manifest
or the purpose of the faith. "He that believeth on me, as the scripture
hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water" (John
7:38). "Out of your belly shall flow..." is not an evidence
to others or yourself solely, but it is the result of believing. A result
that if not had, faith is nullified. You would not have believed. You
believe for a house, you get a house. The house with the preliminaries
are the evidence that you believe for a house, but it is also the result
or purpose of faith. What would be the sense if you believe for a house
and have no house; assuming that the evidence ('works') is not necessary,
but just for a show? If the house is not necessary, why believe for it.
You see my point. Faith without works (obedience, results, evidence) is
dead! It is not faith!
To try and justify the claim that works is not needed,
this person also said:
They “deny God foreknows His own;
they claim God is every bit as surprised as anyone else when the minister
opens the envelope and reveals the names of the baptized. But even if
God were as passive in the salvation process as they claim- and this is
not Biblical, but let us suppose for the sake of argument that God is
as passive as they claim,- then He would still have to know the names
of His elect before the foundation of the world. Why? Because if there
were some state of affairs in the world of which God did not know, such
as the names and number of the saved, He would not be omniscient. Yet
God is omniscient: ‘For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our
heart, and knoweth all things’ (1 John 3:20).”
This only proves even further that works is required,
because if it is known and God knows our heart before we believe why not
just come back for the world now, seeing all those who will believe or
be saved he knows already. Why didn’t he just bring the resurrection at
the time of Moses? Because faith without works is dead! Even further,
Jesus was the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, this indicates
predestination and faith. However, if he didn't enter the world (works),
you and I wouldn't get the chance to be saved. Hence, faith without works
is dead! Again, he knows that you are going to give him praise today,
yet he wants you to give him praise and he is elated by it, though he
knows that it is coming. Why not just know and say, don't praise me (works),
I know. Or, why don't he says to 'us', you don't have to avoid murder,
stealing, adultery and strive to live "righteously", I know
your heart you are 'good'? Because if you are good, you will be good -
works. If you are saved you'll have signs of being saved. It is somewhat
automatic to faith, or a must reaction. For instance, if you put your
bare hands in fire the often reaction would be a burning sensation with
an awful outburst. When the Holy Spirit fire from heaven comes in you,
you should also get a supernatural sensation with an outburst of tongues.
When you believe on him, the automatic reaction is to obey him (works);
therefore, when he says baptize, you will automatically do it (works),
because you believe on him. It is not so much a requirement as it is a
consequential result. Why would you just get up and get baptize in a Jewish
man's name anyway? The only reason anyone would do it is because they
would have believe on him and eventual obey the command to do so (works).
That is why belief is stress greatly over any other facet of salvation;
unfortunately, many have taken that way out of context and stop at a confession
of faith statement.
For instance, someone says to you, "I have a cure
for your disease, you can be free; by the way, I'm your friend, call it
down, you are free." You now believe this because he is your friend
(faith). However, you are still sick. He then gives you a bottle of medicine
to drink. You drink it (works or evidence) and miraculously you are cured.
Now, by this example, is the works required? Remember, he believed his
friend as all Christians do of Christ and say they are saved. But he wouldn't
have been cured if he hadn't taken the medicine (works). Taking the medicine
was an automatic reaction or result of him believing his friend. Taking
the medicine could have only been done by faith; he had to trust this
person.
Now, I can reverse the question to you from the explanation
thus far, "Does God, who knows our thoughts afar off, require us
to believe?" Answer, if he doesn't require us to believe, then he
doesn't require evidence or works. You can't separate the two, where there
is belief, there is evidence or works.
Then it was again said,
“Cigarette smoking causes cancer.
Cigarette smoking causes stained teeth. Does it therefore follow that
stained teeth cause cancer? It's
silly to suppose, but some reason just like this. They read that grace
through faith causes salvation. They read that grace through faith causes
good works. They conclude that good works cause salvation.”
This is not the case, they are different usage for
the word ‘works.’ There is ‘works of righteousness,’ which is doing good
works as in charitable works. This is what the above person incorrectly
alludes to, "causes good works;" which he is saying many conclude
that good works causes salvation. This is never the case (Isa 64:6,
John 3:5), except with their Athanasian Creed; which reads, “At whose
coming all men shall rise again with their bodies; and shall give account
of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting
and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the catholic
faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.”
Then there is "works," as in obedience to what the salvation
author says we must do to be save (John 3:5). We believe him, therefore
by faith we obey him (works). The works here is the result of the faith.
You believe me when I say hold my hands and you will not die, if you did
not believe you would not obey me (‘works’) and die. Works differ in scripture,
but when in reference to saving faith or salvation, it usually means obedience
and manifestations of that obedience. What saves is your faith, but without
the obedience, you would not be save, hence works or evidence (Acts 2:38)
is required. That’s why the bible tells us, “he became the author of eternal
salvation unto all them that obey him” (Heb 5:9).
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