Faith vs. Works

Introduction

we continue in our “what does the Bible say about…” series

today we are looking at faith and works

what does the Bible say about faith and works

Topic is important because...

it’s been long discussed

Theologian Martin Luther openly wondered if James should be in the NT canon - expound

The Roman Catholic church’s view of works as it relates to salvation is one of the core beliefs that makes them a different religion than Christianity

it’s been long mispracticed

many say, “i have faith,” yet their works wouldn’t suggest so

many say, “look at what good I do,” yet the motivations of their heart are impure or incomplete

So… what do we do with faith and works?

Here’s what I’d like to do...

First, ask how each relates to the gospel individually - expound

Then, ask how each relates to one another -expound

But first, let’s read two passages of Scripture that can often be said to be conflicting

Scripture

Ephesians 2:1–10 CSB

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace! 6 He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

briefly expound

James 2:14–26 CSB

14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have works? Can such faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, stay warm, and be well fed,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one. Good! Even the demons believe—and they shudder. 20 Senseless person! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless? 21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works in offering Isaac his son on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness, and he was called God’s friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 In the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works in receiving the messengers and sending them out by a different route? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.

briefly expound

How do faith/works relate to the gospel?

let’s start with works

Ephesians 2:8–10 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.

Created for good works

Not referencing our new creation only - but our original creation - expound

We define the gospel often as...

God

Man

Jesus

Response

Assurance

Evidence

Works is almost like the bookends of the gospel

God created us for good works

Genesis 1:26-28 “26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” 27 So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. 28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.””

Genesis 2:15 “15 The Lord God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it.”

We rebelled against God’s plan

Fast forward to having recieved the gospel… works are the evidence of our faith

They are proof that we’ve been restored

James 2:17-18 “17 In the same way faith, if it does not have works, is dead by itself. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith by my works.”

Ephesians 2:8-10 “8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.”

So… work’s role in the gospel is the bookends. What we were created for, rebelled from, and redeemed to once again.

Now… what about faith? What is faith’s role in the gospel?

Remember, we described the gospel in 6 parts

God

Man

Jesus

Response

Assurance

Evidence

Let’s look again to our passage in Ephesians

Ephesians 2:8–9 CSB

8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—9 not from works, so that no one can boast.

Through faith

Faith is the medium by which we receive salvation

Works is not… expound

So… the problem with faith and works is when we put them in the wrong place.

works is not what saved or how we are saved - it’s what we’re saved from and what we’re saved to

faith is not what saves, it’s how God choose to bring salvation to people

faith is also not the end goal - it is works (relationship with God)

When we understand their role in the gospel, we can better understand what they are and how they work together

How do faith and works relate to one another?

Faith is needed because it saves us from our rebellion of the original works we were created for

Works are the evidence our faith is authentic

Practical Application

Their relationship offers us a measuring stick...

expound

Holy Spirit Led Invitation