Incomplete Faith?

James 2:22-23

James 2:22–23 CSB

You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was made complete, 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.

There is three phrases that stand out in this passage of James. “Faith was active together with his works,” “by works, faith was made complete,” and “he was called God’s friend.” These are three important considerations when it comes to faith and loving works. These are connected to love as this is the topic that James introduced earlier in James 2:8 “Indeed, if you fulfill the royal law prescribed in the Scripture, Love your neighbor as yourself, you are doing well.”

Faith Together With Works

Faith and works of love go together. This would seem according to James that faith and works are collaborators. The Greek work used in this case is synergeō. We get our English word synergy from this word. Synergy is when to part, parties, or individuals work together they are more effective than if they worked on their own separately. The word choice her by James is important. James could have said “faith was demonstrated by his works” as some would take this to mean. However “faith is active together with his works.”

James has already stated that faith without works is dead being by itself (James 2:17). Paul makes it clear that works do not save us in various passages (Romans 10:3; Romans 9:31-32; Titus 3:5; Romans 3:27-28; and more). Many would point out the seeming contradictory passages. So how do we resolve these? I would say that it is more the absence of one or the other that leads to a false sense of security for the unbeliever.

Without works of love faith is dead and cannot save (James 2:14). Without faith works are dead and cannot redeem (Hebrews 6:1). You see they are a package deal. I think this is James’ point when he says faith together (synergetically) with works produce righteousness in the lives of those who love God. In all reality you cannot have one without the other.

Even Paul who we typically think of when we talk about faith and not works says that we are created to accomplish works of faith (good works, works of love, walking in the Spirit, walking in newness of life, bearing fruit, newness of the Spirit, (Titus 3:5,8, Ephesians 2:8-10, Galatians 5:4-6, First Corinthians 13:1-3, Romans 8:3-4, 12-13, Romans 5:1, 6:4, 7:4, 6 ). You see everywhere Paul connects these works to our faith. We do a disservice to Paul when we describes his writings as describing “faith and not works” without clarifying what is meant by that statement. So what does he mean since the statements seem clear that Paul is saying we are justified by faith and not works then?

Paul I believe is making the point that it is impossible to work your way into heaven. There are not enough works of the law that you or I could ever do that would earn our way into God’s grace. One way to think of this is, “What is the object of your faith?” When the object of your faith is in doing good works then it comes up short every time. On the other hand if God is the object of your faith then your trust in Jesus Christ is empowered by God’s salvation and sanctification. This is primarily the point that Paul is trying to make when he says that works of the law do not save.

God’s grace is a unilateral gift that only God provides. We are unworthy and undeserving, but yet God in His love gives us this grace. We receive that Gift (Salvation) through faith not some work. We do disservice to Paul’s writings then is when we make Salvation merely an act of confession and then call that confession faith. This is why on the heels of nearly every “saved by faith not works” statements Paul follows it up with statements about good works, walking, and good fruits. He is not separating faith and works as some would think, but rather recognizing that when we are saved for good works then it is transforming us and fulfilling God’s righteousness in us.

Even Christ makes this plain to us when he says “You will recognize them by their fruit (Matthew 7:15-20).” You see it is the fruit (works) that reveals what a man believes in his heart. So then it is the combination of knowing Christ (Matthew 7:23) and producing good fruit (Matthew 7:16) that saves a man’s soul. Without both there is good cause to question whether the person has been saved. Jesus also illustrates this in the picture of the vine and the branches (John 15:1-10). In this imagery there are two ways that one can be thrown into eternal Judgement. The first is to not bear fruit (John 15:2). Jesus makes it pain that no fruit bearing branches are removed. He trims those that are bearing fruit that they might be more fruitful. The second way to be thrown in to the fire is to not abide in Christ (John 15:6).

So you see salvation is both being in Christ and producing fruit. These are inseparable. If you have just works then you are placing hope on filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). If we have mere confession without good works then we are trusting in dead faith (James 2:17). Neither of these can save. It is faith active together with works that both saves and demonstrates we are saved. Just to be clear these are not works of merit. These works do not make us better in God’s eyes, no! These are fruit bearing works (Spiritual) that are the result of saving faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Faith Made Complete

Philippians 2:12-13

Philippians 2:12–13 CSB

Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

“Working out your own salvation” in a merely confessional faith makes no sense. However, “working out your own salvation” in a synergistic faith/good works brings this particular passage into clearer view. This working is a command that we are to fulfill according to Paul. That is to say it is more than a passive agreement that we are letting God work in us, but rather we have an active role to play in our salvation and sanctification. This role is obeying God. It is through obedience to God in faith that we “work out” our salvation. What is more when we do this then God is “working in” us and accomplishing His “work according to His good purpose.” It would seem to me that here too there is a synergistic God’s work/My obedience action occuring here.

James says that Abraham’s faith was made “complete” through his good works. This word is teleioō (tell ee o). There are many references to the completion and perfection of the Spiritual fruit and disciplines in our lives. The completeness (teleioo) is ultimately found by faith in the perfect (teleioo) sacrifice Jesus Christ (Hebrews 5:8-9); Trusting in Christ’s sacrifice makes us perfected (teleioo)(Hebrews 10:14); Through persistent moving toward God’s will we are also being made complete (teleioo) (Philippians 3:13); and keeping God’s word makes God’s love complete (teleioo) in us (1 John 2:5) which gives us assurance of our salvation.

In short then without good works our faith is incomplete. We move toward a mature faith by living out what God has shown us and put into us. Love, being the supreme Christian virtue and premiere fruit of the Spirit, is mark of mature Christian spirituality. Love is also an ideal that we always will be moving toward as God sanctifies and draws us nearer to His heart. I can never say “Ah I have matured in God’s love. I can rest now.” Love will be striving and longing as we wait for perfection in the afterlife.

Philippians 3:13-17

Philippians 3:13–17 CSB

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained. Join in imitating me, brothers and sisters, and pay careful attention to those who live according to the example you have in us.

God Bless You

~BJ Olson