Romans 4:3 "Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness."
James 2:21-24 "Was not abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?...You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith only."
James rightly understood how faith and works go together. True faith always bears the fruit of good works.
James 2:14 "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food and one of you says to them, 'depart in peace be warm and filled', but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. 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 is addressing an audience who, like protestants, are resting on thier laurels of 'simple belief'. He references those who, like Catholics, claim they are saved because of works. James explained previously in Chapter 1 about being a "doer of the word and not a hearer only, decieving yourself". and furthermore brings in the O.T. examples of Abraham and rahab the harlot to prove that thier faith had works. Faith in ACTION is real faith. Abraham beleived God's promise and thus was willing to sacrifice Isaac, for that FAITH he was accounted righteouss; but if the faith stopped short of the action it was not real faith just mental acquiesence.
James 2:19 "you beleive there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. But do you want to know, oh foolish man, that faith without works is dead."
Mere belief that Jesus did what he said he did or that it is even available for you is not saving faith.
True beleif is a trust. Trusting Jesus as your Savior is enough. Absolutely. The action of that trust is the surrender of your will...your life... walking now in the "good works which he has prepared beforehand that you should walk in them." - eph.2:10
Romans 3:20 "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin." 3:27"where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart form the deeds of the law."
It is not works = righteousness. The old covenant is to prove to man that we cannot be righteouss, that in us dwelleth NO good thing!
The law establishes the heart to understand that we are in need of a Savior, that we need to be justified by faith.
It is faith = righteousness, and that is a faith that works.
The filling of the Holy Spirit will grant you to walk in good works. Man can strive without even being saved for good works, but those works were not a byproduct of faith in Jesus. Where is boasting? Excluded, becuase the good works that follow faith are through HIS grace and enabling, NOT my striving.
Christ's blood covers my sin. Not works.
No flesh shall glory in His presence, but will glory in the Lord. Those works are fruit.
In Galatians you see faith vs. works. and Paul concludes it by listing the fruits of the Spirit! Natural works produced by faith. He fills us to good works as we are emptied of self, and self effort.
a word of caution regarding legalism in works is given in Colossians 2:20-23"therefore if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourself to regulations; 'do not touch, do not taste, do not handle', which all concern things which perish with using - according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom of self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgance of the flesh.'
Jesus gave the commandment to LOVE, God and man, thus fullfilling the old covenant law of works. This commandment given in the new covenant is only accomplished as we recieve the new heart He promised. He forgives us by faith, he justifies us by faith, and he empowers us to live out that faith - all glory to God.
Faith should result in good works. But those good works are fruit of the Spirit of God now alive and living in the beleivers heart.
Works done from anyother motivation are for nothing. Striving, living under the law.
this is all kind of jumbled, but i pray the scriptures clarify God's heart to us.
