Ephesians 2:8-9
– “For by grace you have been saved
through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a
result of works, so that no one may boast.”
James 2:17
– “So also faith by itself, if it does
not have works, is dead.”
Much
confusion and disagreement abounds over the role of works as it relates to
salvation. The verse Ephesians 2:8,
if quoted without regard to its context, or the nature of “works”, would be understood
as a declaration of faith alone as man's response to God's grace. Yet, when
reading James 2:17, again, without
regard to context, or the nature of “works”, there appears to be a
contradiction. So, a close study of the contexts and of “WORKS” is
helpful in clearing up the confusion.
SOME
HISTORY OF THE DEBATE OVER “FAITH” & “WORKS”
Some
of the confusion arises from the “after-effects” of the teaching of Martin
Luther in his denunciation of the WORKS OF CATHOLICISM. Luther opposed
justification by “works” but the works he opposed were works of penance that
the Roman Catholic church IN HIS DAY endorsed. At the time,
a Dominican priest named Johann Tetzel, commissioned by the Archbishop of Mainz
and Pope Leo X, was in the midst of a major fundraising campaign in Germany to
finance the renovation of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The main funding for the early stages of building
New St. Peter’s came from the sale of indulgences. Indulgences were a means
whereby remission of sins was granted, or rather obtained by payments of money;
even after one’s death. This means of receiving (really obtaining) forgiveness
of sins, was what Luther condemned.
In ‘A Treatise on Good Works’,
Luther spoke of ‘works done outside of faith’. Yet, in the same writing, he
mentioned ‘works of faith’, which he advocated. Luther (and
his followers) viewed good works as ‘evidence’ of faith, but
did not believe that good works were necessary for salvation. Thus Luther
advocated that one is saved “sola fide” (faith
alone). It is obvious from Ephesians 2:8-9 and James 2:17 that there are different
works under consideration for in Ephesians, salvation is NOT a result of those
works. In James, faith is said to be dead, if apart from those works. Thus, if
salvation is by faith, and faith must be accompanied with works, then salvation
must also be dependent upon works. So, some works are condemned in scripture
while other works are necessary. There are different types of works and not all
works are of the same nature! Here are a few of the distinctive ‘works’
mentioned in the scriptures:
Works of the Law of Moses
- “knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
(Galatians 2:16).
The
verse on three occasions speaks of “the works of the law”. It is equally clear
that by these works, there is no justification. Paul is contrasting these works
with the works of faith in Jesus Christ. Remember that on one occasion came to
Jesus and asked him, “What
shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto
them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29). Paul goes on to write in
Romans 3:28 that “…a person is justified by faith apart from
works of the Law.” The works that do not justify
are clearly specified. These works are the same as those mentioned in Galatians 2:16. The simple truth is,
there are different types of works revealed in the New Testament!
Works of Man’s Righteousness
- “not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Titus 3:5).
Notice
how this verse clearly identifies the works! It is works “which we have done”.
By such works, man cannot be saved. He needs the mercy of God in the gospel of
Christ. The passage condemns the moral man thinking he can be saved in his own
goodness or works of righteousness which he is doing. So many believe that by
being morally clean and reasonably honest that salvation is assured them. This
can never be “for all have sinned ...”
(Romans 3:23). We need God’s mercy
in the gospel. Man can never originate a plan to remove one single sin. These
works are condemned in the verse, but works of all nature are not condemned.
The verse is not to be understood as condemning what God has for one to do in
obeying the gospel of His Son.
Works of God’s Righteousness
- In Acts 10:34-45, we read: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of
a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he
that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.”
What
works are involved in one being accepted with God? God has authorized faith (John 6:29) (James 2:24); repentance (Acts
17:30; 2 Peter 3:9); confession (Romans
10:10); baptism (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter
3:21) for one to obey in working God’s righteousness to be saved. When one
obeys such, he is not working man’s righteousness, but the righteousness of God.
As Paul wrote in Romans 10:2-3, “I bear them witness that they have a zeal
for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the
righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did
not submit to God’s righteousness.”
12/6/2020
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