There is a pervasive teaching among Christian churches that faith is all that matters and as long as a person believes in Jesus, they are saved for life no matter what. It is probably easier to explain to people this way. But this is an extremely dangerous teaching that implies faith can be apart from works. Here, let’s explore what God means in James 2:18: “Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.”
Faith vs Works: Contradictions?
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8).
The apostle Paul who wrote the above verse is the same one who wrote: “But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:18-21).
Are these verses contradictory? What does it really mean?
No one can get to heaven based on good works
First, no one can get to heaven based on their good works. All have sinned. It doesn’t matter if someone is like Mother Teresa. Good deeds cannot cancel out bad deeds. On the basis of good works, no one can see God. God is holy and perfect. So one sin makes a person imperfect, fall short of God’s glory, and brings him God’s wrath and punishment. Just as no one can say he is without sin, so no one can be justified by his good works.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:23-26)
Jesus, being the perfect Son of God and who was without sin, died for those who have sinned so that by His blood we can be saved. He died as our substitute so that all the wrath of God fell upon Him instead of upon us for our shortcomings. And since Jesus has paid for our sins, past, present and future, we are righteous through Him for those of us who believe in Him.
If God asks, “What have you done to deserve eternal life with Me?”.
Then the reply should be something like: “I haven’t done anything to deserve eternal life. It is by Your mercy and what Jesus did for me that I can stand before You. Jesus’s blood covers me so that I am righteous in Your sight.”
Now, if we are justified by faith alone, how is it that we are still talking about good works?
God is not mocked
On the contrary, God is not mocked. Jesus’s blood is not mocked. And anyone who thinks they can keep sinning without needing to change is mocking God and mocking the blood of Christ. This is why Paul says to the Galatians: “I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:21). The word practice means to train or perform often. Should a child of God be trained in sins then? It should not be this way.
We must bear fruit
Even Jesus spoke many times about bearing fruit in God.
“And He began telling this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard-keeper, “Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! Why does it even use up the ground?” And he answered and said to him, “Let it alone, sir, for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer; and if it bears fruit next year, fine; but if not, cut it down.”‘” (Luke 13:6-9)
Why does Jesus want to cut down the tree? It is because the tree did not bear any fruits. And the fruits refer to the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25)
So those who keep practicing sin will not inherit the kingdom of God. But those who have been justified by faith in Jesus, and turn away from their sins to bear fruits for God, will inherit the kingdom.
It is not true that with one sin, we are in trouble. “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)
But it is true that we need to strive against sin, and at the same time, bear fruit for God by relying on His power. After we receive Jesus as our Savior, we can overcome sin by relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. And we can bear fruit by walking in the Spirit. We do all this so that we can be called children of God without shame.
Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:21-23). Who are the evildoers but the ones who keep on practicing evil?
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES. Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:26-29)
Therefore, “pursue peace with all people, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
Summary
In conclusion, let us ask God for help in everything we do to be pleasing to Him. If we falter, we can ask for His forgiveness and the blood of Christ will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Keep on seeking Him and doing good. Keep on practicing good and striving against sin. By His grace and help and with the power of the Holy Spirit, let us run the race set before us as true children of the living God.
Faith is more than our belief. Faith consists of both believing and learning to be faithful to God.
If you did not know this and believed in Jesus but let yourself continue to sin, it is not too late to turn around. Just as Jesus had mercy on the fig tree to not cut it down if it bears fruit, so you can start bearing fruit and it is not too late. Ask for God’s forgiveness, and He will forgive you and help you start living for Him.
Remember, “He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7) and “He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you'” (Hebrews 13:5).
See scenarios of the dangers of having no works in keeping with faith.
Read James 2 in the Bible.