Can anyone have genuine faith without a life that shows it?

Many Christians say that Paul and James contradict each other. But were the two followers of Jesus really at odds?

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I like to talk about the big questions of faith, progressive Christianity, and skeptical claims against the reliability of the Bible and the truthfulness of Christianity.

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[Schmils]

As a slow grower (and too often self-conscious about it), I really appreciate this. May God keep blessing you!

[BrotherDave]

This passage in James is written to Christians to encourage them to do good works which will make their faith mature and profitable to them and to others. There is no contradiction between James and Paul. When Paul speaks of justification through faith alone, he is speaking of judicial righteousness before God. When James speaks of justification by a faith that works, he is speaking of a practical righteousness displayed before other people. In Romans 3-5, Paul is discussing how to obtain a new life in Christ. In James, James is discussing how to make that new life profitable.

[NC_]

*For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.*
_Ephesians 2:8‭-‬10 NKJV_

Yes, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, yet we are saved *unto* good works. Therefore, it's not that these good works are what achieve our salvation, but they are the evidence of our salvation. Good works are the fruit of our salvation, not the root of our salvation. They are the effect of our salvation, not the cause of our salvation. That's what James meant in James 2:26 and Paul backs that up in Ephesians 2:10.

[paigedinsmore]

Thank you Alisa.. My busy schedule appreciates these short videos (love the long ones when I can watch). I think that defining "works" in this discussion is valuable, and that is where things often get sticky with certain believers. So many sermons make it sound like 'church involvement' is the primary and most significant 'work' of faith, and that often is a sermon battering ram. The gradual conformation of our flesh to align with the Galatians 5 list of 'fruit of the Spirit" is a useful definition IMO, as is that chapter's list of the 'works of the flesh' is a helpful contrast to seek God for maturity and growth.

[PercentJJ]

We're talking about the process of sanctification which is exactly that - a process. What we aren't discussing is the power and role of the Holy Spirit in that process. What may be purely passive, as in "I hope I become a better person" is now, "because of the birth, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus I not only hope I become better, I am striving to produce fruit because of the Holy Spirit who now lives within me". I would argue that is the mark of a true Christ follower.

[carolfalls]

If one is not "born again" which is regeneration by the Holy Spirit through repentance and surrender, then one's works are not the works God is seeking. Wouldn't you agree works that are not by faith and through the Holy Spirit are not the works God sees or blesses?

[derekgeorgeandrews]

I look at it like this. It's not ONLY works, or, Jesus would be saying "I DIED for you, so you BETTER BEHAVE!"
I always thought it was: "You died for me, Lord, and the depth of my gratitude moves me so much that my desire to sin melts away, knowing that you have removed the condemnation for my sinful condition."

[dabbler]

YES!! Alisa nailed it when she described works as "Fruit of obedience to Christ".

I think many folks are falling awfully, terribly, short on this because they are condemned by all the folks around them who will pound on 'em like a pack of wolves: "You can't earn your way to Heaven!" and "For by GRACE are ye saved, through faith. Not of works, lest any man should boast. " So-o, ...works go out-the-window.

I often wonder what Christianity would look like if Romans and Ephesians were never written. Does anyone have anything else to preach about today besides:
"love"
"grace"
and...
Ephesians chapter 2. But back to works--

While it definitely looks like Jesus wants Christians doing them, I am puzzled by some things:
1. Back when Jesus was alive, some wandering traveler may have approached you and asked to stay overnight in your house or tent. Back then, people did. But today, it seems crazy to allow some total stranger into your house overnight. So, there's one less work that we do.

"Give to him that asks you". - But back then people didn't have the Salvation Army, Goodwill and local food-banks like today. So there's less of that today, too.

"I was in Jail and you visited me". Today, who has time?, by the time you get off work, fight traffic and whatever else. So, unless its one of your family members, who does this?

It looks to me as if it was easier back in Jesus's time to do those things, and things like it. Still, doing good works is good. Sad that your fellow christians put you down for it, accuse you of just trying-to-look-good, etc., etc.

[johninpa]

Galatians 5:6 “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." The faith that justifies us is a faith working through love, not faith alone. Faith and love (manifested by works) are always connected. Faith (a process of the intellect initiated by God’s grace) and love (an action) are never separated in the Scriptures. As found in Ephesians 3:17; 1 Thessalonians 3:6, 12-13; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; 1 John 3:23 and Revelation 2:4-5, 19. Furthermore, all faith (initial and perfected) are gratuitous gifts from God, and not earned or merited by any human action. God affects everything, both the willing and the achievement. But God also requires human action, which is necessary to perfect our faith. You cannot have love without free will.

1) GRACE...Ephesians 2: 8-10 shows how the gratuitous gift of grace initiated by God works through our faith to do good deeds with God getting the glory.
(So many leave off verse 10 and verse 10 is the linchpin to open up the understanding)
8 "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Or again as we see in 2 Corinthians 9:8 “Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.”

Scripture tells us that if we do not act on these opportunities of charity (love) toward others, we will be judged on that also. We do not merit our own salvation but we do have a free will part in it. God graces us with the power to cooperate with His offer of relationship of love with Him! In fact, I would even say it is a cooperative family relationship with the Trinity, as the Trinity is a family...Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

2) FAITH....we must have it but there is more than just believing in Jesus, we must also act...Matthew 7:21 says “Not everyone who says to me, ''Lord, Lord, ’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Often I have heard it said, and I do believe that it is absolutely 100% correct, that it is all about a personal relationship with Christ Jesus. That coupled with the fact that we need the Spirit’s help all makes perfect logical and biblical sense.

2Timothy 4:7-8 7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. 8 As to the rest, there is laid up for me a crown of justice, which the Lord the just judge will render to me in that day: and not only to me, but to them also that love his coming. Make haste to come to me quickly.”

It is this belief of mine that God’s grace initiates all things and does more than just cover over the dung heap that drives me to believe that God’s grace penetrates, transforms, regenerates and elevates.

3) WORKS...The opportunities to do these works are put in front of us by God, for His glory, if we love Him and our neighbors enough to do them.

So we do NOT earn our salvation, we instead out of love, do the will of God. (Ephesians 2: 8-10)

One has to use one’s own free will to do the good works prescribed in Matthew 25: 31-46 because the Bible says in dozens of passages that we are judged by our deeds.

I also believe that we just cannot dismiss our free will as playing a part in our love relationship, yes in our salvation by choosing to love our neighbor and choosing to love and obey God and imitate Jesus all in response to God’s grace. So in this way it fulfills all of Ephesians 2:8-10,
“8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from you; it is the gift of God; 9 it is
not from works, so no one may boast. 10 For we are his handiwork, created in Christ Jesus for the good
works that God has prepared in advance that we should live in them.”

Also. in this way James and Paul do NOT contradict each other. Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!

[ryanparris]

Faith alone is how salvation is ACCOMPLISHED….works is how salvation is DEMONSTRATED

[thisladyisstrange]

Mine has taken years, I still don't think I'm saved yet... I think I'm growing with God then I go back to my old sinful ways then get convicted then.. its been a struggle.

[Katherine_Ann]

Great video! A great reminder to examine your own life to see if you're in the faith, like 2 Corinthians 13:5 instructs us!

[gaffex]

I always have questions about Christianity fank you for answering them and helping me grow in my faith

[savedbymylovegodthelordjes]

praise the only true living LORD and GOD bless you all glory be to the HOLY TRINITY forever and ever amen 💖✝️✝️✝️

[Particularly_John_Gill]

We need to have a strong understanding of the Law/Gospel distinction:

Our works do nothing to merit our salvation. Therefore it is also true that our works do nothing to cause us to lose our salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith, which is the free gift of God.

Never use works as the standard for the assurance of your salvation. The standard is belief. Do you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Christ rose from the dead than you are saved. Believe that. Works are the outflowing of gratitude for what Christ has done for you. There is no number of works that you can do to assure you are saved, because that isn't what saves you!

[NewCreationInChrist]

Amen examine yourself in the faith to see God working through you, seek His will.
1 John 3:7
"Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous."

[nikokapanen]

The deeper question is where goes the line, how much fruit you need to bear because different people are bearing different amount of fruit and it is gradual, like some people are shining in their faith, flourishing, others a little less, then others even more less then others are somewhere in the middle yet another are already more worldly than Christians and so on. So where would be that line of a saving faith is not clear.

[paultarsus]

Grace Abounding to the Cheif of sinners is a great book and it's on audio book on YouTube to listen to and possibly give hope for one struggling with faith. John Bunyan's uncanny ability to delve into parts of his internal battle is something that I believe can help many believers. Of course stay in scripture but it's a helpful secondary book in my opinion.

[cammieowens]

What exactly are “good works” according to the Bible? What “good works” are James talking about?

[StallionFernando]

So how long after we become Christians should we see fruit? When is am I still considered a baby Christian?