Post by ambassador on Dec 21, 2009 21:59:01 GMT -5
The Debate in Christendom: Justified by Faith, or by Faith Plus Works?
Originally written 11 July 2008
When the pure Gospel of Grace is mentioned, the critic’s immediate response is “the Bible contradicts itself because Paul says one thing in Romans 5:1, and James says the complete opposite in James 2:24!” How do we reconcile this “faith plus works” and “faith without works?” We know without a doubt that God’s Word is inerrant, perfect and without mistake. It is extremely critical that we approach this topic dispensationally, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). Failure to use God’s Word GOD’S WAY will not only result in contradiction, but also create an unbelievable amount of confusion.
First, it is necessary to establish the basics of the Book of James and the Book of Romans. Paul writes to Gentile members of the Body of Christ out in Rome (Romans 1:5-7). James, on the other hand, is writing to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,” a group of dispersed Jewish believers of the Kingdom Gospel (James 1:1).
Dispensational Bible study teaches us that the Nation Israel and the Body of Christ are two separate entities in God’s dealings with man: things that apply to Israel may not apply to us in the Body of Christ, and vice versa. For instance, the Gospel of Grace revealed to Paul (Romans 16:25) was not the same as the Gospel of the Kingdom preached to Israel during Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew 3:1-6; Matthew 9:35). Or, a second example is that Exodus chapter 20 tells us that Israel was under the demands of the Mosaic Law, whereas Paul writes in Romans 6:14-15 that the Church, the Body of Christ is “not under the law, but under grace.”
Throughout the Old Testament, God gave the Jews specific requirements to follow. The Mosaic Law (the Ten Commandments, plus 613 additional rules known as the Mitzvot) entailed the observance of the Sabbath day, the feast days, the new moons, the Temple worship, the priesthood, the animal blood sacrifices, the tithe, and so on. This is how we should view the book of James—in view of Judaism, the religion of Israel. Jesus never told the believing Jews of His day to stop Law-keeping; in fact, He promoted it in Matthew 19:16-19. James is writing his epistle in accordance with Jesus’s earthly ministry.
The Book of Galatians warns us not to fall into the trap of legalism like the poor believers in Galatia were doing. In that epistle, Paul wrote that if we were justified by faith plus works, “Christ shall profit us nothing” and we have “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:2, 4 KJV). It is not that we were saved and then lost, but rather we have given up on grace, and preferred works-religion (compare Romans 11:6).
Abraham was justified by faith, just like we are today; if Abraham were justified by works, then he could brag of his deeds (Romans 4:2-3). In verse 4 of Romans 4, Paul wrote that if we attempt to work for salvation by meriting favor, then “the reward [salvation] is not of grace [unmerited favor], but of debt.” By working for salvation, you are demanding that God owes you something—this is contrary to grace, which is unmerited favor. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth [trusts] on Him [Christ] that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5 KJV).
So, Abraham was justified by faith without works, because this was well before circumcision and the Mosaic Law (Abraham lived about 500 years prior to Moses). James is simply analyzing Abraham’s faith from the legalistic standpoint; it is not expected that James writes the grace doctrine that Paul does, because James is still tied to Judaism. Paul is writing apart from Judaism, so he is analyzing Abraham’s faith from the grace standpoint. Nonetheless, it was Abraham’s works that proved that he was saved!
Now, returning to James 2:21, we read that Rahab the prostitute (you find her in Joshua 2:9-11) was justified by works, or was she? Again, her works proved that she was a believer. She was saved the moment she believed in the fact that God brought the Israelites through the Red Sea to take the land of Canaan from Jericho. James, like before, is looking at Rahab from the LEGALISTIC standpoint, and at that time, Rahab still had to follow up her faith with works. James is not writing to us Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace; he is still following the prophetic program of Israel, completely unaware of what God has Paul doing amongst the Gentiles. James has no idea of an indwelling Holy Spirit helping us do what is right in God’s sight.
It is extremely important for you to understand that no one was ever saved by doing good works. Everyone is saved by faith; it was just that God required the Jews who had faith to get water baptized, keep the commandments, observe the Sabbath Day, and so on. Most of my own community and family are steeped in works-religion to this very day. Works by themselves never saved anyone, even in Israel; God always required faith FIRST (Hebrews 11:6)! The Law condemns everyone, including the Jews (Romans 3:19-20). God designed the Mosaic Law to PROVE to us that we are sinners. Why can you not get to Heaven by “keeping the Ten?” If you commit one single sin (such as a ‘white lie’), according to James 2:10, you are guilty of breaking EVERY aspect of the Mosaic Law.
Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, we are under a totally different set of circumstances. The Law has been put to death with Christ and is taken out of the way (Colossians 2:13-15). We do not have any Mosaic Law to keep today; we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to show us right from wrong (Romans 7:1-6). Romans 1:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9 both say that salvation is given to everyone who believes [that is, trusts and places their faith in the Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4]. There is nothing in these verses about works needed for salvation—no tongues, no repenting, no water baptism, no sacraments, nothing but faith. Romans 10:4, 10 say the same thing too!
Instead of us being under the demands of the Mosaic Law, God tells us that we should place our faith in Paul’s Gospel, the Gospel of Grace: “Christ died for our sins, [His blood was shed,] He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). God will NOT make any exceptions for anyone who hears this Gospel and denies it: if you are not “in Christ” (indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed by the Holy Spirit) the moment you die, God demands that you NOT be allowed into Heaven. You have no place to go but the eternal Lake of Fire!
THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:” —1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” —Romans 10:9-11 KJV
Originally written 11 July 2008
When the pure Gospel of Grace is mentioned, the critic’s immediate response is “the Bible contradicts itself because Paul says one thing in Romans 5:1, and James says the complete opposite in James 2:24!” How do we reconcile this “faith plus works” and “faith without works?” We know without a doubt that God’s Word is inerrant, perfect and without mistake. It is extremely critical that we approach this topic dispensationally, “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV). Failure to use God’s Word GOD’S WAY will not only result in contradiction, but also create an unbelievable amount of confusion.
First, it is necessary to establish the basics of the Book of James and the Book of Romans. Paul writes to Gentile members of the Body of Christ out in Rome (Romans 1:5-7). James, on the other hand, is writing to “the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,” a group of dispersed Jewish believers of the Kingdom Gospel (James 1:1).
Dispensational Bible study teaches us that the Nation Israel and the Body of Christ are two separate entities in God’s dealings with man: things that apply to Israel may not apply to us in the Body of Christ, and vice versa. For instance, the Gospel of Grace revealed to Paul (Romans 16:25) was not the same as the Gospel of the Kingdom preached to Israel during Christ’s earthly ministry (Matthew 3:1-6; Matthew 9:35). Or, a second example is that Exodus chapter 20 tells us that Israel was under the demands of the Mosaic Law, whereas Paul writes in Romans 6:14-15 that the Church, the Body of Christ is “not under the law, but under grace.”
Throughout the Old Testament, God gave the Jews specific requirements to follow. The Mosaic Law (the Ten Commandments, plus 613 additional rules known as the Mitzvot) entailed the observance of the Sabbath day, the feast days, the new moons, the Temple worship, the priesthood, the animal blood sacrifices, the tithe, and so on. This is how we should view the book of James—in view of Judaism, the religion of Israel. Jesus never told the believing Jews of His day to stop Law-keeping; in fact, He promoted it in Matthew 19:16-19. James is writing his epistle in accordance with Jesus’s earthly ministry.
The Book of Galatians warns us not to fall into the trap of legalism like the poor believers in Galatia were doing. In that epistle, Paul wrote that if we were justified by faith plus works, “Christ shall profit us nothing” and we have “fallen from grace” (Galatians 5:2, 4 KJV). It is not that we were saved and then lost, but rather we have given up on grace, and preferred works-religion (compare Romans 11:6).
Abraham was justified by faith, just like we are today; if Abraham were justified by works, then he could brag of his deeds (Romans 4:2-3). In verse 4 of Romans 4, Paul wrote that if we attempt to work for salvation by meriting favor, then “the reward [salvation] is not of grace [unmerited favor], but of debt.” By working for salvation, you are demanding that God owes you something—this is contrary to grace, which is unmerited favor. “But to him that worketh not, but believeth [trusts] on Him [Christ] that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5 KJV).
So, Abraham was justified by faith without works, because this was well before circumcision and the Mosaic Law (Abraham lived about 500 years prior to Moses). James is simply analyzing Abraham’s faith from the legalistic standpoint; it is not expected that James writes the grace doctrine that Paul does, because James is still tied to Judaism. Paul is writing apart from Judaism, so he is analyzing Abraham’s faith from the grace standpoint. Nonetheless, it was Abraham’s works that proved that he was saved!
Now, returning to James 2:21, we read that Rahab the prostitute (you find her in Joshua 2:9-11) was justified by works, or was she? Again, her works proved that she was a believer. She was saved the moment she believed in the fact that God brought the Israelites through the Red Sea to take the land of Canaan from Jericho. James, like before, is looking at Rahab from the LEGALISTIC standpoint, and at that time, Rahab still had to follow up her faith with works. James is not writing to us Gentiles in the Dispensation of Grace; he is still following the prophetic program of Israel, completely unaware of what God has Paul doing amongst the Gentiles. James has no idea of an indwelling Holy Spirit helping us do what is right in God’s sight.
It is extremely important for you to understand that no one was ever saved by doing good works. Everyone is saved by faith; it was just that God required the Jews who had faith to get water baptized, keep the commandments, observe the Sabbath Day, and so on. Most of my own community and family are steeped in works-religion to this very day. Works by themselves never saved anyone, even in Israel; God always required faith FIRST (Hebrews 11:6)! The Law condemns everyone, including the Jews (Romans 3:19-20). God designed the Mosaic Law to PROVE to us that we are sinners. Why can you not get to Heaven by “keeping the Ten?” If you commit one single sin (such as a ‘white lie’), according to James 2:10, you are guilty of breaking EVERY aspect of the Mosaic Law.
Today, in the Dispensation of Grace, we are under a totally different set of circumstances. The Law has been put to death with Christ and is taken out of the way (Colossians 2:13-15). We do not have any Mosaic Law to keep today; we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to show us right from wrong (Romans 7:1-6). Romans 1:16 and Ephesians 2:8-9 both say that salvation is given to everyone who believes [that is, trusts and places their faith in the Gospel of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4]. There is nothing in these verses about works needed for salvation—no tongues, no repenting, no water baptism, no sacraments, nothing but faith. Romans 10:4, 10 say the same thing too!
Instead of us being under the demands of the Mosaic Law, God tells us that we should place our faith in Paul’s Gospel, the Gospel of Grace: “Christ died for our sins, [His blood was shed,] He was buried, and He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). God will NOT make any exceptions for anyone who hears this Gospel and denies it: if you are not “in Christ” (indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed by the Holy Spirit) the moment you die, God demands that you NOT be allowed into Heaven. You have no place to go but the eternal Lake of Fire!
THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the Gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:” —1 Corinthians 15:1-4 KJV
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed.” —Romans 10:9-11 KJV