Good Morning--we have a conundrum on our hands today!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

What's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. (James 2.14 ff.) Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, "Well, good bye and God bless you; stay warm and eat well"--but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all--it is dead and useless. Now someone may argue, "Some people have faith; others have good deeds." I say, "I can't see your faith if you don't have good deeds, but I will show you my faith through my good deeds." (New Living Translation)

I remember verses that I memorized back in my San Francisco Bible College days--1978. Ephesians 2.8 - 9, New American Standard. The NASB was the 'go to' Bible then; it is enjoying a comeback now because of its scholarship. Now, check out what Paul says: "For by grace you have been saved, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast." Wait! Does this mean there is a contradiction in Scripture--between these two New Testament passages? It sure would seem so. James says (noted above, in 2.14) that it is not faith alone, but we must show our faith through good deeds--whereas Paul says faith is a gift of grace, not of works. So, which is it?

Again, "my dear brothers and sisters", (have you noticed how many times James uses that salutation?)--let us look at the context of these passages, particularly where Paul was writing to the people of Ephesus, who wanted to believe that their righteous acts would earn their salvation. In truth, this makes sense--we earn wages with a job well done, why wouldn't we earn salvation? Because again, God's economy is not ours--Paul tells his readers that they are saved by faith. . . faith plus nothing. We are saved by grace - how I love that word! Grace. . . where would be without it? We would be striving, at best. This is one of the great distinctives of Christianity, so different from Mormonism, Scientology, Islam. . . Saved by faith plus nothing.

When James tackles works and faith, he is drawing a contrast between a faith that is alive, and that which is dead. Similar to when Jesus said that a vine should bear fruit, (John 15), so a faith that is alive should be dynamic, growing, and evident to others--note: our works prove nothing to God, He knows the intent of our hearts. Have you ever run into someone at church that you met on the soccer field or some other setting? Do you think they were surprised to see you at church? In other words, does your character, your behavior, conduct back up your claim of being a Christian? I shudder to think of someone seeing me, and being shocked to find me at church.

Here's the thing--when we desire to know and love God--when we experience His presence, answered prayer, divine leading--we want our lives to honor Him; we want to live in such a way that others will want to know Him too. So, while this appears to be a conundrum, (an unsolvable dilemma), it is not. Good works do not save us, but if we are truly saved (if we truly know Jesus), we will naturally seek to be more like Him, and our lives will reflect it.

Make my life a prayer to You today, God--

Christine