What is faith? Despite this being a central theme in the Bible, it is something that is poorly understood within the Christian community. Faith runs deeper than a mere intellectual assent to the truth; it is a power that transforms the life and character of the one who comes to Christ. Understanding the balance between faith and works is fundamental to knowing what it means to be born again.
Today it is commonly thought that all one must do is believe in Jesus to be saved. While it is true that belief in Jesus is essential, the Bible also sets forth other criteria for salvation. For example, we must repent (Acts 3:19, Luke 13:3), confess and forsake our sin (Proverbs 28:13, 1 John 1:9), be converted (Matthew 18:3), be born again (John 3:3), and keep the law (Matthew 19:17). Each of these things comes under the umbrella of ‘works.’ Despite the need to do these things in order to have salvation, in and of themselves these things do not save us.
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. Ephesians 2:8
As we can see here, our salvation comes through Christ alone; we can take no glory to ourselves in anything that we do. The Bible establishes very clearly that our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6), and that our heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and at war with God (Romans 8:7). This is why it is impossible for us to earn salvation. Without God, we are not capable of a single good thing. Neither can any good work erase the sins of the past.
So how then do works factor in? If they do not save us, what role do they play in our salvation? The key to answering this question lies in understanding what faith entails.
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. James 2:26
Faith cannot exist where there are no works. This is because faith always produces good works. An atheist can say with their mouth that Jesus is Lord, but the evidence that such a person truly believes it is in the actions of their daily life.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. James 2:18
Jesus built upon this theme in His parable of the tree and its fruit.
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Matthew 7:17-18
Notice how a good tree brings forth good fruit. Bringing forth no fruit at all is not an option. In this instance, the fruit of the tree represents the works. A good person, one who has faith in Christ, will live a life that testifies to this reality through good works. To say you know God and yet to dishonour Him through sin is to prove yourself to be a corrupt tree.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:20
It is by our fruits (works) and not our profession that we reveal whether we are in Christ.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (sin, bad works). Matthew 7:22-23
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:4
Ultimately it is our works and not our faith that we are judged by.
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Matthew 16:27
Why are we rewarded based on our works and not on our faith? Because our works show whether our faith is true or not. True faith always leads to good works and obedience to the law of God.
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus told us to let our light shine.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16
Like the parable of the tree and its fruit, there is no option not to shine light (do good works). Every Christian should have a life full of good works that testify to a living faith and give glory to God. A good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit, and so Christians should endeavour not to sin. We should never take any sin lightly but remember that it is sin that crucified our Lord. God will not allow His grace to be abused. If we choose to willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth we will be lost unless we repent and turn away from it.
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10:26-27
God does not even hear the prayers of those who are intentionally disobedient to His law.
He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. Proverbs 28:9
It is true that as we advance in the path of sanctification we will stumble and fall into sin. The important point is to take these struggles to Christ who gives us the power to overcome. John gave us the assurance that if we should sin we have an advocate in Christ.
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1 John 2:1
We do not need to despair that we cannot keep the law, that sin is an inevitability, because this is also not true. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy, this process takes time, but it is a reality to us through Christ. Jesus did not only come into this world to provide forgiveness for sin, He came also to set the captives free. Free from what? Sin!
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:34-36
When we sin we show that we are still slaves to it, but Christ came to break apart those chains of bondage. When we come to Christ He imparts to us His Spirit. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that the righteous works of the law are fulfilled (revealed) in our lives.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:4
As the process of sanctification moves forward in our lives, we will be changed. The old things pass away. The life of selfishness and sin dies and we are made new in Christ. As we progress on this path we will find that our affections change, the sin we once loved we will grow to hate, and the pure and holy things of Christ that we once hated we will come to love. This is what it means to be born again.
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17
God has promised us that there is no temptation that we cannot overcome, no addition whose hold we cannot break. We are free indeed in Christ to live a life of peace and joy.
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
Those who experience the renewing power of the Holy Spirit will find that the fruits of the Spirit will be evident in their life.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
It is interesting to note here that those who have the fruit of the Spirit have no law against them. This is because they are keeping it perfectly. The law can only condemn those who break it. If we are renewed in Christ, born again by His Spirit, and bear the fruit (works) of this transformed life, we will be keeping the law of God.
Love is the central principle of God’s law. As God Himself is love and the law is an expression of His character, it follows that the law is love. To keep the law perfectly one must come to love both God and others perfectly. For it is on love that all of the law hangs.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. Romans 13:10
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37-40
It is easy to see how the common teaching that we do not need to have good works, that breaking the law of God is acceptable for a Christian because it does not impact their salvation, is a total contradiction to Scripture. God is calling us all to repent from sin, to go and sin no more. As ambassadors for Christ, we should feel it our duty to represent His love to the world. In this way, we lift up Christ and prove that His way is a better way.
Returning to James’ statement that faith without works is dead, we can now see practically how this applies.
Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. James 2:21-22, 24
Without good works, without love for God and others, without obedience to God’s law, we cannot honestly say we have faith. Such faith is dead, which means it is not faith at all. Such a statement of belief without a change of life is not faith but a mere belief that cannot save.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19
Satan himself believes in the mercy, grace and love of God. He knows that Jesus died for the sins of the world. So why then is he not saved? Because despite knowing the truth, he refuses to give his love and obedience to God. Likewise, a Christian who says that they believe in the saving blood of Christ but who continues to wilfully sin is no better off than Satan is. Both know the truth but refuse to follow it.
Faith is more than belief; it is belief in action that leads to a holy life. Without true faith, it is impossible to please God. We must allow God to mould us into a new and perfect image so that we are fit to dwell with Him eternally in heaven. We have a loving God who is more than capable of changing our hearts if we let Him. However, the first step in this change is acknowledging what sin is and understanding that we must get rid of it. Christ has made every provision for us to overcome, through Him all things are made possible to us, including the renewing of our heart. Jesus did not come to save us in our sin but from our sin. Sin brings pain and destruction but God has a much higher and more exalted plan for us.
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