Faith or Works?

In the book of Romans it says: Romans 3:20 ..."because by the works of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight... Romans 3:28 ..."for we
maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law..." Romans 4:3 ...For what does the Scripture say? And Abraham believed
God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." Romans 5:1 ...Therefore, having been justified by faith... Romans 4:5 ..But, to the one that
does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness."

In the book of James it says: James 2:24 "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone,"... James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. "Which is it? Are we justified by faith or by works?

It is a fundamental christian belief, that we are justified by faith. Justification means that it is declared a sinner to be righteous. This is done by
crediting, by reckoning the righteousness of Jesus to the sinner. This is done by faith. That is, when a sinner puts his faith in the sacrifice of
Jesus and trusts in him and not himself for righteousness, then He is justified by the grace of God, as stated in Romans 4:3. But, if the Bible
teaches that we are justified by faith, does it also teach we are justified by works as James seems to say? Do we have a contradiction in the
scriptures. The answer is a most definite, "NO!"

You can do nothing more erroneous, than to take a scripture and read it without context. What is the context of James 2:24 which says that a man is justified by works? Chapter two of the Book of James has 26 verses:
Verses 1-7 instruct us to not show favoritism. Verses 8-13 are comments on the Law. Verses 14-26 are about the relationship between faith
and works.

To make this "simple," it is going to be done, verse by verse, in outline form.

What doth it profit (of what use is it), though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
If a brother or a sister be naked, and destitute of daily food. (In need of)
And you do not give what he or she needs, but say, "Go in peace, be warmed." What use is that?
therefore faith with no works is dead.
therefore, someone says "I will show you my faith by my works."
you believe there is one God; You do well: The demons also believe and tremble.
Know this vain man, faith without works is dead (useless).
Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac (His faith was made perfect).
faith was working with his works (by his works was his faith made perfect).
Scripture says, "And Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness." He was called the Friend of God.
you see how that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone.
Rahab, the harlot, was justified by works, when she received the messengers, and sent them another way.
For as the body without spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also..

Notice that James begins this section in verse 14, by using as an example of someone who says they have faith. He then tells what true and
false faiths are. In verses 15-17 he demonstrates what empty faith is. In verse 19-20, he tells us that this type of faith is no different than that of
the demons. Then in verses 21-25 he gives examples of "living faith," by showing Abraham and Rahab as examples of people who demonstrated
their faith by their deeds. He is examining two kinds of faith: one that leads to godly works and one that leads to dead works.
One is true, the other is false. One being dead, the other alive. Hence, verse 26 says that: "Faith without works is dead!"
In verse 20 he states that even though the demons believe, that is have faith, but the faith that they have is useless. It does not result in any
godly works. Their faith is only a mental acknowledement of God's existence!
How many have you heard make this same statement, always quoting John 3:16? They then go on, doing ungodly things. All they are doing is giving mental acknowledgment, that Christ existed. Saying "I believe," is not enough. "Believe" is a very large word (when used in context with other scripture) ,and I am not referring to its sum total of letters.
By that count, it is only a small word. When you say you believe in Christ and you mean it, You will do godly "works" also.

In summary, James is saying that if you 'say' you are Christian, then there had better be some appropriate works manifested or your faith is false. This is echoed in 1 John 2:4 "He that says, I know Him, and keep not His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
There were, apparently, people who were saying they were Christian, but were not manifesting any of the fruit. The fruit is the works that come
with believing, receiving and doing those things which are given us to do.
Can this faith justify? Can the dead "faith" that someone has which produces no change in a person and no good works before men and God be
a faith that justifies? Absolutely not. It is not enough to say you believe in Jesus. You must believe and trust completely in Him. If you do, then
you will manifest that faith by a changed and godly life. If not, then your profession of belief is of no more value than that of demons.
James quotes the same verse that Paul used to support the teaching of justification by faith in Romans 4:3. If James were trying to teach a
contradictory doctrine of faith and works than the other New Testament writers, he would not have used Abraham as his example.
Therefore, we are justified by faith. That is, we are made righteous in the eyes of God by faith as is very effectively demonstrated in Romans.
However, that faith, if it is true, will result in works appropriate to salvation. Scripture states in Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace are ye saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in
Christ Jesus unto good works, which God before has ordained that we should walk in them."

Salvation and good works go hand in hand. Good works alone will not save. Gods word tells us so.

Your brother in Christ

David

Now, having said this, you must know this. You will never earn your way into heaven with works. You do not earn your salvation. Salvation
is a gift of God. Works cannot save you, but, you cannot be saved without them! You will be judged according to your works! Romans 2:6
Who will render to every man according to his deeds.
You had better take care that you do them. Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men. These are the works of
Christ in us. They are not the works of the world, but the works of the Kingdom of God!

We are saved by grace through our faith, and that is a gift of God! Not by works (we cannot save ourselves by doing good works) lest any man should boast. We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto GOOD WORKS...(our salvation in Christ, will produce good works).

Believing is itself a "work!" John 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

2 Corinthians 3:14-16 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament;
which vail is done away in Christ.
But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart.
Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.