Evangelicals believe that salvation is attained by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 are used as evidence. However, the opponents of the Evangelical faith often quote James 2:14 to 28 to refute this belief. They emphasize on verse 24 which says:
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
They conclude that man is not saved by faith alone and works are necessary. How does an Evangelical respond to this?
The reason why many Evangelicals are easily stumped by the text in James 2 is because they have in their mindset and say broad statements like, works are not needed, and salvation is by faith alone. While there is truth to these statements, limiting to these statements becomes difficult when James 2:14 to 28 is quoted by those believing that salvation is attained by works.
So when discussing about the topic of salvation, an Evangelical should use clearer statements about salvation. When Evangelicals say that salvation is by faith alone and not by works, it should mean that salvation cannot be earned by doing good works. It is not like an employee who earns his salary by working eight hours a day in the office. This is supported by Roman 4:5:
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
Works cannot attain salvation by works because it is opposed to grace (which means unmerited favor):
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
The above verse from Romans 11:6 compliments Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works. Some will quote Philippians 2:12 in an attempt to prove that salvation is earned by works. But the verse says “work out” and not “work for”. We cannot work out something that we do not have; we don’t work out our body to get a body, we already have a body and thus we work out by exercising to become healthier.
Evangelicals should also clarify that in James 2:14-28 is not about attaining salvation by faith and works. One approach to effectively drive this point to opposing religions is to present these two verses that appear contradictory:
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Romans 4:2
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:21
Was Abraham justified by works or by faith? These verses are not in contradiction. Neither is James saying that salvation is attained by works. The message of Paul in Romans 4 is saying how a sinner is saved, that is by faith and not of works. On the other hand James is attacking an empty faith, or a kind of faith that has no evidence of existence. This is very clear in verses 14 to 17:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Faith is not simply uttering simple words like “I believe”. James is saying that if you believe in something your actions should compliment what you believe. If you believe that it is going to rain today you should bring an umbrella when you go out, otherwise you are making a fool out of yourself by getting wet when the rain pours. In verse 18 we read:
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Did James say he will show faith AND works? No, James will show his faith, how? By works. Moreover, pay close attention to the words “you” and “your” in the verse. James is not saying he will show God his faith by works. Rather, James will show his faith by works to his audience, people who cannot see in the heart of another. God can see what is inside a person’s heart. In fact, He already knew the heart of Abraham when he believed:
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. Romans 4:9-12
God already declared Abraham righteous by his faith even before he was circumcised. Abraham circumcision then becomes the evidence that Abraham has faith. This is the same message with James: real faith results in to works.
Conclusion:
In their desire to refute the Evangelical belief that salvation is attained by faith alone, opposing religions are quickly to take James 2:14-28 out of context. James is not saying here that salvation is attained by faith and works. James is rebuking a dead faith or a faith that does not result in to good works. James is simply saying, if you believe in something, your actions should compliment what you believe.
We shall study the other Bible verses that allegedly challenge the doctrine of salvaion by faith alone in the succeeding blog entries.
James 2:14 to 28 – an Evangelical Achilles?
ReplyDeleteRodimus: Evangelicals believe that salvation is attained by faith alone in Jesus Christ. Verses like Ephesians 2:8-9 and Titus 3:5 are used as evidence.
CP: In a court of law, the verses used as evidence would have been inadmissible. Why? Because in the passages given, we cannot read “salvation is attained by faith alone in Jesus Christ,” or “salvation by faith alone in Jesus Christ,” or “salvation by faith alone.” Thus, the evidence presented by Rodimus is a non-evidence. He might think I’m just being “philosophical” but really, can we read in the given passages, “salvation by faith alone?”
Ephesians 2:8-9 states: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
I always wonder why Evangelicals omit verse 10. I think they’re allergic to two words in that verse. Back to the passage. Does the passage state that we are going to be saved by faith? Nope! It says, “for by grace you have been saved through faith.” Based on the passage, it is grace that will save us, not faith. Why did Paul mention faith? Because faith is the beginning of salvation. It is through faith that we receive God’s grace and it is up to us to accept or reject that grace. And it is that grace which will save us.
Rodimus brought up Titus 3:5 as another evidence: “He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”
Again, the verse does not talk about salvation by faith alone. It says there that we were saved “according to His mercy.” It doesn’t say that we are saved “according to our faith alone.” Reading the entire verse, it talks about baptism, which is indeed salvific.
I think it’s high time Rodimus buy contact lenses or have his eyes lasered. His glasses have failed him terribly. In fairness to him, his number-crunching job as an auditor does affect one’s vision. By the way, WHO AUDITS THE AUDITORS? I’ve been dying to ask that question to an auditor. With the Enron scandal in 2002 that was aided by auditor Andersen’s “creative accounting”, I wonder who’s auditing the auditors. But that’s another story.
Rodimus: However, the opponents of the Evangelical faith often quote James 2:14 to 28 to refute this belief. They emphasize on verse 24 which says:
You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
They conclude that man is not saved by faith alone and works are necessary. How does an Evangelical respond to this?
CP: Seriously, Evangelicals should stop playing around with the verse. It’s crystal clear that man is justified by faith AND works. Of course, Evangelicals would explain away the verse by saying that James is talking about dead faith. But I’ll get to that later.
Rodimus: The reason why many Evangelicals are easily stumped by the text in James 2 is because they have in their mindset and say broad statements like, works are not needed, and salvation is by faith alone. While there is truth to these statements, limiting to these statements becomes difficult when James 2:14 to 28 is quoted by those believing that salvation is attained by works.
CP: The real reason that Evangelicals get stupefied by the verse is because they cannot explain it without jeopardizing their faith alone theology. They try to fit every verse that talks about salvation to their “faith alone” belief much like fitting a square peg in a round hole.
Rodimus: So when discussing about the topic of salvation, an Evangelical should use clearer statements about salvation. When Evangelicals say that salvation is by faith alone and not by works, it should mean that salvation cannot be earned by doing good works. It is not like an employee who earns his salary by working eight hours a day in the office. This is supported by Roman 4:5: Works cannot attain salvation by works because it is opposed to grace (which means unmerited favor):
CP: And for Catholics too. We believe that salvation cannot be earned by doing good works. Council of Trent states that, “If anyone shall say that man ca be justified before God by his own works which are done either by his own natural powers, or through the teaching of the Law, and without divine grace through Christ Jesus: let him be anathema.
We also believe that we are saved through God’s grace. Catechism of the Catholic Church Section 1996 states: Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.
Rodimus: But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,
And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
The above verse from Romans 11:6 compliments Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by grace through faith and not of works. Some will quote Philippians 2:12 in an attempt to prove that salvation is earned by works. But the verse says “work out” and not “work for”. We cannot work out something that we do not have; we don’t work out our body to get a body, we already have a body and thus we work out by exercising to become healthier.
CP: So what do you understand in Philippians 2:12? How do you explain “work out?”
Rodimus: Evangelicals should also clarify that in James 2:14-28 is not about attaining salvation by faith and works.
CP: So what is it all about?
Rodimus: One approach to effectively drive this point to opposing religions is to present these two verses that appear contradictory:
For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Romans 4:2
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? James 2:21
Was Abraham justified by works or by faith?
CP: The two passages you gave talk about justification by works. It doesn’t involve faith at all. So, your question, “was Abraham justified by works or by faith” is out of place. I’ll explain later the two verses.
Rodimus: These verses are not in contradiction. Neither is James saying that salvation is attained by works. The message of Paul in Romans 4 is saying how a sinner is saved, that is by faith and not of works. On the other hand James is attacking an empty faith, or a kind of faith that has no evidence of existence. This is very clear in verses 14 to 17:
What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
CP: You’re right. The verses are not in contradiction but your explanation is wrong. In Romans 4, Paul is dealing with the issue of circumcision. The Jews had elevated circumcision as a rite of passage to heaven and Paul must explain the chronological relationship between the establishment of circumcision as opposed to the establishment of Abraham’s faith that was credited to him as righteousness. Paul is arguing that since the covenant of circumcision came chronologically after Abraham’s faith and righteousness in Gen 15:6, then his circumcision (which was instituted in Gen 17) could not have begun his justification or righteousness. In other words, Abraham had to have faith in God’s grace before he did any works. Trying to do works without faith would have put Abraham in a situation that Paul describes in Romans 4:4 as, when “a person who works is paid his wages, but they are not regarded as gift; they are something that he has earned.” Works done in faith put one in the system of grace that seeks to please God. Works done without faith put one in a system of law and obligation. That Rodimus is what Paul is trying to drive at in Romans 4 and not salvation by faith. Thus, the works Paul is talking in Romans 4:2 are those works that are done without faith or outside of grace. And that is basically what the Jews were trying to do - boasting about going to heaven by being circumcised in the absence of their faith.
Now in James 2:21, when Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice, that happened in Genesis 22. Abraham’s faith was already credited to him as righteousness in Gen 15. Thus, his work in Gen 22 (attempting to sacrifice his son Isaac) is justified. Faith (believing in God) coupled with good works (about to slay his son with a knife) justified Abraham. That’s why James said in 2:21 that Abraham’s work (by offering his son to the altar) was a justifying act. Abraham’s faith is already firmly in place before he did the sacrificing act.
You said that in James 2, James was talking about an empty faith. If indeed James was talking about an empty faith in 2:24, then we will render the verse absurd when we modify it. Let’s insert the word “empty” before faith in 2:24 if indeed that faith is empty according to James.
“You see that a man is justified by works and not by empty faith alone.”
Do you notice the absurdity of your argument? CAN AN EMPTY FAITH JUSTIFY? Absurd, isn’t it? Now, applying your argument to every faith mentioned in James 2. People would be boasting of having empty faith (verse 14). James would be making a ridiculous statement that dead faith without works is empty (verses 17, 26). That empty faith is barren (verse 18) and commending people for having empty faith in verse 19. Try to put “empty” before “faith” in other verses in James 2 and I hope you will realize how silly your argument is.
Rodimus: Faith is not simply uttering simple words like “I believe”. James is saying that if you believe in something your actions should compliment what you believe. If you believe that it is going to rain today you should bring an umbrella when you go out, otherwise you are making a fool out of yourself by getting wet when the rain pours.
CP: Had Luther been alive today, Rodimus would have received a good whack at the back of his head by the Reformer. Luther separated love, hope and obedience from faith, opting to use the phrase “faith alone” and put these three virtues on the side of works of the law that cannot justify. Of course, other Protestants disagreed with Luther and leaned more toward defining faith in terms of love and obedience. Therein lies the controversy – a controversy not only between Catholics and Protestants, but among Protestant denominations themselves.
Rodimus: In verse 18 we read: But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Did James say he will show faith AND works? No, James will show his faith, how? By works. Moreover, pay close attention to the words “you” and “your” in the verse. James is not saying he will show God his faith by works. Rather, James will show his faith by works to his audience, people who cannot see in the heart of another. God can see what is inside a person’s heart. In fact, He already knew the heart of Abraham when he believed:
Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised. And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised. Romans 4:9-12
CP: Upon reading this, it got me wondering, where in outer space did Rodimus get the idea that James is trying to show his faith by works to his audience, those people who cannot see in the heart of another? Etc…etc…etc… I tried to read the context of James 2:1 up to 17 (because he quoted verse 18) and I don’t see any connection with what is written there and what Rodimus was saying.
In verse 18, James was picking up the hypothetical statement from verse 16.
But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
In this verse, James is again basing his arguments on what someone says as opposed to what he does (in verse 15-16, James was making an example of someone wishing another well but does nothing to alleviate his poverty). Behind the challenge to “Show me your faith without works” is the assumption that someone can convince another by what he says that he indeed has faith. He can even do so without showing any works. On the other hand, his opponent says that he can show faith by his works. That this incident is put in the form of a dialogue between two opponents would mean that both individuals are dealing from a theological basis, i.e., rather than observing the whole of each other’s lives., they are conversing at a moment in time about who between them has the correct understanding of faith and works. This has nothing to do with James showing his faith by works to his audience.
Rodimus: God already declared Abraham righteous by his faith even before he was circumcised.
CP: Yes. Gen 15 (crediting of faith as righteousness) happened before Gen 17 (circumcision). You should have expounded on this when you quoted Romans 4:2.
Rodimus: Abraham circumcision then becomes the evidence that Abraham has faith.
CP: Not necessarily true. How about the haughty Jews? Can you conclude that just because they were circumcised, they already had faith in God in the first place like that of Abraham? Good works do not necessarily flow out of faith.
Rodimus: This is the same message with James: real faith results in to works.
CP: Hmmmm. I could nitpick what you said but I’ll let it go.
Rodimus:
Conclusion:
In their desire to refute the Evangelical belief that salvation is attained by faith alone, opposing religions are quickly to take James 2:14-28 out of context. James is not saying here that salvation is attained by faith and works. James is rebuking a dead faith or a faith that does not result in to good works. James is simply saying, if you believe in something, your actions should compliment what you believe.
CP:
Conclusion:
Indeed, James 2:14 to 28 is an Evangelical Achilles. If we only allow ourselves to read the verses in James as they are written and not put something that is not in there, we would understand what he is trying to say. Fundamentalists like to assert that the faith James is talking about in Chapter 2 is an empty or dead faith. But I have proven above that James wasn’t talking about an empty or dead faith. Interpreting "faith" in James as “empty” or “dead” would render the verses ridiculous as I've illustrated above.
I thought Evangelicals believe that Scripture is perspicuous. That Scripture is clear and unambiguous. But why do they stumble on James 2? Why did Luther interpret “faith” as “alone” (divorced from love, hope and obedience) as opposed to the modern day Protestant understanding that “faith” is “not alone” (it is pregnant with love and obedience)? Why did Luther want to “throw Jimmy into the stove?” I’m sure Rodimus would oppose Luther to his face.
We shall study the other Bible verses that allegedly challenge the doctrine of salvaion by faith alone in the succeeding blog entries.
CP: Since Rodimus will do some further research on salvation by faith alone, he might want to include this question of mine:
If the Holy Spirit allowed James to write “faith alone” in his letter as a negative phrase why did He prevent Paul from writing “faith alone” in his epistles as a positive phrase?
I will wait with bated breath. God bless.
CP: And for Catholics too. We believe that salvation cannot be earned by doing good works. Council of Trent states that, “If anyone shall say that man ca be justified before God by his own works which are done either by his own natural powers, or through the teaching of the Law, and without divine grace through Christ Jesus: let him be anathema.
ReplyDeleteWe also believe that we are saved through God’s grace. Catechism of the Catholic Church Section 1996 states: Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life.
EON:
So CP, what then were the conditions that RCC do to receive God’s grace, Justification, becoming children of God, Adoptive Sons, and partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life?
Were the conditions includes receiving baptism (infant), people praying for the people in purgatory? Hope you can educate me of what you believe.