The relationship between faith and works in Christianity is a topic that has been debated and discussed for centuries. While different Christian denominations may have slightly different interpretations, there are common themes found in the Bible that shed light on this relationship.
In Christianity, faith is often understood as the belief and trust in God’s promises as revealed in Scripture, particularly in the person and work of Jesus Christ as our Savior. It is through faith that we are saved and reconciled with God, as Ephesians 2:8-9 states: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” This passage emphasizes that salvation is a free gift from God, received by faith alone, and not earned through human works. Here, Paul emphasizes that salvation is a gift of God that comes through faith, not by our own works. However, he also makes it clear that we are created to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us.
However, the Bible also teaches that genuine faith results in a transformed life that produces good works. One of the most well-known passages on this topic is found in the book of James, chapter 2, verses 14-26: ‘What good is it, my brothers and sisters if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,’ and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”
This passage highlights the idea that faith without works is incomplete and lacks evidence of its authenticity. True faith is not just a mental assent or intellectual belief, but it is also lived out in actions that reflect a Christ-like character and obedience to God’s commands. From this passage, we see that James emphasizes the importance of works in conjunction with faith. He argues that faith without works is dead and cannot save us. He uses the examples of Abraham and Rahab to illustrate his point that both faith and works are significant.
Jesus Himself taught about the importance of works as evidence of faith. In Matthew 7:16, He said, “By their fruit, you will recognize them.” This suggests that the fruit or works of a person’s life reveal the nature of their faith. Jesus also emphasized the connection between faith and obedience in John 14:15, stating, “If you love me, keep my commands.” This implies that faith is not just about believing in Jesus, but also about following Him and living a life of obedience to His teachings.
In summary, Faith is the foundation of salvation, a gift from God that cannot be earned through works. However, genuine faith is always accompanied by good works, which are evidence of a transformed life and obedience to God’s commands. Faith and works are not in opposition to each other, but rather they are intertwined, ‘for without faith it is impossible to please God’. True faith will produce good works, as we live out our faith in tangible ways. Works are not a means to earn salvation, but they are a necessary expression of our faith and love for God.