Faith and Works: Reconciling Paul and James
Summary
In the midst of the Protestant Reformation, a significant theological debate emerged regarding the doctrine of justification. The Roman Catholic Church, in response to Martin Luther and the Reformers' assertion that justification is by faith alone, pointed to the Epistle of James as evidence that works play a role in justification. James 2:21-25, which speaks of Abraham and Rahab being justified by works, was a central text in this debate. This raises the question: How do we reconcile Paul's teachings in Romans, which emphasize justification by faith apart from works, with James' apparent emphasis on works?
The key to understanding this lies in recognizing that Paul and James are addressing different questions. Paul is concerned with how an unjust person can stand before a holy God, emphasizing that justification is by faith alone. James, on the other hand, addresses the issue of professed faith without accompanying works, questioning the validity of such faith. James is not contradicting Paul but is instead highlighting that genuine faith is evidenced by works. This is not a contradiction but a complementary perspective on faith and works.
The term "justification" used by both Paul and James, though the same in Greek, carries different nuances. In James, it refers to the demonstration or vindication of faith through works, while in Paul, it refers to being declared righteous before God. This distinction is crucial in resolving the apparent conflict between the two apostles.
Furthermore, the source of saving faith is a pivotal aspect of Reformed theology. It asserts that regeneration precedes faith, meaning that the ability to believe is a result of God's sovereign act of changing the heart. This faith, a gift from God, is what justifies us, and it is a living faith that naturally produces works. The order of salvation, as outlined in Romans 8, underscores that those whom God calls are justified and ultimately glorified, emphasizing the divine initiative in salvation.
Key Takeaways:
1. Faith and Works in Harmony: James and Paul are not in contradiction but address different aspects of faith. Paul speaks of justification before God, while James emphasizes the evidence of faith through works. True faith is alive and demonstrated by actions, not merely professed. [10:22]
2. Understanding Justification: The term "justification" has multiple meanings. In James, it refers to the demonstration of faith through works, while in Paul, it signifies being declared righteous before God. This distinction helps reconcile their teachings. [05:42]
3. Regeneration Precedes Faith: Reformed theology teaches that regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit, precedes faith. This divine act changes the heart, enabling belief and resulting in justification. Faith is a gift from God, not a human achievement. [16:49]
4. The Order of Salvation: The logical order of salvation involves calling, justification, and glorification. God's effectual call leads to faith, which justifies and ultimately results in glorification. This sequence highlights God's sovereignty in salvation. [21:00]
5. Living Faith Evidenced by Works: Genuine faith is not static but dynamic, producing works as evidence of its authenticity. A profession of faith without works is dead, as true faith naturally manifests in obedience and action. [11:06]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:25] - Introduction to the Reformation Debate
- [01:06] - James' Perspective on Justification
- [01:46] - Reconciling Paul and James
- [02:41] - Historical Context of the Epistles
- [03:30] - The Use of 'Dikaiosune'
- [04:11] - Abraham as Exhibit A
- [04:58] - Luther's View on James
- [05:42] - Different Meanings of Justification
- [06:31] - Wisdom Literature and James
- [07:19] - Demonstrating Faith
- [08:05] - Understanding Philosophical Problems
- [09:31] - James' Question on Faith and Works
- [10:22] - The Reality of Professed Faith
- [11:06] - Dead Faith vs. Living Faith
- [12:34] - Evidence of Genuine Faith
- [13:20] - Abraham's Justification in Genesis
- [14:38] - Vindication of Faith
- [15:32] - Antinomianism and Faith
- [16:49] - Source of Saving Faith
- [17:41] - Logical Order of Salvation
- [18:24] - Faith and Rebirth
- [19:40] - The Work of the Holy Spirit
- [20:26] - Romans 8 and the Order of Salvation
- [21:40] - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. James 2:21-25
2. Romans 4:1-5
3. Ephesians 2:8-10
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Observation Questions:
1. What does James 2:21-25 say about the role of works in justification, and how does it use Abraham and Rahab as examples? [01:06]
2. According to Romans 4:1-5, how does Paul describe Abraham's justification, and what role does faith play in it?
3. How does Ephesians 2:8-10 describe the relationship between faith, grace, and works in the context of salvation?
4. In the sermon, how does the speaker explain the different meanings of "justification" as used by Paul and James? [05:42]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How can the different questions Paul and James are addressing help us understand their seemingly contradictory teachings on faith and works? [10:22]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the significance of regeneration preceding faith in Reformed theology, and how does this impact our understanding of salvation? [16:49]
3. How does the sermon explain the logical order of salvation, and why is it important to understand this sequence? [21:00]
4. What does the sermon imply about the nature of "living faith" and its evidence through works? How does this challenge common perceptions of faith? [11:06]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own faith journey. Are there areas where your faith is not accompanied by works? How can you begin to address this imbalance in your life? [11:06]
2. Consider the concept of regeneration preceding faith. How does this understanding affect your view of your own faith and the faith of others? [16:49]
3. In what ways can you demonstrate a "living faith" in your daily interactions with others? Identify one specific action you can take this week to show your faith through works. [11:06]
4. How does understanding the different contexts of Paul's and James' teachings on justification help you reconcile their messages in your own faith practice? [10:22]
5. Think about a time when you professed faith but struggled to show it through your actions. What steps can you take to ensure your faith is evident in your behavior moving forward? [10:22]
6. How can the logical order of salvation, as discussed in the sermon, provide assurance in your spiritual journey? Reflect on how this understanding can bring peace in times of doubt. [21:00]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel called to demonstrate your faith through works. What practical steps can you take to act on this calling in the coming week? [11:06]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith and Works in Harmony
True faith is not merely a verbal declaration but is evidenced by actions. Paul and James, two apostles of the New Testament, address different aspects of faith and works. Paul emphasizes that justification before God is by faith alone, while James highlights that genuine faith is demonstrated through works. This is not a contradiction but a complementary understanding of faith. James challenges the notion of a faith that is professed without accompanying works, suggesting that such faith is dead. True faith is alive and active, naturally producing works as evidence of its authenticity. [10:22]
James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."
Reflection: Consider a recent situation where you professed faith but did not act on it. How can you align your actions with your faith today?
Day 2: Understanding Justification
The term "justification" carries different meanings in the teachings of Paul and James. In Paul's writings, justification refers to being declared righteous before God, a status granted through faith alone. In contrast, James uses the term to describe the demonstration or vindication of faith through works. This distinction is crucial in reconciling their teachings. While Paul addresses how an unjust person can stand before a holy God, James focuses on the evidence of genuine faith in a believer's life. Understanding these nuances helps believers appreciate the harmony between faith and works in the Christian life. [05:42]
Romans 4:2-3 (ESV): "For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. For what does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.'"
Reflection: Reflect on your understanding of justification. How does recognizing the different nuances of this term deepen your appreciation for both faith and works in your spiritual journey?
Day 3: Regeneration Precedes Faith
Reformed theology teaches that regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit, precedes faith. This divine act changes the heart, enabling belief and resulting in justification. Faith is not a human achievement but a gift from God. This understanding emphasizes the sovereignty of God in salvation, where He initiates the process by regenerating the heart, allowing a person to respond in faith. This faith, being a gift, is living and active, naturally producing works as evidence of its authenticity. Recognizing this order helps believers appreciate the divine initiative in their salvation journey. [16:49]
Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV): "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules."
Reflection: Reflect on the transformation God has brought in your life. How does acknowledging that your faith is a gift from God change the way you live out your faith daily?
Day 4: The Order of Salvation
The logical order of salvation involves calling, justification, and glorification. According to Reformed theology, God's effectual call leads to faith, which justifies and ultimately results in glorification. This sequence highlights God's sovereignty in salvation, emphasizing that it is God who initiates and completes the work of salvation in a believer's life. Understanding this order helps believers trust in God's plan and timing, knowing that He is faithful to complete the work He has begun in them. This perspective encourages believers to live with hope and assurance in their salvation journey. [21:00]
Philippians 1:6 (ESV): "And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: Consider the stages of your spiritual journey. How does understanding the order of salvation give you confidence and hope in God's work in your life?
Day 5: Living Faith Evidenced by Works
Genuine faith is not static but dynamic, producing works as evidence of its authenticity. James emphasizes that a profession of faith without works is dead. True faith naturally manifests in obedience and action, demonstrating its vitality and genuineness. This understanding challenges believers to examine their lives and ensure that their faith is not merely professed but actively lived out. By aligning actions with faith, believers can demonstrate the transformative power of the gospel in their lives, serving as a testimony to others of the reality of their faith. [11:06]
Titus 3:8 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where your actions do not align with your professed faith. What steps can you take today to ensure your faith is evidenced by your works?
Quotes
SPROUL: At the time of the Protestant Reformation, obviously the Roman Catholic community did not roll over and play dead at the feet of Luther and the Reformers. They had a response to the assertion that justification is by faith alone without any reference to works, and they found their source for that in the Scripture itself, principally in the letter from the apostle James. [00:00:00]
Here we have the explicit statement in sacred Scripture that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. You would think that that single verse would be the crushing blow to the article that Luther said was the article upon which the church stands or falls. So, how do we reconcile what Paul teaches in Romans with what James teaches here? [00:01:32]
Part of the problem is compounded by the fact that both James and Paul use the same word here for justification, ‘dikaiosune.’ It would be nice to see that they use different words and obviously had different ideas in mind. Unfortunately if we are reconciling the two, they both used the same word. [00:03:21]
One verse that you are familiar with I am sure is that when Jesus in the Gospels says that “wisdom is justified by her children,” now obviously in that particular statement the word that is used here does not mean that wisdom is reconciled to a holy God with an imputed righteousness that wisdom gains by having babies. [00:05:34]
I want to apply that same principle to this thorny question that we have of the relationship between Paul and James. To understand James in chapter 2 we have to ask the question, “What problem is he trying to solve? What question is he trying to answer?” And I think the answer to my question here begins in verse 14 of chapter 2. [00:09:05]
In our day and age, we have hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people in America who have made professions of faith, who have never demonstrated the reality of the faith they claim to possess. That is the question that James is answering. It is not the same question Paul is asking. [00:10:16]
When Luther was challenged for his doctrine of justification by faith alone and was asked about this faith, as I said before does that mean you can just believe and live however you want to? Well, Paul answers that same question, and his answer is, “God forbid,” and Luther said, “Justification is by faith alone but not by faith that is alone.” [00:11:43]
Now, if I tell you here in this room today that I have saving faith, do you know for sure just because I said it that I have it? Can anybody in here read my heart? Of course not. The only way you can evaluate the truth of my claim is to see if I manifest it in my life. [00:12:24]
The only kind of faith that saves is not a dead faith but a living faith, and if it is a living faith it will certainly be made manifest by works. So Abraham is proving, demonstrating, authenticating his claim of faith in chapter 22. Just as we claim to have faith, we have to show forth that faith by our works. [00:14:37]
“What is it that produces saving faith in Christ? Where does that faith come from?” This question, probably more than any other, is what defines the very essence of Reformed theology. If there is one phrase that captures the essence of Reformed theology, it is the little phrase “regeneration precedes faith.” [00:16:12]
The vast majority of evangelical Christians, if you ask them the question, “Which comes first, faith or rebirth?” they would say, “Faith comes first and as a result of believing in Christ, you are reborn,” where Reformed theologians say, “No.” Go back to chapter 3 of John where Jesus has the conversation with Nicodemus. [00:18:31]
When Paul gives an abbreviated list of the order of salvation in Romans 8, he talks about those who were foreknown that He also predestined, and those whom He predestined that He also called, and those whom He called He justified, and those whom He justified He glorified. [00:20:34]
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