The Doctrine of Works!

The great reformer Martin Luther, who was the champion of the doctrine of salvation through faith alone, never felt good about the epistle of James. Martin Luther called it an "epistle full of straw" in the preface to his 1522 edition of the New Testament and put the book in the appendix. He preferred Paul's wording of the faith-works equation: "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." (Rom. 3:28).  Men who claimed salvation through good works surrounded Luther.  It is no wonder he felt that James was contradicting the Gospel of Grace! But James was not rejecting Paul or the gospel of Grace.  James was saying that what we believe should reflect in how we live!  

The reality is that if we have faith, works will naturally be a product. We cannot get rid of works just because they do not save us.  The explanation given in my NKJV Study Bible helps us understand what James means when he stresses the works.  Faith and works are not enemies. True faith and righteous works go hand in hand. They are two parts of God's work in us. Faith brings a person to salvation, and works bring that person to faithfulness. Faith is the cause, and works are the effect. James believed it, and so did Paul.  Paul's advised Titus to be "zealous for good works." (Titus 2:14). When Jesus said, we have to be salt and light, Jesus was talking about the impact of faith only.  The fruit of the Spirit is the outworking of the inner transformation which results from faith because genuine faith involves a commitment that is expressed through actions. Jesus Himself declared, "But I have a greater witness than John's; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me."(John 5:36).  

My friend, how we live our God-given life is significant to God since we will be judged according to our 'works' (Rev 20:12). We live in a culture that is not always receptive to conversations surrounding faith.  But our life is visible to all.  How we deal with the challenges of life is a great testimony of our faith! No wonder some saint of God said, "Preach the Gospel at all times; use words when necessary." 

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