From: jte@psi.com (John Eldredge)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian
Subject: Faith and Works
Date: 19 Aug 92 04:15:55 GMT
Organization: Performance Systems International, Inc. Reston Virginia.

As is often the case, a broader reading of Scripture may add to this discussion:

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no
deeds?  Can such faith save him?  Suppose a brother or sister is without
clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well;
keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his 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 what I
do.  You believe there is one God.  Good!  Even the demons believe that -
and shudder.

"You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
Was not our ancestor 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 justified by what he does 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."

  James 2:14-26  (NIV)

Some observations:

1. First, James is discussing someone "claiming" to have faith without works
   to demonstrate it.  Not a statement on how to be saved or justified, per
   se, but how "saving faith" should show itself.  Notice his using the terms 
   "such faith" to imply his skepticism of the reality that that faith "did 
   anything."    In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul also states that while salvation is 
   by grace through faith, and not by works, the purpose for our salvation is 
   that we are "created in Crist Jesus unto good works" that God determined 
   beforehand that we should do.

   Faith not accompanied by ACTION is "dead."

2. What I truely believe should change my behavior.  If I really believed there
   was a gas leak in my house, I would run for the door.  If I talk about it
   ad nauseum, but don't act on it, I doubt it is really true or that it 
   matters much to me.  "Even the demons believe" certain correct facts - but 
   it doesn't change their behavior. 

3. Faith and actions work in harmony.  This is not that 'ethereal'.  If I 
   enter into a relationship, for example, that matters to me, my actions
   will change.  By entering marriage, I will alter my actions so as not 
   to alienate my wife.  If I 'believe' that faithfulness in a marriage
   relationshiip is a virtue, I will not frequent singles' bars or go to
   lunch every day with another woman in the office, for example (though
   recent conversations on this list indicate some may find these actions 
   "proof of freedom" :^)

   What I am getting at is this:  If I really believe certain things about God 
   and what He expects in our relationship - my actions - my deeds - will 
   follow along with what I know from Scripture.

   Abraham 'signed up' to sacrifice Isaac (a deed) because (1) God told him to
   do it (2) God unconditionally promised to provide Abraham offspring 
   (Gen 12:1-3)  and (3)  God could either raise his son from the dead or 
   provide another through his aged wife Sarai.  So, Abram DID SOMETHING
   because he BELIEVED certain things about God and His promises.

>eje> - How do evangelical Protestants justify (unintentional pun)
>eje> their "justification by faith alone" teaching when James directly
>eje> and explicitly contradicts it?

I don't see the contradiction, only amplification.  Salvation is by faith,
but faith that results in changed actions - a "new creature," if you will
(IICor 5:17).

>eje> - How is it that even after 400 years, the word "alone" remains
>eje> (in people's minds) right where Luther added it, ignoring the
>eje> fact that Paul never said we were justified by faith alone, only
>eje> that we were justified by faith?

This, I suppose, is a good argument for the concept that the original
manuscripts, not translations, were inspired by God.  In the end, though, I 
do not see this having an impact on doctrine.  Faith and works are continually
contrasted and explained in Scripture.  Both are important, but at different
points in our relationship with God.  Works unto salvation would lead to 
boasting and is clearly denounced (Rom 3:24-30; Eph 2:10).  Works as a 
logical result of our faith is encouraged.

>eje> - How can an evangelical in conscience rally around a slogan that is
>eje> patently contrary to Scripture?

I guess I do not see a contradiction; hence, no anxiety.

Thanks for the good thoughts,

John