This is the first of a series of posts under “Living in Extremes.” The opening post can be found by clicking HERE. In that post, I briefly mentioned the example of faith and works. I would like to use this post to expand on that thought.
Here are two seemingly contradictory passages:
Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”?
Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “In you shall all the nations be blessed.” So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. ~Galatians 3:5-9
Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ~James 2:20-24
So which is it, faith or works? BOTH!
One of the reasons we continue to even have to have this discussion is because we operate from incomplete gospels. I am definitely not claiming to have a handle on a complete gospel. Please continue to research, dig in the Bible, discuss with other sisters etc. for a more comprehensive grasp on the gospel. With that said, for sure the gospel cannot be completely reduced to a four step plan of salvation or commitment to traditions.
When faith versus works comes into our conversations, why does it surface in the first place? It usually surfaces because a discussion turns to the topics of heaven or whether a person is “saved.” Our Christian culture’s gospel has become concentrated on a destination after death. We have made heaven and salvation commodities to be obtained. If you focus on works, a person obtains these commodities when you do the right things or traditions. If you focus on faith, a person obtains these commodities by agreement with a set of doctrine.
Our shift in thinking needs to begin at the bedrock of our walk with Jesus. If the gospel is not focused on getting into heaven, what is the focus? Jesus. The proclamation of His Kingship, following Him, becoming more like Him, and helping others do the same as we participate with God in His redemptive plan for His world. Jesus said in John 12:26, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also.” It is an automatic consequence that we who follow Jesus will be with Him, now (Holy Spirit) and for all time. Furthermore, in the Greek, saved is not always a past tense verb. The verb can be present tense, “being saved,” and future tense, “will be saved.” Faith is not a one-time decision. That is how Paul and James can agree and use two different examples from the life of Abraham. Life is filled with decisions to have faith and to take action. Trust and obey.
Then of course there are all kinds of questions such as, “Can someone lose salvation? When is the moment of salvation?” Etc. These all come from the idea of American commodities. But faith and works are part of a transformative lifestyle; not means to obtain perceived Christian commodities. Paul says to Timothy, “Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress” (I Timothy 4:15). We are those who progress and others should see this progress. Not that we do it for the applause of men, but progress/maturity is the expected and natural trajectory of those who follow the Lord.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age waiting for, our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. ~Titus 2:11-14
The passage above, displays the blend of faith and works. We have faith in God’s grace for our salvation and we wait for the day of seeing Jesus. At the same time, this grace empowers us to deny worldly passions and pursue a godly life NOW. I like how the NLT ends verse 14 by saying that we should be “totally committed to good deeds.” TOTALLY COMMITTED to the works God has prepared for His people empowered by His grace. What are those works? Let us keep searching those Scriptures to know! (Hint: there are plenty of “callings” we all share.)
So, let us re-frame how we discuss the gospel. Because a gospel focused on Jesus will inevitably include both faith and works. If we are focusing on one at the expense of the other, we are operating in an extreme and we need to re-calibrate. Keep a grasp on the one, while taking hold of the other side.
By the River Together 