James and Paul.. Antagonists or Allies Over the centuries the supposed contradiction between James and Paul has been a theological battleground with James 2:14-26 often being understood as contradicting Paul's teaching that salvation is by faith alone apart from works. These verses in James are some of the most perplexing, and certainly the most misunderstood, sections in the NT (even leading to Martin Luther calling the book of James "a straw epistle"). And, almost without exception, the cults will appeal to the book of James to support their belief of works being necessary for salvation Most believe that eternal life is based, at least in part, on performing from a usually specified list of good deeds, such as serving the organization with time and/or money. Additionally critics point to these verses as one example of the Bible contradicting itself Here are the verses in question.. (Only one of Paul’s has been cited. Also See in Ephesians 2:8-10, Titus 3:5) Paul “We reckon therefore that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law”. [Romans 3:28] James: "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24).
However Alexander Ross said it well in The Epistles of James and John "They are not antagonists facing each other with crossed swords; they stand back to back, confronting different foes of the Gospel" (p. 53).
Martin Luther apparently missed the fact that James was virtually echoing the words of Christ. James is not writing about how to become a Christian, but rather how to act like one Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. [Matt 7:21] “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?” [Luke 6:46]
John made the point as well. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? [1 John 3:17-18 ]
There is absolutely no tension between Paul and James who were both teaching the very same thing.. The divine blueprint is: salvation first.. with works following as an integral part of that salvation. For by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, that no man should glory. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:8-10).
Salvation can never be achieved by doing anything, but by simply trusting Christ to have paid the penalty for our sins. It is God’s grace… a free gift from Him that we can not earn. However once saved, a true Christian will make good works a part of his life.. not to earn salvation, but because of it. The following short Bible study on the book of James explains it well. James - Faith for Living.. “Proverbs of the New Testament”
Bible study by www.SwapMeetDave.com A Sure Sign of Life
The book of James, controversial because of its emphasis on “good works,” is perhaps best understood through the analogy of motion. In both the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm, where there is life there will be motion. When a person becomes a Christian, new life begins, and inevitably that life must express itself through “spiritual motion,” or good deeds. In James' words, “What good is it ... if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?” (2:14) Movement does not cause life, but it does inevitably follow life. It is a sure sign that life is present. Similarly, genuine faith in Christ should always result in actions that demonstrate faith. Does James Contradict Paul?
James is not writing about how to become a Christian, but rather how to act like one. Having all the correct beliefs about God will hardly suffice: even demons believe in God. Real, life-giving faith should produce motion, and James minces no words in describing the specific spiritual actions expected of Christians. Christian thinkers, notably Martin Luther, have struggled to reconcile the message of James with that of Paul, who so firmly warned against slavish legalism. But Paul never belittled holy living. When he wrote to carousers, such as his letter to the Corinthians, he railed against immorality as strongly as James. Evidently, James' readers were not even flirting with legalism. They lived at the other extreme, ignoring the laws that God had clearly revealed. James had a simple remedy: "Do not merely listen to the word .... Do what it says." (1:22) Straight to the Point
Unlike the apostle Paul, James was no urbane man of letters. He was a simple, homespun preacher, perturbed at people who were not living right. His letter covers a wide range of topics, applying the Christian faith to specific problems, and commanding readers to live out their beliefs. Be humble! James orders. Submit to God! Stop sinning! James is as forthright as an Old Testament prophet; it is hard to miss his point. Modern readers of James face the same dilemma as the first recipients of this unsettling letter. His words are easy enough to understand, but are we doing as he says? What kind of motion characterizes our spiritual lives? As Luther himself said, "You are saved by faith alone, but if faith is alone, it is not faith." As leader of the headquarters church in Jerusalem, James knew how to speak with authority. You don't have to look for hidden meanings in this book. James tells you clearly how you should act in 54 direct commands. Note that many of these have parallels to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. As you study these verses, keep in mind the diverse audience he was addressing which included the rich and the poor. Note, too, his "asides" to specific groups”. And in the words of Jason Dulle.. Grace and Holiness “Many Christians struggle between two seemingly contradictory teachings of the Scripture. On the one hand the Scripture clearly affirms the grace and forgiveness of God toward those who believe, and on the other hand affirms the absolute need for holy living. Paul emphasized that we are saved by faith in Jesus, and not by our good works. James emphasized that the kind of faith that results in salvation will necessarily produce works that show evidence of that faith. Paul was concerned about people adding anything to faith that they believe is meritorious for their salvation. James was concerned about people professing to have faith which is not really faith at all, but rather a lifeless mental-assent to Christ. It seems that James was attacking a distortion of Paul's teaching on justification, wherein faith is some dead orthodoxy with no corresponding behavioral changes. Even Paul found it necessary to fight against this distortion of his teaching on justification (Romans 3:8; 6:1, 15). James pointed out that if a person has genuine salvific faith, works will follow after him showing evidence of that faith. Abraham really did believe God, and his works evidenced that fact. If Abraham would have refused to offer Isaac upon the altar, it would have demonstrated a lack of faith in God's promises to him (James 2:21-24). Some have come to the conclusion that grace and holiness, or justification and sanctification are antithetical. Holiness is either viewed negatively as mere suggestions that can be disregarded in the face of grace, or grace is viewed negatively as an open door to irresponsible, sinful behavior, taking God's forgiveness to mean that believers can sin as they please with no consequences. Both of these views are unbiblical and will cause spiritual, practical, and possibly even eternal problems. Is there a balanced understanding that one can take between an insistence on grace and good works? Is there a way to insist on justification and sanctification simultaneously? The author is convinced that there is. All theologies, which create a dichotomy between justification and good works are the result of a misguided reading of Scripture. Not only is the believer justified, but he is also commanded to live right, and given the power to do so”. [Excerpts from Justification and Sanctification: The Theological and Practical relationship Between the Two Doctrines. by Jason Dulle] Good Works in the OT At the end of every three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase in the same year, and shalt lay it up within thy gates: and the Levite, because he hath no portion nor inheritance with thee, and the sojourner, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that Jehovah thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou doest. [Deut. 14:28-29] Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall by thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedly; and if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul: then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thine obscurity be as the noonday; and Jehovah will guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in dry places, and make strong thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places; thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. [Isaiah 58:6-12] For I desire goodness, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings. [Hosea 6:6] I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Yea, though ye offer me your burnt-offerings and meal-offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace-offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. But let justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. [Amos 5:21-24]
And in The New For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a mirror: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth away, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But he that looketh into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and so continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing. [James 1:23-25] Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (27) We are to “do good” to all … Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. [Galatians 6:10 ] Zealous for “good works” …who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. [Titus 2:14] “Good works” are profitable for us… This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. [Titus 3:8] But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. [Hebrews 13:16 ] My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. [1John 3:18]
The cooperative work of the church Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come. [1 Corinthians 16:1-2 ]
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