Thoughts which carry me to Jesus, and the Cross

So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is one; well and good. Even the demons believe that—and tremble with fear.” (James 2:17–19, NET)

Thus they do not lie, deceive, and backbite, but are kind, truthful, faithful, and trustworthy, and do whatever else the commandments of God prescribe. That is the work of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies and also awakens the body to such a new life until it is perfected in the life beyond. That is what is called “Christian holiness.”

[VI. Concerning the New Obedience]
[1] It is also taught that such faith should yield good fruit and good works and that a person must do such good works as God has commanded for God’s sake but not place trust in them as if thereby to earn grace before God.50 [2] For we receive forgiveness of sin and righteousness through faith in Christ, as Christ himself says [Luke 17:10*]: “When you have done all [things] …, say, ‘We are worthless slaves.’ ” [3] The Fathers also teach the same thing. For Ambrose says: “It is determined by God that whoever believes in Christ shall be saved and have forgiveness of sins, not through works but through faith alone, without merit.”51

For decades I have heard discussions (okay arguments) about the relationship between faith and works, and specifically about the old Lutheran phrase, that we are Saved by God’s grace alone, through Faith alone, as revealed in Scripture alone.  Some think this means that no works are necessary for the believer, and others accuse Luther of teaching that, pointing out that James and other Biblical texts show a strong relationship between faith and works.

The latter is true, there is a strong relationship between faith and work, as is taught in Hebrews and Romans, as well as the Gospels, and demonstrated throughout the Acts of the Apostles. But the former is true as well, as Paul writes to the church in Ephesians, as John reveals in the Revelation, and as Jesus testifies in the gospels.

James makes it clear that faith is not just simple intellectual agreement on the existence of God, or even the loving and merciful character of God.  Even Satan and the horde of demons know this, and it terrifies them, for they refuse to depend on God’s work at the cross.

Luther and the early reformers agree with that…our faith, our trust and dependence on God requires a transformation of our hearts and minds, a conversion. Article VI of the Augsburg Confession, the primary document of the Lutheran Church – clearly makes this statement.

But it is the trust in God that is faith that saves – not the works that are generated by the change. One is the cause, the other is the effect that testifies to the cause. This faith, this dependence on God is itself a gift of God, as the Holy Spirit cuts open our heart, (see Ezekiel 36, Acts 2, Col 2) and cuts away the lack of trust – which is testified to by actions as well – the actions we call sin.

We have to be clear about this – no prayer, no action, no doctrinal stance we teach means a thing, unless we depend on Jesus. This is the same faith that was taught in the early church as well.

So next time the discussion involves “faith alone”, know that it is talking about how we are saved, and it doesn’t cause a divorce between faith and the works that follow.

Now, if you have faith, if you depend on Jesus to have saved you – get back to work loving your neighbor.

Robinson, P. W. (1539). On the Councils and the Church. In H. J. Hillerbrand, K. I. Stjerna, T. J. Wengert, & P. W. Robinson (Eds.), Church and Sacraments (Vol. 3, p. 420). Fortress Press.

Article VI: Augsburg Confession Kolb, R., Wengert, T. J., & Arand, C. P. (2000). The Book of Concord: the confessions of the Evangelical Lutheran Church (p. 40). Fortress Press.