Faith And Works

Then what of good works? Have they no place in the Christian life? James anticipates and answers this question: “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” (Jms 2:18). While God’s salvation is all of grace, including the faith that saves, which “is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8-9), Paul follows this assertion with a word about works: “For we are his [God’s] workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do” (Eph 2:10). So good works follow saving faith. Salvation is not gained through works but rather good works are the fruit of saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Sinners saved by grace through faith rest their confidence before God neither in their works nor their faith, as if faith itself were a source of pride. Faith derives its saving power from its object, Jesus Christ. A believer’s good works are no grounds for boasting, for the works stem from Christ himself. The apostle Paul described this mystery as follows: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Gl 2:19-20). Good works are performed by believers due to Christ working in them. Thus a believer’s confidence in their salvation is based on Christ, not their performance of good works. With the apostle Paul believers long to “be found in him [Christ], not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith” (Php 3:9). They know that “without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb 11:6).