Monday, October 18, 2010
Justification by Faith Alone
Here is the crucial issue: whether God is the author, not merely of justification, but also of faith; whether, in the last analysis, Christianity is a religion of utter reliance on God for salvation and all things necessary to it, or of self-reliance and self-effort. 'Justification by faith only' is a truth that needs interpretation. The principle of sola fide is not rightly understood until it is anchored in the broader principle of sola gratia. What is the source and status of faith? Is it the God-given means whereby the God-given justification is received, or is it a condition of justification which is left to man to fulfill? Is it part of God's gift of salvation or is it man's own contribution to salvation? Is our salvation wholly of God or does it ultimately depend on something that we do oursleves? -- J.I. Packer
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The Book of James, in the Bible, says that your faith must be justified by works (James 2:24), which is much different from what Paul says in Galatians 2:16 about "We may be justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law (In the former, James refers to faith being justified by works; In the latter, Paul says that we are justified by faith. So, once you have the faith and are justified by it, then your faith in turn must then be justified by works)."
ReplyDeleteJust as it's not enough to tell your wife that you love her, and never do anything for her, it's also true of your faith relationship with Jesus. Faith and performing good works for your fellow man go together like body and soul. You simply aren't alive unless both body and soul are united (James 2:26).
It's the same for being alive in Christ - You need faith in Christ first, and then good works (not works of the law) to justify that faith.
Faith without works is dead. Yet it is clear from Scripture that our works flow from our faith. Our works are a necessary consequence to our salvation, but they have nothing to do with its cause. Eph 2:8-10 are the best verses to show this relationship. SDG
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