Justified By Works - Does James Contradict Paul? Series

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Romans 6:1, ESV)

“I testify again to every man who accepts circumcision that he is obligated to keep the whole law.” (Galatians 5:3, ESV)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

4. James writes to exhort Christians to examine their faith.

5. Paul writes to explain the essence of faith.

Notice the following comparison:

WORKS When Paul speaks of works, he is speaking about the works of an unbeliever that cannot save (Eph 2:9)

When James speaks of works, he is speaking about the works of a believer that are produced by salvation. (James 2:21)

FAITH When Paul speaks of faith, he is speaking about the act of trusting in the work of Christ for salvation from sins. (Eph 2:8-9) When James speaks about faith, he is speaking of the ongoing evidence of salvation that faith produces. (James 2:18)

ABRAHAM Abraham was justified when he believed God’s promise (Rom 4:10-12)

Abraham’s faith was made evident when he offered Isaac (James 2:21)

There are Two applications of Justification.

Greek, like English can have the same word mean different things.

Right and right (turn right, be right)

Lying and lying (deceiving and laying down)

Tip and tip (tip of the pencil and what you leave for the waitress)

To illustrate this, Kim’s cousin is a missionary to Taipai and is learning Mandarin. In Mandarin, words can mean something entirely different depending on the inflection. She was hiking with some friends on a hot afternoon. Trying to impress her Taiwanese male friend, she said in Mandarin, “It is really hot and it is making us sweaty!” Her friend picked up the pace and jumped out in front of her. When she finally caught up with him, she repeated her Mandarin conversation. “It’s is really hot and it is making us sweaty.”

Her Taiwanese girlfriend pulled her aside and warned her that she just said, “It is really hot and it is making us sexy!” Similar words. Quite different meaning!

PAUL is using Justification to refer to faith in Christ.

JAMES is using Justification to refer to the evidence of faith

Application

There is no contradiction, only a fuller picture of faith.

Don’t use James 2 to promote LEGALISM

Don’t use Romans 3 to promote DISOBEDIENCE

Examine your faith. Is there fruit in your life that verifies that your faith is at work?

James is not alone in his teaching that true faith is made evident in a changed life.

JAMES. “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (James 2:17, ESV)

JESUS. “Bear fruits in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.” (Luke 3:8)

PAUL “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.” (Galatians 5:6, ESV)