The Faith alone argument is no where in the Bible except in James where James refutes the argument. The book of James was made specifically to clarify the misconception that Paul advocated faith without works. I draw the conclusion that works are part of faith, one in the same as the Trinity is three in one, the upholding of the law, good works, and sincere belief all make up faith. So good works or the upholding the law under the foundation of the Christian faith add to your credit and are indeed necessary to keep a healthy relationship with God.
First off the Old Testament gives me the idea that works are important, that God appreciates, loves, rewards, but perhaps does not require good works for salvation. The Old Testament seems very black and white though. Either you are one of the righteous like Noah, Lot, Abraham, etc. or you are of the wicked in which case one must repent or face destruction. Neh. 13:14, Psalm 11:7,28:4, Isa. 3:10, 59:18, Jer. 25:14, 50:29, Ezek. 9:10, 11:21, 36:19, Hos. 4:9, 9:15, 12:2,
Christ also teaches the same in the New Testament.
Luke 23:41; John 3:19-21, Rom. 8:13, 2 Tim 4:14, Titus 3:8,14, Rev. 22:12
I also consider Purgatory, a scenario where works may greatly determine when a person may be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God. I know that many Protestant churches do not believe in Purgatory but consider this: 1 Cor. 3:11-15. Indeed Christ is a foundation and upon that foundation we will be judged according to our works, and we will be purified based on our works.
Do not judge and you will not be judged? But if I am saved why not? Because it’s the nice thing to do? What keeps me from judging all that I hate and despise in the world? This verse implies that the act of forgiving others will in turn give us forgiveness, but forgiveness from what? Hell? No, we are saved. Purgatory? We don’t believe in Purgatory?
Matt. 7:1-3
Why must I endure the trying times of this world? If once saved always saved than what must I endure? If I am predestined to be the elect as the Calvinist say what must I endure? Am I safe always from sin? I have the impression that if one does not truly love God he will sin and commit evil acts. But one that believes will be saved because they have a deep love for Christ yet because of human weakness fail.
Matt. 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13
I say one must repent of sins, as St. John the Baptist declared in the desert. When Christ comes again there will be two witnesses who will also call upon the human race to repent.
Even St. Peter’s declaration is not enough, for Christ rebukes him many times, gives him the charge of His church. Following the logic of faith alone Peter would not need to form the Christian Church and simply stay at home as a fisher man.
Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
Pentecost is another example. The Holy Spirit came down on the disciples and they acted encouraged and strengthened by the Spirit into preaching the Gospel in all tongues.
Christ Himself was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert to be tempted for 40 days. True Christ and the Holy Spirit are one in the same which is a mystery for humans to understand but even so. So to not perform good works when asked of us by the Holy Spirit is a “rejection” of the Holy Spirit. Now we humans reject the Holy Spirit all the time and we are sinners as a result, but we are given the chance to repent and restore our lost grace. Restore our connection to God, but of course this connection given willfully comes from God, we disconnect this grace when we willfully sin against God in our action and “inaction.”
Luke 4:1
Our refusal baptized or not, to help and comfort our brother’s and sister’s will bring about our fall. “Do you love me,” “You know I do Lord,” “Feed my sheep.” Acts are a sign of our love to God.
Matt. 25:31-46
Luke 12:47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself , neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes .
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him ,
34 And went to him , and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
What about the thief on the right of Christ. He had faith, yes this is true, but he rebuked the one on the left. This work and his expression of faith which was said to all those below them made him worthy of paradise.
Luke 23:41
2 Corint 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2 Corinth 11:15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled;
Holiness is not something one can think or believe into being. It is brought upon by our actions, our words, our example. And when we perform acts of charity we gain the holiness and grace necessary to see the face of God which is eternal salvation. And indeed a man may fall from grace, not that he never had faith to begin with.
There is a popular misconception that if someone does a horrible wrong we must conclude that he never had faith to begin with. I take Judas as an example to show how false this is.
Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto [him] his twelve disciples, he gave them power [against] unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Judas could heal; he could cast out demons, and preach to people as Christ commanded. He was the treasurer of the organization, a prestigious position. When he left during the last supper no one ever suspected because they knew of his character and position. Yet he made the free choice to sin against Christ and fell from grace. Judas later hung himself in remorse because he knew he had betrayed the Son of God, and this knowledge, this faith, did not save him.
But most of my justification comes from James, the partner of Paul who allegedly preached faith alone. For both writers are infallible, both books are infallible and thus we must conclude that we have interpreted Paul incorrectly. For it is written:
James 1:
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein , he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
James 2:
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Man must believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. He must love God with all his mind, heart, and soul. He must love his neighbor as himself. He must not reject the guidance and the will of God, he must follow the law of God, he must repent for his sins. For it is also written that the apostles had the power to forgive and retain sins, and so it is true today. The soul must be free of mortal sin: a rejection of the will of God, a rejection of Christ’s teachings, a rejection of the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
We can’t desire justice from God, for if we were to be judge in such a manner we would all be unworthy. No amount of works or law will save us, without faith in Christ. Man is however not totally depraved for we are all given the grace to resist evil, man overall is good for we are made in the image of God.
God will forgive me seventy times seven as he taught us to, as long as I “express” my willingness to repent and come back to him. His death, his sacrifice does not free me from sin unless I ask it of him.
Why should God let me into heaven? God and I play a little game to decide this. You see a hope for the best for every person around me, but put the harshest standards on my self. I believe that one isn’t saved until God says you are. I don’t tell God what to do, He tells me what to do. I simply hope and it’s not because I don’t believe in salvation, it’s because I reject predestination and I reject anything that limits God’s sovereignty. You might think that to be contradictory, but I can’t force God’s hand on me. According to my friend’s definitions I am already saved and maybe I am but the game of life doesn’t stop there, because I must continue on this journey of spiritual capitalism and along the way I might stumble but I sincerely hope that I don’t.
Without good works, it means that you have rejected God’s calling and thus your faith is dead. It’s not that good works plus faith amounts to something, it’s that works and faith are one in the same. Works is faith of the body and physical world, while faith itself is of mind.
Now, my turn to present something to you. Christ died for all our sins and that He will always cover for our many sins if we have faith in Him. The accepting of the Eucharist, the acceptance of the body of Christ forgives our venial sins, but it requires your participation. The acceptance of the Eucharist makes us justified and gives us the grace to fight off sin. This does not mean that Christ dies for us over and over again, for He can die only once for us, but it has the same effect. My deal is this, inaction, refusal to do good works, rejection of God’s will; it will result in mortal sin and corruption of the soul.
