Problem
In our passion to assure new and struggling Christians of their salvation, we tell them that all they need is to believe and confess, and nothing else. This leads to some Christians thinking and even abusing this truth by saying that if it is by faith, then works are no longer needed. This causes them to think that they can do whatever they want as long as they say they believe, as if faith is totally separated from works and is exclusive to one another. That is why there is a modern term that labels some Christians as practicing Christians and some as non-practicing Christians, as if you can be a Christian without living or acting as one. It is as if a mere confession in one point of time is sufficient. But is this biblical and correct?
In Romans 3:7-8, Paul has this to say to those who think that they can do whatever they want because they think that God's grace will be magnified by the many sins that they have done. Paul says those who think this way are justly punished by God when He judges later.
Works of the law
So what is the correct biblical understanding between faith and works? First, let us address one misunderstanding that is due to a wrong interpretation of Paul's writing on the works of the law especially in the letter to the Romans and Galatians. Let us take a look at a few verses from these letters as examples. In Romans 3:20 & Galatians (2:15-16; 3:11), we could see Paul arguing that no one can be justified or declared righteous before God by works of the law. Now, this is where the misunderstanding starts. Some will think that here is the proof that works is not necessary to be right with God. We just need to believe, some will think.
But this is actually a wrong interpretation of the verses. What Paul means by works are the works of the law like the Jewish laws of circumcision, Sabbath, food, etc. Paul is challenging the Jews of his time, who are thinking that to be right with God, to become the people of God, to be blessed by God and to be saved by God, you need to observe these Jewish works of the law. We have to understand the context of Paul’s letters to the Romans and the Galatians in the first century in order to interpret his writings correctly. To be circumcised, to observe Sabbath, to eat clean food and to follow the rituals of the Jewish law, these are the works of the law that Paul is referring to.
Paul is not saying that faith is against doing what is right or living righteously (Rom. 2). If you are to read the letters entirely, you will notice that Paul is referring to the Jewish works of the law, and not about doing what is right before God. At the end of Romans (Rom. 12-15) and Galatians (Gal. 5-6), you will see Paul emphasizing constantly on living and walking in the Spirit, doing what is right in the Spirit and bearing the fruits of the Spirit, to live faithfully as Christian and wait for the final redemption of the Lord when He returns.
Even the famous verse in Romans 8 that says that "now there is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" is followed up with the requirement to live and walk in the Spirit. We need to read the entire passage of text rather than a single verse or two.
Faith and works are partners
So, the first misunderstanding is that we must never think that Christianity is just about believing in the heart without any works or action. Faith constantly produces works and works clearly demonstrates the existence and the reality of faith. That is why James says that without works, our faith is actually dead. We show our faith by the actions that we do (James 2:17-22). Faith is only active and complete by works. Faith and works are two sides of a coin. Paul stresses that what is important before God in terms of righteousness is faith working through love (Gal. 5:6).
We are never saved by circumcision or any works of the law, or for that matter by good works that we do. We are saved by faith in the grace of God through Jesus Christ. But, this faith that saves is always shown and complete through works done in love for God and His people. That is why we find so many verses that we read just now reminding us that we must continue to do what is right, obey God's commandments and walk in the Spirit until the very end because this demonstrates our faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord. If you have faith, you will want to obey Him and do what He has commanded you because you believe in Him. Not in order to be saved, but to show that you actually have faith in our Lord. That is what faith is all about. This is how the righteous, those who have been saved, shall live, by continuously living in active faith (Rom. 1:17).
Faith is enduring
This brings us to the last, but very important point. Faith is not just a point in time when we confessed that Jesus is our Lord. Yes, Paul says that we are saved when we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth (Rom. 10:9-10), and that is correct. But he never says that this is merely referring to a single point in time. Notice that in the following chapter (Rom. 11:22), he says, "Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off." Paul warns the Gentile Christians in Rome that they must continue to believe. If not they too will be cut off from God just like the Jews in his time who did not believe in Christ Jesus. This warning is again repeated by the author of Hebrews.
"4 For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. 7 For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned." (Heb. 6:4-8)
Notice that this warning is actually directed at genuine Christians, Christians who are once saved and received the gift of the Spirit, but yet completely turned away from the Lord.
There is comfort though because the same author writes in the following verses,
"9 Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things-things that belong to salvation. 10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises."
He believes that they will hold on to their faith until the end. And the reason he believes so is because of the works of love shown to other believers by these Hebrew Christians. These works of love indicate that they are following the faith of those who will in the end receive the full promise of God. A faith perfected by works of love that endures and last until the end. This is the same principal teaching that Paul writes in Gal. 5:6, faith working through love. The author of Hebrew believes the Hebrew Christians will be saved because they have shown faith that is alive through actions done in love.
And if we ever fail to live up to our faith and sin, if we come back to the Lord and repent and confess our sins, He is always just and faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We constantly need to repent from our sins and failures and that is part of acting in faith too!
In closing, let us remember these important points. Faith and works are partners. Faith is always followed by works done in love in obedience to His commandments. Faith and good works are not enemies. Secondly, this faith must endure, which means we must hold on to it until the very end. We must run and finish our race of faith in Christ Jesus while we are here on earth and be rewarded when He returns. We must continue to believe to the very end. So, let us not grow weary in doing good as this demonstrates our faith and love towards our Lord. Amen.
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