Faith and Works, A Form of Galatianism

2. Faith and Works, A Form of Galatianism.
This group mixes faith and works predicated on James 2:17, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." Their philosophy is a bit confusing when analyzed; for they say one thing and hold to another. They claim emphatically that one is saved by grace; BUT, if you do not have good works, you are not really saved. They emphasize that when you are saved, your life will change immediately. This is based on 2 Corinthians 5:17 which reads

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We will discuss this verse at length a little later. In Romans 11:6 we are told...

"And if by works, then is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work." In other words if eternal life is by grace; it is by grace alone. If it is by good works, then it is by good works 100% and not one bit of God's grace is involved. Salvation is either 100% by grace or entirely by works, not a mixture of the two, no matter how little of each we try to add. If we take the Word of God as our Authority, the answer becomes clear. Let us consider the following...

A. There Are No Contradictions In God's Word.
If James 2:17 means that we are lost eternally unless we have good works, then God definitely contradicts Himself for Romans 4:3 states "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." In Romans 4:5, God makes it clear that Abraham was justified and declared righteous without good works,

"But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."

Salvation is by faith alone; or, faith and works; one of these two ways.

B. Only One Way to Heaven!
God does not give two formulas for eternal life. THERE IS ONE WAY ONLY. In John 14:6 we are told "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." The Word of God does not say "You are the way," but that "Christ is the way." Not what you may try to do by your good works, your way; but the good and perfect work Christ did when He died to pay for our sins. The only way is faith in Christ's finished work, and not our own works of righteousness, so called (Titus 3:5). We come to the Father only by trusting in what He did for us; not on what we can do for Him.

C. The Conclusion - Abraham Believed God For Righteousness
Notice carefully that Romans 3:4 states...

"For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness." This is a direct quote from Genesis 15:6. This is when Abraham was saved by faith without works. This was Abraham's justification in GOD'S EYES for salvation. God does not need works to know we are saved, but man does.

Now, notice again in James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone."

James continues and illustrates this point by using Abraham as an example,

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?"

James refers here to a different time in Abraham's life, many years after he was saved. This record is found in Genesis 22:1-24. This is justification in MAN'S EYES. If we say we are Christians and our way of living does not back it up, then no one will believe our testimony. We must have good works to substantiate our faith; or, our testimony will be dead and lifeless as far as anyone believing what we say. When we claim to be a Christian, our lives are always watched by someone.

D. Abraham Was Watched.
In Genesis 22:1-24 when Abraham offered Isaac, he was being watched by the two men he had taken with him, "And Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his ass, and took TWO of his young men with him..." - Genesis 22:3

They, no doubt, heard Abraham many times testifying of God's grace, goodness, and provisions. Now they were watching every minute to see what Abraham was going to do.

Abraham offered Isaac and God honored his faith by providing a ram sacrifice. These two men, along with people today, will only believe what we say if they can see it by the way we live. If our life substantiates our faith; then, we are JUSTIFIED IN MAN'S EYES as they believe our testimony, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified (in other people's eyes), and not by faith only" - James 2:24

1. Romans 4:3
In the light of the context there is definitely not a con-tradiction between Romans 4:3 and James 2:17. In Romans 4:3 we read, "For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness."

Again, this is referring to Genesis 15:3 when Abraham was saved by faith without works. This is his justification before God—Salvation.

2. James 2:17; James 2:24; James 2:21 :
"Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone (17) ...Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only (24) ... Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar." (21)

Here James refers to Genesis, Chapter 22, a time years after Abraham was saved. This he used to illustrate that testimony without works will fall dead and lifeless to the ears of the lost. If our works back up our faith, then men justify our testimony as being true. James is talking about our justification before men.

"Even so faith if it hath not works is dead..." This does not say that one is lost without good works, only that his testimony falls dead and lifeless.

This is like a car with a charged-up battery. The headlights will shine. If the battery goes dead, the light will not shine; but, the battery is still there. We can be saved and our life may not be charged up by God's Word and shining the way it should; but, the Holy Spirit is still within us and we are still saved. This is made clear by Ephesians 4:30, "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are SEALED UNTO THE DAY OF REDEMPTION."

E. Eternal Life Is Not of Works.
Remember, we are not maintaining that good works are necessary to go to Heaven. Salvation is a free gift and not of works,

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, least any man should boast" - Ephesians 2:8-9 But let us be careful to maintain good works which will prove our faith to the lost and be a source of reward to us AFTER we get to heaven.

F. After Salvation, Good Works Receive a Reward.
"If any man's (Christian's) work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward." - 1 Corinthians 3:14

Notice, this is not referring to Heaven or eternal life; but, rewards you receive after you get to Heaven. Heaven is a free gift by faith; while rewards have to be earned by our works.

G. Bad Works Receive Loss of Rewards But, Not Loss Of Salvation
"If any man's (Christian's) work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss (of rewards, not salvation); but he himself SHALL BE SAVED, yet so as by fire."- 1 Corinthians 3:15

H. Our Responsibility
In Matthew 5:13 we are told that we "are the salt of the earth..." In Romans 10:17 we read "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."

Therefore...

"Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in Heaven" - Matthew 5:16

How will they glorify your Father which is in Heaven? By trusting Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior, because your life backed up your testimony which was received as the living truth, instead of falling lifeless upon dead ears. Will you trust Jesus as your Savior right now?

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me (Christ) hath everlasting life." - John 6:47 A few years ago I attended a Bible conference at a large Bible college in the South. One of the speakers spoke on the "so-called contradiction" in James 2:17. At the conclusion of his message he made this startling statement, "If you are really saved, you will live it! His other remarks, along with this, led all to believe that if you had sinned since being saved or were not really dedicated to Christ, you had better check to see if you were really saved at all! At the invitation thirty-five to forty college students came forward. It was later announced that they had come for REASSURANCE of their salvation.

It was a subtle way to get one to doubt God's faithfulness to His promise of everlasting life because of one's unfaithfulness to Him. This left no room for being in a backslidden condition and that chastening could result if one did not get back in fellowship with the Lord. In 1 John 1:9; 1 John 1:7 we are told...

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness(9)... But if we walk in the light (God's Word), as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." (7) This was never brought out at all in his message. The sad thing was that dedication and coming forward was in intermingled with salvation. The next time any of these students should sin or not be 100% dedicated, they very likely will again doubt their salvation.

Since that message was not delivered in its proper context, one will never know the devastating effects it will have on some of these students in the future. The whole message was summed up in doubting one's salvation, instead of realizing the Christian's testimony will fall dead on the ears of the lost if our life does not incorporate good works. In discussing 2 Corinthians 5:17 which states...

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature creation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We should notice how this verse is applied when used in inviting people to trust Christ at the invitation. It is usually emphasized that if one is willing to lay all on the altar, i.e., willing to confess and forsake all known sin, then Christ will accept the person and give them eternal life. This may seem like sound theology because God does want us to forsake our sin; but, not as a condition to be saved. Then why would God want us to confess and forsake our sin, if it is not to have eternal life? The answer is made perfectly clear from 1 John 1:6,

"If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another..."

When a Christian is living in sin his fellowship with God is broken. The way to restore that fellowship between Christ and the believer is set forth in 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Now notice carefully, when we forsake, confess, and walk with Christ we have fellowship; not salvation and son-ship. Some have tried to argue this by saying 1 John was written to lost people and not to Christians. The Word of God refutes this argument abruptly. Let us quote 1 John 5:13,

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life..." Who did John say he wrote these things unto? Christians, of course, "to you that believe."

I hope you begin to see how confusing the terminology of "laying all on the altar" becomes to a lost person. He is led to believe that confession and forsaking all sin is a requirement before God will accept him. The Bible says that while I was a sinner Christ died for me (Romans 5:8). He did not say, "When you forsake all your sin, Christ will die for you."

We must remember that before a person is saved he is the natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14) and is not indwelt with the Holy Spirit, which is the power that changes a person's life. The Holy Spirit is given to each person simultaneously with his faith in Christ and is not a result of confession, promises, or works. Paul had this same problem with the Galatians,

"O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched (i.e. tricked or fooled) you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" - Galatians 3:1 Then Paul asked them the question, "Received YE THE SPIRIT BY THE WORKS OF THE LAW, OR BY THE HEARING OF FAITH" (Galatians 3:1-2; Ephesians 1:13).

Let us present God's salvation, not man's. God's salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Can we not then trust the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to convict and provide the power to change a life, to that which will be pleasing unto God?

I. Confused by Religion About the Result of Salvation.
Now, we examine a text found in 2 Corinthians 5:17,

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new." This is simply our POSITION before God, the way a sinner looks in God's eyes at the point of salvation. God views one as a new creation, born again by faith in Christ. He is a new creation by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. "Old things are passed away..." He will never be judged, or chastened, for any sins committed in the past. "...All things become new." What a salvation! The past is forgotten and forgiven, one can now begin a new life with full assurance of eternal life. In Ephesians 2:6 we are told that God "...hath raised (past tense) us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Notice the past tense of this verse. God's salvation is so complete, sure, and reliable that He is letting us know that He looks upon us (the saved) as though we were already in Heaven. The misuse of 2 Corinthians 5:17 has led many into thinking that when they trust Christ as Savior, immediately they will lose their desire to sin. Nothing could be further from the truth. Just because we are saved does not mean we lose our old nature or its influence. God wants the believer to recognize this, so he will not be deceived into doubting his salvation when he does sin. There is not a Christian who has not sinned, "If we say that we (believers) have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8).

J. Understanding the Two Natures.
One night, one of our deacons and myself were visiting a young couple. I asked the wife if she knew where she was going when she died. She replied, "Yes, right to Hell!" We had explained salvation previous to this and when I asked her why she was going to Hell she explained. She said she still had a desire to do things she did not think a Christian should do. She thought if she accepted Christ she would no longer have a desire to do anything wrong.

She simply did not understand the working of the two natures. In Galatians 5:17 we are told,

"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other."

When she realized God did not eradicate the old nature, she understood why the old desires still tried to assert themselves. I am happy to say they accepted Christ and did attend church regularly. Their lives changed as they grew in the grace and knowledge of Christ.

Many times people are confused and doubt their salvation when led to believe everything in their life will change immediately when they are saved. We must remember growth comes with knowledge of God's word (Read 2 Peter 1:2; 2 Peter 1:5-6).

"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. . ." - 2 Peter 3:18

K. Must We Lay "All On The Altar?"
Whenever an invitation includes "laying all on the altar" for salvation, it can very well lead that person to believe their promises had something to do with their salvation. No matter how many promises, pledges, forsaken habits, nor how sincerely all this is done. . . eternal life is given only as a free gift, not a debt that God owes us (Romans 4:4). Should we not give the invitation to the lost the same as God does,

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved... - " Acts 16:31

Once a person is saved, can we not trust the Word of God and the conviction of the Holy Spirit to change a person's life? God does the saving and the Holy Spirit does the changing. Salvation is not "faith and works" or "faith and promises" but FAITH PLUS NOTHING.

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us..." - Titus 3:5