From the ministry archive
We know the Bible says that faith without works is dead (Jam
We know the Bible says that "faith without works is dead" (Jam. 2:26). What is just as true is that works without faith is dead. The works that count with God are the deeds that are motivated by faith and by God's love in the hearts of those who possess that love. Those who are 'trying' to do good things, but without the motivation of genuine faith and love in Christ, simply cannot make the grade with God. That kind of effort is what the apostle Paul was referring to with the following saying: “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing” (I Cor. 13:3). But make no mistake, James knew what he was talking about in the following statement: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? ... Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only” (Jam. 2:21,22,24).
For those who think that the deeds, or works of our lives have nothing to do with salvation, why do you think that all men will be judged one day according to their works? “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” (II Cor. 5:10). If that's not good enough then tack this one on for good measure: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works” (Rev. 20:12). The people at the judgment who will be lost will be lost because of their lack of faith in Christ, and because of their failed deeds due to that lack of faith and lack of love that comes only through that faith. Their works will be found to have been altogether self-motivated rather than Christ-motivated, and therefore they had fallen far short of the mark.
Those on the day of judgment who are saved will be given their eternal reward and allotment, and their reward will be according to what their works were when they were in the earth. Their works are found acceptable and pleasing to God because of their honor and faith for his Son, and because of the love that they demonstrated in their lives by means of that faith. They will have in fact already been saved for a thousand years, reigning with Christ in the earth upon his coming and their resurrection from the dead at his coming (Rev. 20:4-6). Too many believers have misunderstood scriptures like Ephesians 2:8,9 which says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
One need only read a little further past Ephesians 2:8,9 to understand the 'works' that the apostle was saying cannot save anyone: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (Eph. 2:15,16). The 'enmity' mentioned here is what the apostle said it was, meaning the ceremonial ordinances, or 'works of the law' as he often called them, that were ordained for the old covenant. Jesus ended all naturally based ordinances while he was on the cross, and he thereby replaced them WITH FAITH THAT HE DIED TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS! So the righteousness that was of the law, which righteousness was necessitated through the ceremonial 'works' of the law, was done away by the righteousness that comes only by faith in what Jesus did for us all.
The scripture plainly tells us, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Rom. 10:4). Paul elaborated on the point earlier in the same book: “Therefore by the deeds [works] of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference [between Jew or Gentile]” (Rom. 3:20-22). So the works that the apostle Paul said could save nobody are the natural ordinances of the old covenant. On the other hand, as James told us, we cannot be saved in the end without being full of good works that are motivated by the love of God through faith in Jesus and what he accomplished for us. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?” (Jam. 2:14)
James was thorough in his explanation of these things: “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” (Jam. 2:18). Human effort to do good things, that is apart from the faith and love of Christ, will not be enough to save anyone. Neither will any naturally based ceremonial ordinances be able to deliver anyone who reverences them. The only redemption and salvation that exists to mankind is solitary faith in the death and resurrection of the Son of God who gave himself for us so that he could impart HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS to us through his Spirit that he sent back from heaven for us to receive: “But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Tit. 3:4-6). Amen.
