Justification through Faith shown by Works

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Commentary by:  Gordon King

Good works and deeds are essential for a fulfilling Christian life.  The presence of these acts represent our faith and love for God. 

Without our good works our faith is dead.  Through our faith we demonstrate our good works.  We are found righteous or justified by God through our faith in Him.  By having faith in God we perform good works as a sign that we are justified.

Faith Without Works Is Dead

^{14 “}What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

The preceding bible passage by James tells us that “faith without works is dead”.  I take this to mean that by having faith in God, we will do good works.  This passage is a little confusing and some of it sounds as if we are also justified by our works.  However, what I believe him to be saying is not that we are justified by our works, but that are works show our faith.  That without our good works we are not showing that we have faith in God.  For it is by God that we are justified, not by our works.  Just as we are not saved by our works, but by the blood and grace of Jesus Christ.  It is the only way.  If this were not true then we could boast that our works have justified us and not Jesus Christ.

^{2 ‘}For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. ³ For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”’