Does Faith Need Works?

This is one of those thorny questions for Christians. The Catholic church teaches that good works are required along with faith in Christ for salvation from hell. Some Protestant sects teach this doctrine too. Are they right?

The confusion comes because people misread James 2:14 (BBE and think "faith" refers to salvation. "What use is it, my brothers, for a man to say that he has faith, if he does nothing? will such a faith give him salvation?"

The evidence of salvation is  proven by a person's works. After we read in this chapter about the uselessness of just saying encouraging words, we read in James 2:18 (BBE), "But a man may say, 'You have faith and I have works;' let me see your faith without your works, and I will make my faith clear to you by my works.

Many people know about God and Christ but that doesn't save them. Check out what James 2:19 (BBE) says about Satan's demons. "You have the belief that God is one, and you do well: the evil spirits have the same belief, shaking with fear."

The fallen angels know God is real and that he has power to cast them and human sinners into hell. But we descendents of Adam lack the sense to fear the Lord.

Human wickedness blinds folks from realizing that genuine faith is proven by our spontaneous acts of kindness and obedience to God. James 2:21-23 (BBE) says, "Was not the righteousness of Abraham our father judged by his works, when he made an offering of Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was helping his works and was made complete by them;" And the holy Writings were put into effect which said, 'And Abraham had faith in God and it was put to his account as righteousness;' and he was named the friend of God."

And lest we think that people like Abraham are good enough to be righteous, check out what James 2:25 (BBE)  declares. "And in the same way, was not the righteousness of Rahab, the loose woman, judged by her works, when she took into her house those who were sent and let them go out by another way?"

Just as a magnet passing through a coil of wire generates electricity, so saving faith generates obedient works. This is one analogy I'll use in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? Far too many people think that just knowing the facts about God will get them through the pearly gates but it won't. It really is who you know that counts.

On Thursday, I'll explain why such a sinful woman like Rahab was saved.