Works or No Works?

Works or No Works?

Here’s an interesting tidbit to think about how important it is to do what God calls “cut straight” or “rightly divide” in 2 Tim 2:15. How to reconcile these verses: Romans 4:2-8 and James 2:24-26.
Romans 4:2-8

2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Note how in verses 4-6 it says that works has nothing to do with being justified. We can also reference Romans 3:20 which concludes that “by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Paul also speaks of this in Acts 13:39 “And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Very clearly we have the message of reconciliation here from the apostle Paul wherein we are saved from sin and death by faith alone in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. Now look at what James 2:24-26

24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Doesn’t that look like a contradiction? James says that works DOES justify a man along with faith and Paul says it does NOT, that it is faith ALONE. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2, Heb 6:18), so which writing do we believe?

The answer will be found through context. Who is Paul addressing? He is the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom 11:13) and delivering the gospel of grace which is separate from the gospel of the kingdom. Note in Ephesians 3:1-9

1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ

Note how this was an unprophesied event with the word “unsearchable” in verse 8. These are different house rules (dispensation in verse 2) than for the gospel of the kingdom as presented in the Old Testament. Why? Because Israel as a nation rejected the offered kingdom in Acts 2-12. That is why Jesus Christ saved Paul on the road to Damascus, to raise him up to proclaim a new message. See Romans 11 for the proof in the word of God. Verse 25 shows that the gospel of the kingdom has been put on hold until the “fullness of the Gentiles be come in,” which is shown to be the rapture event as described in the Pauline epistles.

Now, that is where Paul is coming from. James is speaking congruently with the gospel of the kingdom. For those “house rules” it was faith and works. The Law needs to be kept to show the faith. Peter was consistent with this message in Acts 2:38 - “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Repent (faith) and be baptized (works).

Also note Acts 10:35 (read the whole chapter for context) which says “But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him (God).” Again it’s faith (he that feareth him) and works (worketh righteousness) that saves (is accepted with God).

Lastly, how do we know James was still preaching the kingdom gospel message? Look at verse one of his epistle: “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.” Who are these twelve tribes? No other than the nation of Israel of course. Israel was given the oracles of God, the Law and the Prophets, the message of the earthly kingdom and gospel of it. These are two different gospel messages for two different ages.

Now I have shown from the book of Romans that Israel has been set aside so God can conclude all in unbelief and therefore have mercy upon all (Rom 11:32). And we are no longer under Law, but under grace (Rom 6:14) until the catching away of the church, the body of Christ as described in 1 Thess 4:13-18 and 1 Cor 15:51-56. At that point the kingdom gospel will be in place once more, and faith plus works will be required.

If there are further questions, a study in the book of Acts shows the transition of the gospel of the kingdom to the gospel of grace during chapters 9-16. The question now is, do you trust in God’s Word and believe that it is by grace that you are saved through faith alone? The gospel of this age is that trusting in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection gives you His righteousness and He takes your sin away. It makes you a citizen of Heaven, a new creation, a joint heir with Christ that gives you all the spiritual blessings in the heavenlies, sealed with the Holy Spirit so that you can never be unsaved (Eph 1). Consider this and the important choice it implies and, as always, search the scriptures to see if it is so.