Faith Without Works

'Christianity Today' magazine has an interesting article in it about a 'new perspective' on the writings of Apostle Paul. A lot of this revolves around references in Galatians chapter 2 (and elsewhere) to 'the works of the law.' The 'new perspective' is that, perhaps Paul was only referring to the core aspects of Judaism: Sabbath, circumcision, and food laws; and that he didn't mean that we, as Christians, were absolved of responsibility in doing good works. This has long been a tight-rope act of Christian thinkers. If salvation is a free gift, then can we simply do nothing except mouth the words, 'Jesus is Lord!' and be saved? On the other hand, if works are required, then why does Paul say that 'by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified?' I think you have to look at some of the other things that Paul wrote (and even some other things in the Bible).

For starters, let's look down to verse 21 (still in Galatians chapter 2): "I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." The point here is that Mosaic law tends to be a list of do's and don't's: Do this, don't do that, if you do, then sacrifice two turtledoves... In the next chapter (Galatians 3), in verses 24 and 25, Paul also tells us that the law was a 'schoolmaster' to bring us to Christ--to prepare us for the Messiah--but we are no longer under that schoolmaster. Jesus said that He was here to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). Further on in Galatians (chapter 5), Paul chides the Galatians for trying to live under Mosaic law, and yet live a Christian life. It isn't a matter of measuring oneself against an ancient checklist, it's a matter of walking in the spirit.

But isn't it faith that saves us? Absolutely. But, at the same time, James challenges us to demonstrate faith without works, and even goes on to say that faith without works is dead. Still later in the chapter, he compares faith without works to a body without a spirit. Do you think James meant what he said? Does this disagree with what Paul wrote? Take a look at Hebrews chapter 11. Notice that all through the chapter, faith is linked to works. I want to particularly point out that in verse 17 it makes reference to what many consider to be the ultimate test of faith--Abraham was told to sacrifice his son Isaac. As Christians, we can see that this foreshadowed Christ's crucifixion, but my point is that, for Abraham, it was a test of faith. Did God doubt Abraham's faith? Of course not, God formed Abraham--God knew Abraham's heart better than Abraham himself did. The test was for Abraham; God wanted Abraham to know how much faith he had.

Likewise God tests our faith on a regular basis; not so that He can see how much faith we have, but so that we can see how much faith we, as individuals, have. Many of us fail these tests, and then excuse ourselves by saying, 'Not of works, lest any man should boast,' missing the next verse, which tells us that we are created unto good works. We have become completely oblivious to the fact that while we trust that our faith will save us, we continually fail test after test of our faith. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus told His disciples--the men who would later become known as the Apostles--that they had too much unbelief, and that if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could move mountains. Now, a mustard seed is pretty small, and a mountain is pretty big, and, obviously, if you're trying to move a mountain that God doesn't want moved, you're not going to accomplish much. But my question (and this question is as much to myself as it is to anyone else) is this: What have you done lately, that proves that you believe--even if it only proves it to yourself?